I'm about to buy a new hi-fi as my old one has just died.

I've been looking around and have realised the micro hi-fi is more
limited than i'd expected and so i just can't decide what to go for. My
limit is £350 and i'd like something that's reasonably stylish and
that is relatively future-proof (least for the next 5 years or so).

As such i've been looking at systems with MP3 playback. It's got me
confused as i'm pretty sure my old system could play recorded CDs with
mp3 files on them.

So, my point is (finally), why is it that some system specs say the CD
player isn't compatible with mp3s?

I feel like i've missed the point somewhere...

Incidentally, how easy is it to hook your PC up to your hifi?

Thanks in advance.
jen

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As such i've been looking at systems with MP3 playback. It's got me
confused as i'm pretty sure my old system could play recorded CDs with
mp3 files on them.

So, my point is (finally), why is it that some system specs say the CD
player isn't compatible with mp3s?

Incidentally, how easy is it to hook your PC up to your hifi?

Thanks in advance.
jen

Perhaps because they're being honest ? My very latest CD player does play
..mp3s, but it's only in the last few days that I discovered how to get their
sound to my amplifier! (In my case .mp3 sound is only available at the phono
plug sockets, and not at the optical which I'd been using.)

You should be able to take a "Line output" from your PC's sound card (look
for 3 small sockets close together - Line input, Mic input, Line-out) into
any normal sensitivity input on your hifi/amplifier (e.g. CD, MD, TV, Video,
Tape but not the high gain inputs provided for a turntable pickup
cartridge). You will probably need a 3.5mm stereo plug at the soundcard
end, and a pair of red & white phono plugs at the other. You may need to
"enable" sound out from PC via the controls provided by Windows. Try
double-clicking on the loudspeaker icon in your system tray at the right
hand side for starters.

--
M Stewart
Milton Keynes, UK
http://www.megalith.freeserve.co.uk/oddimage.htm

wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm about to buy a new hi-fi as my old one has just died.

I've been looking around and have realised the micro hi-fi is more
limited than i'd expected and so i just can't decide what to go for.
My
limit is £350 and i'd like something that's reasonably stylish and
that is relatively future-proof (least for the next 5 years or so).

As such i've been looking at systems with MP3 playback. It's got me
confused as i'm pretty sure my old system could play recorded CDs with
mp3 files on them.

So, my point is (finally), why is it that some system specs say the CD
player isn't compatible with mp3s?

I feel like i've missed the point somewhere...

Incidentally, how easy is it to hook your PC up to your hifi?

Thanks in advance.
jen


Depends how old your 'old' hi-fi is - mp3 playing has only been around
on some limited units for a year or so.

If you want a reasonable unit the Denon DM31 is as good as anything
going, unless you want to listen to cricket on LW!22W/ch, speakers
made by Mission, and it will play CDR and CDRW discs. There are also
now micro units available, by Hitachi and Samsung amongst others, that
have DAB built in, but beware that whilst most of these units have FM
as well, few have AM.

Get a DM31, then buy yourself any resonable DVD player as they all
play mp3, but the not-so-good audio of most DVD players when playing
CDs will not show up with mp3 due to the inherent limitations of the
medium.


--
Woody

harrogate2 at ntlworld dot com

It seems strange that i've never had problems with an mp3 cd in a
player when fairly recent, and decent, player specs like the Denon DM31
reckon they can't be played. Maybe i've just been lucky though.

Thanks for the advice.

That's some useful advice.

The other one i was looking at was more for features than sound quality
(though i've been fiddling with instore stereos and even this was quite
good) was the Sony CMTCPX22...but i just can't stop looking at the
denon one! I like the idea of being able to add other components if i
want to and every review i read raves about it.

I can also see me having to arrange my whole room to get the best sound
from my tv and computer. (sigh)