Digital Music Systems Buying Guide

If you're out of college altogether but yet not quite old enough to retire, chances are you fall into the category of people who are tied to a physical collection of music: CDs,  albums,  maybe even a few cassette tapes.   The trouble is that now your very expensive stereo system  sits on the shelf and collects dust while you try to utilise your iPod  or other digital music player.   However, just because music is losing its physical aspects and taking a more permanent role on your hard drive,  doesn't mean you have to ditch the concept of a stereo.  There are ways to bridge the gap!  Here are a few methods that we like to use. 

Top Picks

Sonos Digital Music System  This user-friendly device connects to your Internet broadband router  and a nearby stereo's auxiliary input.   Through the router it is possible to see the music on your PC and makes it available in any room that you have set up the ZonePlayer speakers.	Logitech Wireless DJ Music System  With a sophisticated (yet easy-to-use) interface, this system will play all the music and radio streams you have on your PC.   It is compatible with almost all types of music files and comes with a tiny little LCD remote control  to help you with your navigation.	Slim Devices Squeezebox  The Squeezebox joins your existing home network via Wi-Fi  or Ethernet connection,  and then requires only a simple connection to your stereo’s auxiliary input.  It also comes with an excellent remote control that makes it easy to search play-lists on your hard drives or tune-in to streaming Internet radio  stations.	Roku Sound Bridge Internet Radio  As clever a contraption as the Soundbridge is, it can join only Wi-Fi networks,  and even then doesn’t connect easily to networks on which security features  are enabled. But like the other devices, it will play all the music that’s on your PC’s  or Mac’s  play-lists with crisp and clear sound quality.	Apple AirPort Express  This clever little gadget is nothing more than a wireless router  that plugs directly into an AC wall socket. It has an audio output,  which, when combined with the right cables, connects directly to the auxiliary input  of your stereo. Once it’s on your Wi-Fi Network,  the songs on your play-list can be played on your stereo.

Related Guides

Check out some of these other guides to upgrade your digital music! 

Home Theatre Systems	A/V Receivers	MP3 Players	Satellite Radio	Portable Speakers

External Links

• CNET.com:  A forum to ask and answer questions about streaming music onto home stereos. 
• NPR.org:  An article about how IPods have pushed out stereo systems. 
• Wired.com:  An article on going from PC to stereo.