Despite a few legal skirmishes, there is a not-so-quiet revolution brewing in the music industry, thanks to the digital audio compression format known as MP3. MP3 is everywhere these days: on PCs, mobile players, burned into recordable CDs, in car stereo systems, and soon, even in cell phones. Now you can join the revolution without the aid of a computer with the Audio Ramp iRad, a dedicated MP3 home Internet stereo.

The iRad-S is one of several devices available from AudioRamp.com, a company that provides software and hardware for personalizing your MP3 collection. The iRad-S (for "stand-alone") is a bookshelf stereo system that incorporates a CD player, a FM radio, a modem, a 6GB hard drive, and software for playing MP3 as well as other audio content. Using the 3"x5" monochrome LCD display, you can manage your MP3 collection and nab fresh content from the Internet.

The CD player is capable of "ripping" CDs onto its internal hard drive, which can store about 1000 MP3-based tunes. While the CD player on the iRad-S cannot record CDs, it can play MP3-encoded CDs, and also store about 1000 songs. The iRad-S has connectors for downloading songs onto a portable MP3 player, making your personal MP3 collection easy to record, manage, and take with you.

Onboard software and the built-in modem on the iRad-S allow downloading of even more MP3s, or it can be used to play streaming audio content in MS Media or RealAudio formats. Broadcasts of live events can even be "time-shifted" so you can listen to them whenever you want. Software is automatically updated over the Internet when it connects through the onboard modem or home network.

AudioRamp.com also has a component unit, appropriately named the iRad-C. The iRad-C does not include a FM tuner, but does have an "optical out" port for high-quality digital exporting of MP3s to a MiniDisc machine. Both units are priced at $399 and are available for pre-order (expected to ship sometime this summer).

***DLT Tip: Audio Ramp iRad-P software allows users to assemble "personal jukebox" MP3 collections for playing on their PCs. It is available now for free downloading at the company's Web site, www.audioRamp.com.

Links: AudioRamp.com Home Page, iRad Press Release