Before reading this description of our jukebox you should read about the minimal jukebox.

Our jukebox uses the same design principles and components as the minimal jukebox, but has these additional features:

• To ensure domestic harmony, there are two jukebox servers. One is for normal use by the household. The other is for me to experiment with in my study. When I've finished experimenting and I'm happy with the result, I update the household jukebox server from my experimental one. For simplicity and economy, both servers share the same music files, but everything else is separate.
• There are two PCs, networked together. My main PC is used for adding CDs to the jukebox, and runs the experimental server. The server PC runs the household server (so I suppose I should call it the "household server PC", but "server PC" will have to do). The server PC lives in a cupboard and has no monitor or keyboard — it is remotely controlled from my main PC. The server PC operates normally even if my main PC is switched off.
• The digital signal is converted to audio using a studio-quality external DAC (digital to analogue converter) rather than a PC sound card. The sound quality is impeccable.
• The server PC has outputs to three audio amplifiers, not one.
• One of the amplifiers is connected to the server using a slim category 5 network cable instead of a bulky twin coaxial audio cable.
• There is a permanent Internet connection, allowing web browsing from the remote control.
• The music files are automatically backed up to another hard disk, outside the house.

Our jukebox is continually being improved. Mostly I've updated the pages on this site to reflect the latest improvements, but sometimes I find that this would be just too confusing, particularly for the diagrams. There are a few refinements that, if included in the main pages of this site, would make the diagrams and explanations just too complicated. So I've disregarded them for most pages, and described them separately as "Plus" features. Those features are:

• A third PC on the network can access the main server through a browser, and select and play music independently of what's being played elsewhere.
• The lyrics of most popular vocal songs are downloaded from the Internet and stored on the server PC. They can be viewed on the remote control screens.
• Monitor screens display the title, artist, and album currently playing, in large letters visible from anywhere in the room.

Pages about our jukebox:

• Components: The bits of hardware and software used, and how they relate to each other.
• Two PCs: How the two PCs work together.
• Two Remote Controls: How the two remote controls work together.
• Web Browsing: Browse the Web with the remote control.
• Installation: Photographs of the server installation and wiring.
• Backups: Backing up the music files.
• Omissions: Things you won't find in our jukebox.
• Plus: The Third PC: How another PC on the network can select and play its own music.
• Plus: Lyrics: How lyrics are downloaded and displayed.
• Plus: Monitor Screens: Large screens show everyone what's playing.