In the digital-music age, a home-stereo system just isn’t necessary. If you have an MP3 player, a computer, and a good set of speakers, you can enjoy rich, full stereo sound without wasting space in your corner or on your bookshelf.
Music purists will argue that MP3 files are not as good as the actual CDs. This is true if we’re talking about actual MP3s. However, there are lossless formats out there. The newer versions of Windows Media Player will, for example, rip your CDs to a lossless WMA format. This means that you can enjoy near-CD quality. Many music lovers can’t even tell the difference between the lossless WMA and the CD version.
You’ll need only three things to set up the home-music system:
- A computer that’s capable of handling your audio ripping and file transfers. You’ll need the ability to rip CDs and use the MP3 player’s software to transfer the files to and from the player.
- A good MP3 player. This player should be reliable, easy to use, and capable of holding enough songs at one time to keep you entertained. Having to get up every couple of hours or so to load fresh songs is very annoying, especially if you’re in the middle of something important.
- Good speakers. Make sure that whatever speakers you find are compatible with the setup that you choose. Otherwise, you’ll have to either adapt the speaker connection or buy another set.
The easiest way to set up the music system is to install the speakers and plug in the MP3 player. You can hook up an AC power charger so that you don’t have to charge your player’s battery through your computer. This leaves you free to set up the music system anywhere in the house. You don’t have to enjoy music only at your computer.
That setup is also portable, depending on the size of your speakers and how you install them. If you want to listen to music in the living room, you can move the speakers and player there. If you’d like to rock out in your back yard, that’s possible as well.
Another option is to skip the MP3 player altogether and set up your computer as the entertainment system. Connect the speakers to the system, bring up your media player, and enjoy high-quality audio in the computer room.
You can, however, set up “annex” type speakers throughout your house. That way, you can listen to music through your computer even when you aren’t in that room. If your computer is new enough, and capable enough, then you should look into this setup.
