Hi again Nat,
Don't misunderstand me, I think Cambridge makes some excellent stuff, especially for the price! Boxxee just got bought by Samsung, btw -- interesting if you own a Samsung TV maybe. dunno
http://www.boxee.tv/. Just so you are aware, JRiver can eliminate almost all external devices (cd, dvd, sacd, etc even a preamp)
if your set up permits. As a bonus your video sound could be treated directly by your Cambridge (they do offer the possibility - lots of inputs on the unit you bought)
If I find its not for me, what happens to the spplication and all the music files that It has collated ?
one thing to do that is important if you are ripping your cd collection (either through jriver or another "bit-perfect" external ripper like dbPoweramp or EAC)
1) Stop ripping through iTunes (import later if you want to sync some of the tracks maybe - but put those in another directory)
2) rip consistently to a similar, generic, folder structure - like AlbumArtist/Album/tracks and put artwork in the album folder as folder.jpg (use something like various artists for compilations
3) rip to a lossless format only -- convert a copy to Mp3 if you want -- but backup those lossless files
Presumably all those files it collated are still in their original locations and wont be lost if i delete J river ?
It doesn't "collate" the physical files, you do (you configure where the rips are going to be with what directory structure of course)... it organizes them based on metadata (tags), it does not rename or move, copy or otherwise manipulate your files (unless you specifically ask it to)
The files themselves can be used in any program, they stay where you put them (and no itunes manipulations!!)and whether you stick with jriver or not you will not have wasted your time. The program creates a database "library" -- if you configure the fields to write to the file itself (in options^^) any tagging done after the rip will reside on the disk so you can import it into other players (at least the principal tags, important ones). So once again you have not wasted your time.
I would however, try downloading the trial with an understanding .... this is some great software. It does have a learning curve which can be daunting for some, but worth it. One of the reasons it can be complicated is that it tries to do just about everything, for just about every system imaginable -- this is its weakest point for some or one of its strongest points, depending (& I subscribe to the latter
). It gives unbelievable customization possibilities, hence all the options for the obsessive audio person (like me) to the remote ipad controlled couch potato (also like me)
So just ask a specific question here in a separate post if you get stuck, indicating your set up/connections as precisely as possible.
And no, I don't work for JRiver (@Jim and Matt -- euh I've been unemployed for quite sometime -- so if you you need a rep in Europe ...
)