Home cinema stream audio - options?

[shakotan]

I'd like a system to connect to the internet, and to play music through my home cinema amp/speakers, plus be controlled by an Android app on my phone or tablet.

Is Sonos my only solution? The unit itself doesn't need to be wireless, it can be hardwired to the internet and to the home cinema amp, only the control side needs to be. £279 for a Sonos Connect seems a bit on the rich side for me.

[kingston12]

Apple TV is a cheaper option. It obviously won't be controlled by your Android phone, but it has it's own simple remote.

Some home cinema amps have streamers built in now. I have a Marantz one which is controlled directly by a phone app. It is not as nice to use as Sonos but it is still quite good and can support 24/192 audio which Sonos can't.

[TheHeretic]

You could probably pick up one of the android powered boxes. Your android app will probably play with that better than the apple TV to be honest.

[shakotan]

kingston12 said:

Apple TV is a cheaper option. It obviously won't be controlled by your Android phone, but it has it's own simple remote.

Some home cinema amps have streamers built in now. I have a Marantz one which is controlled directly by a phone app. It is not as nice to use as Sonos but it is still quite good and can support 24/192 audio which Sonos can't.

Hmm, Apple TV wont allow me to control Spotify though, unless I have the television switched on as well.

[shakotan]

TheHeretic said:

You could probably pick up one of the android powered boxes. Your android app will probably play with that better than the apple TV to be honest.

"Andriod powered boxes"

Any brand names you could throw out there?

[TheHeretic]

shakotan said:

"Andriod powered boxes"

Any brand names you could throw out there?

I've never used them so I can't make a recommendation. However a quick google brings up lots of choice.

Soething akin to this, maybe?

http://www.geniatech.com/pa/android-tv.asp

[shakotan]

TheHeretic said:

shakotan said:

"Andriod powered boxes"

Any brand names you could throw out there?

I've never used them so I can't make a recommendation. However a quick google brings up lots of choice.

Soething akin to this, maybe?

http://www.geniatech.com/pa/android-tv.asp

Thanks, it seems those style of boxes use the tv as an interface, I'm really looking for something where I can control music remotely without having to have the tv on.

It would appear Sonos is the only one that offers such a solution.

[TheHeretic]

shakotan said:

Thanks, it seems those style of boxes use the tv as an interface, I'm really looking for something where I can control music remotely without having to have the tv on.

It would appear Sonos is the only one that offers such a solution.

You should still be able to output audio to wherever you want. I think there are DNLA apps for android, and you can use the box as a DNLA server and control it from said app. You'll have to poke one of the android folks. Try Zespak.

[JimbobVFR]

Personally I use Logitech Media Server and a squeezebox to do exactly what you want.

The only problem with that as an option is that tl the squeezebox line has been discontinued. What this means is that eventually Logitech will pull the plug on the online server that gives access to some online streaming services, when this happens local streaming from LMS on your network will still work (and there is a plugin for Spotify so that will still work)

TBH this doesn't put me off for my use which is mainly streaming my own library of flac and other formats and the odd Internet radio station but I do understand why people might not want to buy into obsolete tech.

[shakotan]

Hmmm, maybe I'm over thinking this.

Can stream Spotify et al via wireless to phone, then use Skifta to send it to xBox360 via wireless and then into Home Cinema.