Brennan intros JB7 Micro Jukebox with lossless CD ripping

There's already a good number of options out there for those wanting to rip CDs without the hassle of a computer, but the number of those that give you lossless CD ripping is quite a bit more limited. Those not willing to accept any compromises now have one more lossless-happy system to consider, however, with Brennan recently introducing its new JB7 Micro Jukebox. Available in 20GB, 40GB, or 80GB versions (and with or without added bookshelf speakers), the system boasts 60W of RMS power and packs a USB port that'll accommodate an iPod or a USB hard drive. Unfortunately, there's no Internet connectivity (wireless or otherwise), but the system does at least come pre-loaded with a database 2.2 million track names, which can be updated quarterly via a CD that Brennan distributes. Look for it to set you back £259 (or roughly $500) for the standalone 20GB unit, with prices running up to £388 (or $760) for the 80GB unit complete with speakers.

[Via Randomly Accessed]

[JC @ Feb 6th 2008 2:06PM]

Slap some outputs on the back, put it in a dashboard mount bezel, and you've got a buyer.

[Smart People Play Tuba @ Feb 6th 2008 2:08PM]

Without internet, this unit is completely useless. Who the hell wants to type all the ID3 tags in by hand?

[Smart People Play Tuba @ Feb 6th 2008 2:11PM]

Okay, I jumped the gun there before reading the "[this piece of crap] does at least come pre-loaded with a database 2.2 million track names, which can be updated quarterly via a CD that Brennan distributes" part.

Still . . . this is 2008. An "firmware" upgrade on CD-ROM via snail mail? WTF?

[James Bowe @ Feb 7th 2008 11:35AM]

$760 for an 80GB CD ripper? huh? you could buy a computer with a 320GB drive for less, and do quite a bit more than rip cd's. I guess the extra cost goes towards the quarterly cd-by-mail updates they'll be sending you. I'll stick with iTunes and the CDDB database for now, thanks though...

[bradwjensen @ Feb 6th 2008 2:09PM]

Does anyone make some nice Receiver about the size of this product? A decent/good one.. I'm tired of my huge Yamaha one sitting on my desk just so i can channel some good lossless music around to my tower speakers.

[Jesse S @ Feb 6th 2008 2:15PM]

It's called EAC. http://jiggafellz.isa-geek.net/eac/index.html

[Bryan Thornsberry @ Feb 6th 2008 2:30PM]

nothin like drinkin some wine, readin some good old fashioned books, and rippin some discs. Feels just like '97.

[InfinityPlusOne @ Feb 6th 2008 2:46PM]

Oh... I thought it was powered by fine wine and literature. Now I'm less interested. Who doesn't own a computer these days to do this type of thing anyway?

[David Dugas @ Feb 6th 2008 2:34PM]

Make this for a car to replace a cd player.
I will love you forever.
I get tired of toting my ipod from my car, to my pocket to walk to class, back to my car, then to my computer and stuff...

i dont know. it seems lazy, but someone can agree with me!

[ScooterDe @ Feb 6th 2008 8:16PM]

...er, tired of toting around yr iPod wherever you go? Trying dumping it. I dumped mine (when the battery failed) and haven't looked back. Had forgotten that birds sing in the trees...

[David Dugas @ Feb 6th 2008 11:36PM]

I can't just leave music behind...

It's my degree...

it's my joy...

that's pretty much crazy talk...

but i like birds. unless they wake me up.

[Dan P @ Feb 6th 2008 2:56PM]

"Brennan intros JB7 Micro Jukebox with lossless CD rippping"

rippping... 'Nuff said.

[areldyb @ Feb 6th 2008 7:14PM]

Was thinking the same thing.

Threee P's... definitely bettter than just two. :)

[JonO @ Feb 6th 2008 3:14PM]

And people complain about Vudu's price tag with a 250 Gig hard drive and it plays video when all this does is play audio!

[aardvark sandwich @ Feb 6th 2008 3:38PM]

Jesse S is right; Exact Audio Copy all the way. No exceptions.

If only iTunes would embed EAC into their player/ripper:(

[Bad Beaver @ Feb 6th 2008 3:47PM]

Jip, makes me want to get drunk and listen to R.E.M. – NOW!

[Daniel @ Feb 6th 2008 4:53PM]

Lossless is dumb.

[Jesse S @ Feb 6th 2008 7:50PM]

You don't like to archive your music?

All my music is in FLAC. Why? Not because I'm some idiot who thinks it sounds better than a well-encoded MP3 or Vorbis file, no. It's for archival purposes. I like to rip my CD, then pack it away. If my CD's are ever damaged, I still technically have the CD on my media server.

Plus, I can encode it into any format that I want to. Transcoding a lossy file to another lossy file is a major no-no.

[Ricardo @ Feb 6th 2008 5:10PM]

Why won't anyone let CDs die in piece? They did their job for quite some years now, it's about time they retire.

[telepheedian @ Feb 6th 2008 7:46PM]

Because they are still more versatile than MP3 downloads, legal or otherwise, plus, physical backup.

[Leroy Vargas @ Feb 6th 2008 6:49PM]

I will only buy it if it sports an Ethernet port (or, much better, WiFi!) and the ability to fetch data from Gracenote. My CD collection happens to be made up solely of all Japanese music, and I am pretty sure that jukebox has no Japanese IME input to let me insert kanji or kana or fancy symbols into ID3.

[Jesse S @ Feb 6th 2008 7:50PM]

Weeaboo.

[Brennan @ Feb 6th 2008 8:01PM]

oh, i did? Cool. I sure am clever.