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As always, it depends on the cost.
Now that hi-rez files without DRM are starting to become available for download from several labels, are you ready for an audiophile music server?
i have a collection of roughly 10k CDs that are currently very disorganized. It is almost impossible to listen to my music except via my Mac Mini/Apple Lossless/PS Audio Dig Link III USB set up. it is also better sounding than any of the CD players I currently own.
I not only want the ability to download lossless audio files (as an example like Aix and Naim are offering) to be easily imported into a server database, but also to import via a phono preamp (Pro-Ject's Phono Box II USB appears to be the best example on the market) and easily index some of my many quality LPs into play lists. A 1500 LP collection would be cost prohibitive and impossible to replace. So fare no-one seems to be able to get a grip on the fact that there might be large numbers of audiophiles (for lack of a better term) who want to roll their own, but not just from digital sources. The Phone Box USB is just an inkling of what can be accomplished with the correct components.
As things now stand, I still prefer to rip from my own CDs, but I think that eventually prices will fall and resolution will rise to the point that downloads will become a viable option even for tightwad audiophiles like me. That said, I still like pictures and liner notes and "hard copies." Long live physical media!
Hi-rez content served from hard drives represents a huge opportuntiy for for the audiophile marketplace as new hardware will be required to store and play this content. If the vendors respond to this opportunity and start offering devices that are future-proof and standards-based, I think we can see a significant resurgence the audio market that will have very broad impact. Future-proof can be achieved by offering devices that include data paths of at least 24 bits, support sample rates of at least 192kHz and channel counts of at least 6. Adherance to existing standards for networked devices and other communication protocols used in CE devices is essential especially to audiophiles as we will always want to at least have the option of mixing and matching various components rather than being bound to a particular vendor.