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Do you mean something like the Harmon Kardon "drive+play" unit that mounts an external display and a wired "click wheel" type remote in your car? Link: http://www.harmankardon.com/drive-1/default.aspx

You can get pretty close to that right now: Harman Kardon Drive+Play

I'm a big dork and intensely research any potential electronics purchase. Instead of impulse-buying, I wait until the unit I want--usually the expensive one--goes on sale.

As an example, I bought a Harman/Kardon receiver a few years ago as the model line was being end-of-lifed. The normally $400+ receiver cost me $199 at Circuit City. The damn thing is a tank. It sounds great and weighs 25 lbs due to its massive transformer...about 10 more than the average Sony. I cracked it open out of curiosity and was surprised at how well-built it is compared to my previous crap JVC receiver.

I've actually had good luck with other Sony stuff, especially their computer monitors. I just don't like their receivers and low-end audio stuff. The upper-end and ES-level components are quite good.

Just pay a little extra and buy something good--it will last. Instead of, say, a Pioneer or JVC receiver, get a H/K, NAD, Denon or Onkyo. This isn't high-end audiophile gear by any means, but it is considerably better than Bose and most of the other mass-market crap at Best Buy.

And don't buy those all-in-one home theatres. If one component fails, you'll be stuck with a whole bunch of useless (still good) equipment.

I'm a big dork and intensely research any potential electronics purchase. Instead of impulse-buying, I wait until the unit I want--usually the expensive one--goes on sale.

As an example, I bought a Harman/Kardon receiver a few years ago as the model line was being end-of-lifed. The normally $400+ receiver cost me $199 at Circuit City. The damn thing is a tank. It sounds great and weighs 25 lbs due to its massive transformer...about 10 more than the average Sony. I cracked it open out of curiosity and was surprised at how well-built it is compared to my previous crap JVC receiver.

I've actually had good luck with other Sony stuff, especially their computer monitors. I just don't like their receivers and low-end audio stuff. The upper-end and ES-level components are quite good.

Just pay a little extra and buy something good--it will last. Instead of, say, a Pioneer or JVC receiver, get a H/K, NAD, Denon or Onkyo. This isn't high-end audiophile gear by any means, but it is considerably better than Bose and most of the other mass-market crap at Best Buy.

And don't buy those all-in-one home theatres. If one component fails, you'll be stuck with a whole bunch of useless (still good) equipment.

it looks like all Harman-Kardon receivers can decode MP3 streams, but if you don't have one of those, i think this lovely device might fit your desire. it takes the MP3 stream from your USB port and converts it to digital audio (PCM). One problem, though, is that it sounds like it needs windows drivers to work. then again, they said winmodems would never work outside of windows...and look what happened.

--Siva

Here's a toy for all of you mp3 freaks, Harman Kardon has a new computer-to-home audio link that connects your mp3 collection to your home reciever. They boast about allowing you to browse your mp3 collection and play it from your home stereo system. This might be on my Christmas list!

I used to work for ZapMedia. It's a great company, but (at least until recently) a very poorly-led one. While I was there the company went from 40 people to 120 and then down to 20. They blew through some $20 million in capital. I was laid off in the 5th round of layoffs (can you believe that)?

We were almost bought out several times. The box was even going to be marketed as a Harmon Kardon DMC-100 box, until we ran out of money and decided to keep the profit margins. We talked to several companies (who I should not mention since I could get sued), but every one of the deals fell through. One of the companies even has a competing box on the market now. Another one has a PVR box for sale, which is something we all wanted to be added to the Zapstation.

When I left in September, the box still crashed a lot. I wish them the best of luck. From the sound of this review, they're going to need it.

I have to agree that the variable bit rate sounds better than the constant. However, through my equipment, mp3s have a distinct lower quality than cds. There is a noticable improvement when they are burned to audio though, so it is not a lack in the mp3 format, just in my mp3 playing hardware. I have a very difficult time telling the difference between a song from a pressed cd and one that I have ripped, encoded and then burned back to cd audio format.

I have a Rotel amp and pre. My source is a Harman Kardon FL8550 cd changer. My speakers are JBL S38 "bookshelf" speakers (they're bookshelf only if you have a BIG bookshelf.)

My soundblaster live value card can't compete with the FL8550's dual 20 bit Burr-Brown digital to analog converters. My next equipment purchase is going to be an Onkyo SE-U55 USB sound processor. Hopefully, that should let me use mp3s for more than casual listening.

One last thing: if you think computer addictions can be expensive, just try getting hooked on audiophile quality hardware! The interconnects I'm going to buy are over a $100 each for the bottom end of the line. But you can hear the difference.

I have to agree that the variable bit rate sounds better than the constant. However, through my equipment, mp3s have a distinct lower quality than cds. There is a noticable improvement when they are burned to audio though, so it is not a lack in the mp3 format, just in my mp3 playing hardware. I have a very difficult time telling the difference between a song from a pressed cd and one that I have ripped, encoded and then burned back to cd audio format.

I have a Rotel amp and pre. My source is a Harman Kardon FL8550 cd changer. My speakers are JBL S38 "bookshelf" speakers (they're bookshelf only if you have a BIG bookshelf.)

My soundblaster live value card can't compete with the FL8550's dual 20 bit Burr-Brown digital to analog converters. My next equipment purchase is going to be an Onkyo SE-U55 USB sound processor. Hopefully, that should let me use mp3s for more than casual listening.

One last thing: if you think computer addictions can be expensive, just try getting hooked on audiophile quality hardware! The interconnects I'm going to buy are over a $100 each for the bottom end of the line. But you can hear the difference.

I just did an entire home theatre upgrade myself. It sounds like you have a good TV and a good DVD player (Digital decoding built in!). Now what you need is power. I recommend any high current receiver and the speakers to handle it. I bought a Harman Kardon AV 110 to power my 5 Energy speakers (FR,LR,C,SL,SR, no sub!). This receiver delivers 20Hz - 20kHz into 8 ohms on each channel. The difference is you can feel the audio as well as hear it. Center channel is a must. HK also has the best remotes. Use Gladiator for audio testing as it has a DTS audio setup option. Enjoy!

Click Here

That's about the only thing this goon's posted that isn't a lie.

You can't make stuff like this up...

(insert your own "Linux port/Beowulf cluster/etc" joke here)
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