Streaming Music To A HiFi?
Discussion
I currently have my music in iTunes which I sync with my iPod. I then plug the iPod into a dock connected to my HiFi (Pioneer A400 and Kef Q15s etc), to listen to in the lounge.
I've been thinking that there must be a better way of sending the music to the amp and have read loads and proceeded to get royaly confused by it all. It would be great to be able to control it all through my iPhone or iPad. Anybody have any advice for a simple, not too techy way of doing this?
I've looked at the following ideas -
- Sonos Zone Player plugged into the A400 (with a bridge at the router upstairs)
- Apple TV optically linked to my surround amp, looped to the A400
- Arcam rDac-kw, outputting to the A400
- Denon/NAD/Cambridge Audio music streamer
I like the sound of all of these (being male and loving gadgets), but have no idea which is the easiest/best method of doing this. Any help/advice would be most welcome?
I've been thinking that there must be a better way of sending the music to the amp and have read loads and proceeded to get royaly confused by it all. It would be great to be able to control it all through my iPhone or iPad. Anybody have any advice for a simple, not too techy way of doing this?
I've looked at the following ideas -
- Sonos Zone Player plugged into the A400 (with a bridge at the router upstairs)
- Apple TV optically linked to my surround amp, looped to the A400
- Arcam rDac-kw, outputting to the A400
- Denon/NAD/Cambridge Audio music streamer
I like the sound of all of these (being male and loving gadgets), but have no idea which is the easiest/best method of doing this. Any help/advice would be most welcome?
To further confuse you, I use an Apple Airport Express both to extend my existing wireless network and to act as an Airplay portal to a stereo.
The Airport Express has an audio out that is wired to the Aux In on the stereo. I stream music from my iPhone to that - any AirPlay device can do this.
Obviously it's very Apple-centric.
The Airport Express has an audio out that is wired to the Aux In on the stereo. I stream music from my iPhone to that - any AirPlay device can do this.
Obviously it's very Apple-centric.
Marvindodgers said:
- Sonos Zone Player plugged into the A400 (with a bridge at the router upstairs)
Haven't tried the others, but this works a treat. The Sonos will read your iTunes library on your computer (so potentially much greater capacity that what will fit onto your iphone/ipad).
The Sonos will also connect to Spotify which will stream music to the Sonos system.
You can add Sonos components elsewhere around the house, wired or wireless. Each zone can play its own thing, the same as one or more other zones, or you can hook them all together.
Everything can be controlled from an app on your iphone or ipad.
I use one of these Bluetooth doohickey to stream from my iPhone. All my music is on and controlled by the iPhone, the bluetooth dongle then plugs into your stereo and plays whatever your phone is playing. Works really well!
ewenm said:
To further confuse you, I use an Apple Airport Express both to extend my existing wireless network and to act as an Airplay portal to a stereo.
The Airport Express has an audio out that is wired to the Aux In on the stereo. I stream music from my iPhone to that - any AirPlay device can do this.
Obviously it's very Apple-centric.
+1, the easiest and cheapest solution. The Airport Express has an audio out that is wired to the Aux In on the stereo. I stream music from my iPhone to that - any AirPlay device can do this.
Obviously it's very Apple-centric.
Sonos is by far the best way to go. I had an Airport Express which I used for a few months, but it randomly used to cause tracks to stutter, so I flogged that and got a Logitech Squeezebox, which just wasn't particularly great to use, so flogged that. Replaced with Sonos S5 Zoneplayer which is quite simply, epic. Sound quality is top notch, interface with Ipad or Iphone is fantastic and is easy to expand. Not a cheap option, but well worth the cash in the long run. I have stopped using Itunes now as well, Spotify and LastFM work brilliantly with Sonos.
miniman said:
CraigVmax said:
so i just bought a denon amp which has airplay but needs a constant wired connection to my network, could I use the airport express solution?
Yes, I run an Airport Express into my Denon micro system. On my phone i select airport express when playing music, nothing happens, ideas?
CraigVmax said:
so I have my airport express showing green, have a mini jack out of it to 2xphonos into my amp.
On my phone i select airport express when playing music, nothing happens, ideas?
1st stupid question: is your amp switched to the correct input (Aux In/Line In/etc)?On my phone i select airport express when playing music, nothing happens, ideas?
2nd stupid question: is your airport express connected to the same wireless network as your phone?
3rd stupid question: is the volume turned up?
I've found it occasionally takes a couple of attempts to connect and play music successfully and can take a few seconds to start playing.
ewenm said:
CraigVmax said:
so I have my airport express showing green, have a mini jack out of it to 2xphonos into my amp.
On my phone i select airport express when playing music, nothing happens, ideas?
1st stupid question: is your amp switched to the correct input (Aux In/Line In/etc)?On my phone i select airport express when playing music, nothing happens, ideas?
2nd stupid question: is your airport express connected to the same wireless network as your phone?
3rd stupid question: is the volume turned up?
I've found it occasionally takes a couple of attempts to connect and play music successfully and can take a few seconds to start playing.
2. that could be it, im not 100% sure but 99%, will check
3 yes
(thx btw)
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