newguy

Hi Bill -- I'm "bi" -- when it comes to operating systems, that is. Comfortable with either. I have never "ripped" a CD in my life, although I did shred one once (in a heavy duty paper-shredder) but that's different, right? CDs arranged by composer. Pretty straightforward there. Grateful for any suggestions you may have re: "ripping" accoutrements. Thanks, Peter

Hi Bill, Thanks for your thoughtful reply. I will be setting up his classical music collection on an iPo/ad. Lots of CDs to be transferred -- perhaps 200 or so. Any tips you can offer will be gratefully received! Peter

I'll definitely check out the Bose and the BW ... and, insofar as the weight of the iPod v. iPad is concerned, wise words borne of hard experience, I'm sure. I'll keep it in mind. Thank you again, everybody, for being so generous with your time and ideas ... -- Peter

Thanks, again, Paul. I'm going to try to see if I can swing your original suggestion, though. So long as I can rig it for intuitive remote management via the iPad, I want to get him the best I can afford, even if it's overkill. God knows it's the least I can do for him. So grateful to everyone for weighing in. It means more than I can say ...

Perhaps you're right. My problem with the Bose is that it sounds so damn tinny (the aforementioned earphones are terrific, though.) My Dad was a bit of an audiophile way back when (40+ years ago), so there's a part of me that wants to honor that ... although, yeah, one must be practical.

Peachtree is interesting! I'll investigate further. Thanks.

Yes, simplicity is key. The thing is, I know he'll find headphones cumbersome, so speakers would be the way to go. One simple setup might involve iPod (or, really, an iPad, since that will be much easier to navigate) and a pair of AudioEngine 5s (as you may know, the AEs have an iPod dock built in. I own a pair of AE 5s myself and like them, with reservations. The other thing, though, is this: I like the idea of the iPad not being tethered to anything (like a dock). Really, when we're talking about simplicity of use, we're talking about the interface, right?

I'll spend whatever I have to. As a practical matter, my ceiling would be about $1750, not including the computer.

Very helpful, Paul, thanks. So, you can use the iPad as a remote to control iTunes on the PC? Is that via an iPad app of some sort? Also, do you have suggestion for the DAC? Or are they more-or-less interchangeable? EDIT: I found the app: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/remote/id284417350?mt=8

Thanks. Speakers, definitely. He uses PC, although he's expressed interest in an iPad. Can that be used as the controller/storage-streaming device (as opposed to a PC or Mac)? I'm thinking I might get him a decent pair of speakers -- like the AudioEngine 5's -- and a solid USB DAC, like something from Musical Fidelity. Just impulses, at the moment. In this post, I've pretty much exhausted the limits of my "expertise."

Folks -- My dad, who is dying of cancer, is moving into an assisted living facility. Tonight, he asked me to get him a "hi-fi." He listens to classical music, and has been quite proficient with computers -- although, alas, his proficiency is now slipping. Meanwhile, I simply don't know what's out there that combines simplicity-of-use with high quality. (Bose is simple, I know, but, to my ears, sounds ghastly.) As a rule, I have little patience with newbies who parachute onto expert forums and expect others to do their work for them. Alas, I don't have an enormous amount of time to satisfy this wish and so I ask for your understanding. Thanks to any and all able to point me in the right direction.