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Q I'm looking to load my CD collection into a hi-res ripper/music server that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. My plan is to connect it to my Pioneer SC-85 receiver so I can browse lists of artists and titles on my TV. Do you have any suggestions? —April Seale

A Since you’re asking about standalone products that combine CD ripping, storage, and playback, I’m going to assume you don’t want to mess with computer-based solutions for building a digital audio library. But since you also mention high-res audio and an advanced AV receiver like the Pioneer SC-85, I’m going to assume you own a computer and have a high-speed Internet connection.

Now that I’ve made those assumptions, I’ll offer that the easiest and cheapest solution is to rip your CDs on your computer to the ALAC or FLAC lossless format using a program like dBpoweramp . You can then transfer the files to an external USB hard drive that connects to the Pioneer’s USB port and browse them on your TV using the Pioneer’s onscreen display.

A problem with the above suggestion is that the interface for playback of music files from USB or DLNA-connected devices on receivers is typically slow and clunky to work with. You’ll have a much better experience when using a networked component with built-in storage that provides a tablet or smartphone app to browse your collection. Two such products that Sound & Vision has reviewed recently are the Bluesound Vault and Sony HAP-S1 High-res Audio Player.

While both components are easy to recommend, the cost for each is in the $1,000 range — still an arm and a leg by many folks' standards. If you decide to dive further into the computer end of things, you can save money and get similar results by building a DIY music server using a Mac Mini or Mini PC. For more information and suggestions, check out this post and the informative thread that follows it.