But if you're not going to use the player in the car, why buy a CAR PLAYER?

Even though I have a Rio Receiver, I still wonder if making a component box for an Empeg would be better. Here are the shortcomings, as I see it, of the solutions you mentioned.

• Rio HSX-109 - Expensive. Anyone willing to make a component box for an Empeg is savvy enough to rip their own tunes on a PC. Hence, the expense is unjustified.
• RioReceiver - Screen is less than desireable. It can't be read from more than 3 or 4 feet away. Also requires a PC to be on 24/7 unless you want a two-step process for turning on your MP3 player.
• Rio Riot - No way. This is not to be taken seriously for hooking up to a stereo. All your tech-head friends would mock you.
• PC full of MP3s - Sound quality/fan and hard drive noise/looks

I have a pretty large collection of Empegs and Empeg accessories and I think I may make an Empeg into a component. That is, non-removable. I was also considering using a desktop drive. Rio Receiver is not component width, not black, and the screen is cheesy. Sorry.