Going digital, best recommendations please

[Golden Monkey]

I'm clearing out my old mp3 collection, and starting fresh, but could use some advice on what ripping, conversion, and player software to use. I have a Windows box, and it will be a dedicated music machine (nothing else installed).

I have been using EAC to rip V0 (245k VBR). I want to rip my CDs to FLAC for archival purposes, but also be able to easily convert them to LAME V0 or 320k for my portable player (Creative Zen Xtra).

Without installing too many different apps to do this, what do you recommend? Should I stick with EAC to rip? I like the program, but the interface is a pain, and it takes a really long time to extract. Possible choices for this step are:
EAC
Easy CD-DA Extractor
dBpoweramp

For conversion/playback, or an integrated all in one:
Foobar2K
MediaMonkey
Winamp
Windows Media Player 11 (for playback, nothing else)

Plugins:
ASIO
Kernel Streaming support
(opinions please on which you like better and why)

I want the best quality, most accurate rips possible, the best playback possible (this will eventually be fed to an external DAC, so the soundcard isn't important...it's a POS anyway). There's a lot of topics and opinions out there already, but...advice? Thanks in advance...

 

[Solan]

Absolutely! Stick with EAC.

jiGGafellz' Step-by-Step Guide to Secure CD Ripping w/Exact Audio Copy

It rips slowly, but in return you get the best quality rip possible, if you follow the jiggafellz guide. If you are unsure, I can check the rip quality for you ...

For playback: foobar2000.

 

[epaludo]

I use EAC too for ripping. DBPowerAmp just for converting FLAC to apple lossless. Easy CD-DA is a very easy interface software, although once you have EAC well configured you cannot go wrong ...

 

[Golden Monkey]

Haha! Solan, that's the guide I used when I started using it, back before Oink went belly up...taht's exactly the way I do them, I just need to get the FLAC encoder, and I'm set then. Good to know I was on the right track to begin with.

 

[krmathis]

Stick with EAC. Just configure it to encode with FLAC instead of LAME.

 

[John Reeves]

Hi,

That is exactly what I do for my HTPC. There are some good free programs around for your new jukebox, which will display the covers on your TV ( I use a Hitachi plasma) or Monitor whilst the music is playing, organize your collection etc.

I am currently using Media Portal since the demise of free X-Lobby.

MEDIAPORTAL - free MediaCenter HTPC Software - MediaPortal Downloads

The nice thing about an HTPC front end is that you can also add DVD's, photographs etc. to the hard drive and still use the same program. You can also use any alternative music playback software linked to the same front end if you wish to.

You should also use ASIO for the best quality sound, since this cuts out the crappy Windows K-mixer. However, you must have a sound card that supports this. i.e. EMU, Juli@ etc.

You also have the flexibility to upgrade the sound card, video card etc at a later date and still use the same front end.

The most important thing is to quieten the PC so the background noise is minimal when no music is playing. This means a quiet power supply, slow speed cooling fans, and if possible a passive cooled graphics card.

Obviously if you are using a laptop then some of the above will not apply.

Sorry for the rambling, but this is my ongoing project.

Cheers
John