[JamesL]

I'm looking for something affordable that meets the following criteria.

Criteria -
has basic playback functions
plays songs from a harddrive
outputs a digital signal(any form)


Alternatively, does anyone know how to bypass the DAC/Amp on a mp3 player?

If there's still nothing.... can anyone recommend me cheap, small, cd transport? cheap being the key word here.

 

[jet87]

Without knowing your definition of cheap, I'm going to suggest the Squeezebox. No, it doesn't have its own hard drive, but it uses your computer's hard drive to store the files. It has both optical and coaxial out. $299.

 

[StanleyB1]

Look at the HD system from POC ONLINE CONSULTING . I have now switched over to one of their drives, and would recommend it to anyone. There are a couple of others advertising on eBay as well. The remote control functions are just as good, or even better, than on a CD player. You can put each ripped CD in its own folder. Once you 'enter' the folder, you can treat it as if it is a disc. So you can skip, REW, FF, etc. any of the tracks.

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesL /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm looking for something affordable that meets the following criteria. Criteria - has basic playback functions plays songs from a harddrive outputs a digital signal(any form) Alternatively, does anyone know how to bypass the DAC/Amp on a mp3 player? If there's still nothing.... can anyone recommend me cheap, small, cd transport? cheap being the key word here.

Easy answer, your PC. You already own it.
Use something like
- Exact Audio Copy (EAC) to archive your CDs to FLAC format on your PC
- Foobar2000 for playback. Like EAC, this is freeware software
- Stuff a half decent DAC on the backend of the digital output from your PC and you're away.

 

[gav17]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesL /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm looking for something affordable that meets the following criteria. Criteria - has basic playback functions plays songs from a harddrive outputs a digital signal(any form)...

1. Any of computers with S/PDIF output.
2. TVIX-HD M-6500A with Sigma Design SMP8635 (DVICO TViX HD M6500A Network Media Player HDMI SATA).
3. Many other choices, etc, etc.

 

[ferds]

check this out: diyAudio Forums - HDD players with built in PCM1794 DAC - Page 1