I'm just in the process of ripping my CD collection to my hard-disc (at 320kbps MP3 format) and am thinking of investing in a music streaming device once my MP3 player is delivered. Does anyone know much about these?

Hi Alex - there's a good piece about streaming devices here. What sort of budget are you on?

aah, i'm poor Al, so im looking at the budget end mainly...

At 60 quid or so the Netgear MP101 is just about the cheapest I've seen. It'll handle 320kbps too. The main benefit with these things is the wireless connection enabling you to listen to music without having to be anywhere near your pc. Ideal for a living room or something like that. Where are you planning to use it?

Well I've already got a wireless router/hub/thing, so would it just connect with that? I was planning to put it in the living room...

Alex

Yeah, I think that will work fine. Let me know how you get on with it, as I'm considering getting one of these too. I'd love to be able to do away with getting up and changing my cds all the time! :)

Yeah, I'd love to see one in action somewhere - might pop into town at the weekend to see if I can see one in a showroom.

I've just bought a netgear wireless hub and a MP101 - they're fab, no I can get online wherever I want in the house, AND listen to tunes from my media server on my hi-fi! How cool is that?

How much did all that set you back John?

I've just got an Airport Express. Is there any other router that I can use with the rest of my home network that will not interfere with the Apple?

Hi Christopher. What else in your set-up needs a wireless connection? I know the Airport Express will deal with most things... (internet, music etc)

I need to buy an ADSL router. I saw a note in one of the magazines that it can be a problem as airport express wants to be the hub.

Sad to report but my experience with a Netgear 101 was very dissapointing. I tried using it on both wi-fi and ethernet connections and only ever achieved a playing time of about 3 hours. It was never stable and certainly not some thing the rest of the family could use. I also found the database management poor and unable to handle a large CD collection. I stuck with it for a while and had some fun with the yahoo user group before consigning it to ebay. Crusing the web I came across XITEL. I did my research and bought their HiFi Link.

This simple device connects to a usb port and delivers signals to your Hi-Fi inputs incorporating an in line quality sound card.

It worked 1st time and every time since.My entire CD collection is controlled via the excellent Windows Media Centre and gives endless options.

The slight drawback is wires but I am fortunate to have suspended floors. I'd love to know if other readers have used the Xitel maybe the editors could arrange a review?. I've since bought their product for copying LP's etc on to the computer. This is slow, being limited to real time, but the results are excellent.

WWW.XITEL.COM is well worth a visit.