What's the best way for me to listen to my MP3 collection?

[TylerD]

I no longer see the point in listening to CDs; it takes so much more effort swapping them over and putting them back in there cases compared to firing up my PC and listening to my collection through iTunes.

The problem is I'm currently using the standard Dell speakers and they ain't brilliant, so I need some options. Can anyone suggest a good set of speakers for a PC, or should I hook my PC up to a stereo? Can I filter the sound so that only the music goes to the stereo and the sound effects go to PC speakers? Should I go for a standalone MP3 system? Do these even exist?

Thanks in advance.

[astroglide]

there's a very recent thread on pc speakers. one option would be to get a networked stero mp3 player like the slimp3.

[TylerD]

I wish. But I did hear that Tyler Durden (not me) made it very far this year in the WSOP, in fact I think he cashed, but not many people know that.

[astroglide]

yeah i edited with a nice/real response when i realized that you weren't him /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Rick Nebiolo]

Check out my two recent threads in this forum. Right now it looks like I'll be getting the Swan M200s but the problem is they are pretty darn big.

If you play games go or watch a lot of movies go for 5.1 speakers. Logitech's best is a good bet. If you don't go for 2.1 or 2.0 speakers. The best Klipsh or Swan's are probable a good bet.

If you have room for the stereo/amp then that may be a good option with the right pair of small quality bookshelfs with a decent subwoofer. In any case you need a good soundcard too. There are ways to hook it up but you might need some advice from the various audio forums.

There are lots of software options regarding ripping, encoding, and playing the encoded files back (not necessarily in MP3 format). I'm just learning so once again check out those other threads. I would say avoid an all in one player such as MusicMatch, which in my and many others opinion has gone way downhill. OTOH, older versions of Winamp come highly recommended.

~ Rick

[Rick Nebiolo]

....I also posted on AnandTech, one of the more popular tech hardware forums where there was already a thread going on best PC speakers. Here (http://tinyurl.com/49sbz) is a link. I posted as RIRick.

[Popinjay]

oh Rick by the way, the Cambridge 213's are supposed to be very good as well. if you look on ebay you can get them refurbed from cambridge themselves. it is like half price.

[Rick Nebiolo]

Just to be sure we are on the same page (because model numbers are so similar) here (http://tinyurl.com/5ahsu) is a link to the Cambridge SoundWorks MegaWorks 213 Multimedia Speaker System on the regular Cambridge Soundworks web site (http://tinyurl.com/4nq5c).

I couldn't find the CSW 213s on eBay in the regular listings but I did find the CSW eBay Factory Store (http://tinyurl.com/4ezgz). They didn't have any model 213's either. BTW, years ago when I bought my CSW MicroWorks I got them refurb on eBay (along with my CSW bedroom speaker set). Back then they were all in the regular listings.

On the regular CSW site the Megaworks 213s were recently cut down from $500 to $400 and your comment is about the first thing I could find out about them (other than the CSW posted review from Computer Shopper). The satellites are CSW Newton Series MC300 Main/Center Speakers (http://tinyurl.com/5xr5y), which currently retail for $160 each. I'd like to go with them over the 2.0 Swan's because these satellites have only a 6" by 6" footprint (the fact that they are 13" tall only matters in earthquakes /images/graemlins/smile.gif). OTOH, the Swan M200's are 7" wide by 11" deep and 13" tall and if this reviewer (http://tinyurl.com/6lv4s) is correct should be kept at least six inches from the wall because they are rear ported bass reflex. Placed like this the Swans would envelop my desktop.

The CSW Megaworks 213 subwoofer seems to be a specially modified version of one of their other subs designed to drive the MC300s (normally used for home theater).

I guess what I'm asking is "Are we on the same page and are these the speakers you heard are good?" If so, can you help me with a link to a current eBay listing (although the retail/sale price of $400 is just within my budget).

~ Rick

PS Isn't it weird how speaker/hifi/stereo/headphone choices can become an obsession for anal-nit types like me?

[River2Pair]

I use a Mac iBook G4, streaming iTunes to my stereo wirelessly with Airport Extreme, and it works great.

[tripdad]

What's the best way for me to listen to my MP3 collection?

with an open mind.

cheers!

[astroglide]

it's his own collection...

[Popinjay]

oh thats right, i think they are only selling the 215s on ebay. at least thats what it was like a few months ago for me (didn't buy em though). the 215s are also very good i hear