Home MP3 player (non-portable) - is there such a thing?

[TonyCains]

Hello everyone. Apologies if this is a silly question but I can't find an answer anywhere I have looked...

I have finally converted all my CDs to MP3, so I can listen to them on the PC in the office, on my Archos AV500 while out and about, or (via a Topfield TF5800) in the living room. But to listen in the bedroom, I still need to physically have all the CDs available to put in the Hi-Fi system, which seems silly. (I don't want to move the Archos as it spends a lot of its time recording TV programs, which it can only do in the living room).

So, what I'm after is a "domestic", mains-powered, non-portable MP3 player - something like a 30 Gb hard disc, decent sized screen and (crucially) FM radio - that can go in the bedroom and replace the current Hi-Fi. Any thoughts?

Yes, I could get an Ipod and a docking station, but that's not cheap, and (so far as I know) doesn't include an FM radio. I could get a box that pulls files wirelessly from the PC, but then the PC needs to be on 24/7 and I'd have to set up a wireless network as well. Am I looking for something that doesn't exist, or is ridiculously expensive ( > £300)?

If all else fails I will make one myself from an old PC, but that's not especially cheap either since it would need a decent size screen.

Thanks in advance for the advice!

[hornydragon]

there are a couple of of options,
1: sound sever type units with HDD connect to some spekers (may aslo need an AMP but could use existing HiFi if it has line inputs)
2: a Roku or Slim music adapter that can connect to PC via wried or wireless ethernet ( £50 gets a wireless router so not that expensive to set up a network)
3: There are some "hifi" one box systems with HDD MP3 facility (Philips?) and loads that will take MP3 CD10-20 albums on a CD-R depending on bit rate
4: another portable type machine ie Archos/ipod etc connected via a docking station to new or existing HiFi Onkyo do a nice dock that will connect to a CD/Tuner/AMP Hifi but looking at ~£300 + ipod

An old PC would be the cheapest option but also the most frought but i think the Roku or SLim option is worth looking at especially if you can use then with an external hardrive over a network, this means you can then add extra rooms for the price of another Roku or Slim box so adding this to kitchen etc is easy once you set up network etc

[fathazza]

cheapest i can think of is the http://ws1.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=ACOU-SP150&SID=bb19656a0a81f7b9cac957aa2be7d147

acoustic soloutions sp150

if you have the money tho the hermstedt hifidelio pro looks rather good but it is £800ish
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/08/19/review_hifidelio/

sonos stuff also looks a bit tasty...
http://www.simplysonos.co.uk/

a roku or slim setup works well but you have the disadvantage of needing your computer/server on when you want to play music...

alternatively you could just connect a portable player to some speakers :)

[wonderloaf]

Don't know how far you want to go, but if you have your MP3's already backed up onto a CD, you could always buy a personal CD MP3 player, they're pretty cheap and I think you can get them with a remote etc..

Just a thought...

[LG1]

Phillips has one with a 20GB hard drive in it, that lets you copy straight from the cd no comp required.

[KiNeL]

If you have a TV in the bedroom a Kiss DP-508 might suit you:-

http://www.kiss-technology.com/images/products/DP-508/DP-508.jpg

http://www.kiss-technology.com/images/products/DP-508/DP-508.jpg

There is no FM radio in it but if you have broadband there are something like 10,000 streaming radio channels available.

Although they are no longer available new (AFAIK) you should be able to find one secondhand and it just happens I have one for sale having upgraded to the Kiss DP-558!

PM me if you're interested.

[TonyCains]

Thanks for all the suggestions, but none of these really fit the bill. I notice that the machines that rip CDs automatically (like the Acoustic Solutions SP150) don't allow you to copy your own MP3s onto them (via USB, etc), which seems crazy.

I guess I just need to keep swapping the CDs for now...

[PJTX100]

Thanks for all the suggestions, but none of these really fit the bill. I notice that the machines that rip CDs automatically (like the Acoustic Solutions SP150) don't allow you to copy your own MP3s onto them (via USB, etc), which seems crazy.

I guess I just need to keep swapping the CDs for now...

This does but it isn't cheap.... yet!

http://ws1.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=CAMB-640H-SIL

[brookheather]

The Hifidelio fits all of your criteria apart from cost - I got a new 160Gb model for £575 but I have seen a second hand 80Gb model sell for £350 on eBay - maybe keep an eye out for one there?

I too have a Topfield (next to my Hifidelio) and it does seem strange that you can get a 160Gb PVR for £250 but not a music player when you would think that the hardware would be simpler? I reckon Apple will have to come out with something like a non-portable iPod as I think there would be huge demand for one.

- Simon.

[andrew1810]

I have just bought an AudioRequest ARQ-1 off ebay which does everything you want, mine has an upgraded 40Gb HDD and you can transfer tracks over a network connection.

The new versions are expensive, but keep an eye on ebay, I only paid £100 for mine.

Andrew