What ever you do - Don't get a Cambridge Audio Music server - It Sucks

How about the HP MediaSmart Connect?

http://www.shopping.hp.com/store/product/product_detail/KC816AA%2523ABA/1?jumpid=in_r329_personalization/browse1/PDP_PDP

Anybody have one or know about this system?

edcon
I checked out the web site. Thanks the lead. I am not that knowledgeable about computers so please bare with me.
Do I assume that besides connecting this unit to my Home Theater system and buying external harddrives all that I would have to do is download my music and movies into my iMac?


Thanks

rubbersoul,

I must apologize. I jumped into this thread late and was also soliciting an opinion regarding a media server. I just read through your original post and this unit does not meet some of your criteria, specifically the highest resolution output is 720P, with blueray I would assume you want 1080P. It’s not real clear on this because spec sheet has a footnote “ 2 EDTV or HDTV that supports 1080i, 1080p, or 720p input is required.”

Further the system is designed to work with Microsoft Vista . iMac may or may not be compatible. It’s not listed as supported. I have no experience with iMAc. So I’m afraid I haven’t been much help here. Maybe someone a little more knowledgeable can jump in here.

The system appears to meet my needs as I have an HP computer with Vista. So I will upload my cd's and a few movies to my computer using winows media player lossless format (buy an extra Hard drive internal or external) and I can play through my 990 w/ graphic interface on TV.

Note: I have been reluctent to do anything other than pop a cd into a dedicated player for music so this is a big step for me.

Note: I have been reluctent to do anything other than pop a cd into a dedicated player for music so this is a big step for me.


Go for it. I was always reluctant to go away from listening to actual CD's as well..until I set up a squeezebox Duet system. I absolutely love it and will never go back to looking all over trying to find a particula CD and then forgetting most of the ones I have.

I spent a few weeks and ripped all of my CD collection..over a thousand CD's, onto a one terabyte drive on my main computer. I have a second one terabyte drive that backs up the first. I used the wma- lossless format and the results are very very satisfying. I can't tell the difference between the CD and the squeezebox when running the duet digital out into my DAC.

I have my cd's packed away in the closet in boxes just in case I ever want to see what they looked like. The duet shows me the album covers and all of the song and artist info right on a nice color lcd screen on the remote.

Strindl,

I am going to just what you outlined and for all the reasons you mentioned. I ordered the HP Media Connect, should have it this Thursday.

Thanks Edcon, My projecter is at best 1080i or 720p.
As far as the unit being compatible I will have to look further.

I am going to just what you outlined and for all the reasons you mentioned. I ordered the HP Media Connect, should have it this Thursday.

I took at look at that just now on the HP website. I like the fact that it does video as well as audio. From what I could tell, it doesn't look like there is any method for browsing your audio collection without having a TV monitor on though. Is that correct?

That's the beauty of the squeezebox duet system...the LCD color display on the remote controller. That system does not do video though.

Scott

Yes you need a monitor. I liked what I read about the Squeeze Box as well, however I have a Harmony One and wanted to stay with a single remote. Plus I like the idea of a large display (maybe because I need reading glasses these days).

I have the Squeezbox 3, same as the Squeezebox Classic and it works fine with the Harmony 620 and you can adjust the size of the text to your liking.