This is good reading, we're sure not a "normal" bunch....
Most people I work with, don't even listen to music much... Too many kids around the house, spouses, lawn care, overtime...
I have a SPDIF coax connection from my computer in my office to my living audio system. Once I got MJ/MC working, I sold my Sony 400 cd changer, I have no cd player in my living room, or huge racks of cd's. Just this little universal IR learning remote control and a PDA running RemoteServer to control MC from the living room. The IR receiver is in my living room, running back on another wire back to my office to connect to my computer. Lots of back and forth signals to and from my office to the living room.
The computer feeds my B&K surround sound processor, which feeds (2) Carver 200 wpc power amps (front and rear speakers) and a mono Marantz 200 watt power amp (center channel) and a Sunfire subwoofer. KEF speakers up front, Klipsch in back.
The preamp also feeds two other amps (actually receivers, but I only use the preamp/amp portion) which feed speakers in my office and bedroom.
I've got an IR repeater system in the office and bedroom, meaning the universal learning remotes in those rooms can control the audio system in the living room. I've also got another PDA running RemoteServer in my bedroom.
Having separate amps for the office and bedroom give me full volume and mute control in those rooms.
Since I'm single (again) I always have music playing in the house, same music all over the house. Lately I end with with woman who love music, I guess they either like it playing all over all the time or we don't get along.
I've got two dedicated 120 gig drives in my computer for music. Almost all is APE lossless. I'd lie awake at night worrying about the lost bits if I used something lossy.
Backups are a concern. More hd's for RAID or cloning means more computer noise. And a fire would still mean total loss of the hd's and the original cd's I ripped from.
I backup the rest of my computer to tape religiously, but tapes don't have the capacity for my music collection. The backup tapes are stored at my office in case of fire or theft.
Sometimes I'm not sure why I have my living room system, I spend most of my alone time at home in my office, ripping, tagging, organizing, researching, listening.....
I still have to lower myself and touch cd media for music in my car, how crude...... MC for the car system?
Listening to: 'Barcelona Morning' from 'Language of the Soul' by 'Earl, Ronnie' on Media Center 9.0