diyAudio - NAS - SqueezeBox Duet OR PC

Hello Everyone.

Found this form today and have found it to be really helpful and informative.

Have recently embarked on a mammoth CD ripping adventure using EAC. I don't have the biggest collection of CD's by any means but I have a fair few and thought it was about time I made them a bit more accessible.

Not sure about other people on here, but I have found it really fun going through CD after CD with EAC. Irrespective of how many CD's I have, I can get overly selective over time meaning I don't really listen to the full collection enough. Ripping them one by one has made me appreciate the ones I haven't heard for a long time and of course having them instantly selectable without sitting amongst a pile of CD cases is a huge benefit.

But anyway....

My plan beyond ripping them was to store them on a 2TB Netgear ReadyNas box and then get a Squeezebox Duet to select and send the music to my amp. Was going to get that this week but have other ideas now.

An alternative is to build a PC that can store and output the music to my amp whilst providing a screen for selection. I guess if I go down this route I can look at all kinds of input/selection devices and can use a spare monitor that I don't mind leaving on. I would also be able to choose the best soundcard.

So my thinking at present is

NAS Box – SqueezeBox Duet
PC – Unconfirmed Input Device – Monitor – Soundcard

I think the PC idea is appealing in part because I don't really want to chuck the music around the house. I listen in one room and don't need to be sending the music to the kitchen etc.

Any suggestions as to the best way to proceed are welcome :)