Vanity: Home music system advice wanted!

Today | Me

[narses]

I have, like many people, a lot of music in my iTunes and MP3 / CD collection. What are good choices for getting the music in multiple rooms with wireless speakers from either one computer or maybe a home server?

I am looking for all ideas, hardware, software, speakers, websites, articles - bring it on!

(I am on a limited budget, so value based ideas are a real plus!)

[narses]

This is either my second or third ever vanity. Any advice, links, ideas or suggestions are most welcome.

[Libloather]

900mHz. Google it.

[Berlin_Freeper]

I just make it louder. But I only have three rooms.

[americanophile]

I’ve looked at wireless systems for a while, but I haven’t food a good solution that isn’t horribly expensive. Really the only way to do this effectively with reasonable costs - at least that I’ve found - is to simply install a wired system. Yes, it’s a pain.

[narses]

http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Go-SPK-VELO-4KIT2-Wireless-Transmitter/dp/B003N6SBFE/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

[narses]

:)

[narses]

I went looking for stereo stuff. The kids at Best Buy thought I sounded crazy. Sigh. Getting old.

[Calvin Locke]

I bought an FM Stereo transmitter (in kit form), and have it plugged
into secondary output of a computer.

I also have a tv/fm card, and a computer controlled am/sw radio
plugged into the line input.

And, the xmitter (and radio) is plugged into the power station.

In my case, what I do is simply turn the xmitter on from the power
station, set the speakers to quad, launch the whatever
outputting media app, and I'm good to go, even outside, within
reason, with any fm radio.

[FreedomPoster]

Several people I know have the Sonos system and are quite happy with it. Researching it better and perhaps getting some of their hardware is on my “to-do” list.

http://www.sonos.com/

[narses]

Wow. Just wow!

[AZLiberty]

Assuming you already have a wireless router and an amplifier and speakers in each room, Airport Express only costs about $80/room.

[I cannot think of a name]

“I just make it louder. But I only have three rooms.”

We have 11 rooms, and louder works just fine.

Of course I'm half deaf, but if loud bothers you, do as my dogs do and burrow your head under some pillows. My wife usually goes outside or leaves when Klieber’s 5th is on.

[2ndamendmentpa]

Im in the middle of deploying a free linux media server called VortexBox. Mostly geared at audio/music.

http://vortexbox.org/

In this setup, the VortexBox computer functions as the (monitorless) storage and server for all your media. You access and play from any other computer on your network using the media player of your choice. The VortexBox is also a CD Ripper, so you can add any CD to your library just by dropping it in the caddie.

So you can either have one computer as the main player hooked to you home stereo - or just play off the speakers of whatever device you might be using.

So far, so good - I use Ubuntu 11.10 and Banshee didn’t want to connect - So I ditched that for the much more straightforward “Ario” - connected no problem. Just supply the IP address that is reported when you boot your vortexbox.

[SgtHooper]

We are infested with Sonos, and love the hell outta the whole system. I can carry a speaker out to my campfire (150 feet away), plug in the speaker, and listen to music in woods while carrying on and reading Free Republic!! It just doesn’t get any better than that.

[angry elephant]

I have Apple’s Airport Express hooked into three different stereo systems in three separate areas.

I was using a Dlink router, but I upgraded to an Airport Extreme as the router as it seems to have more power with the Expresses so as not to get jitter.

It is important to run your itunes off of the fastest processor computer that you have. I use one of the Win 7s for that. The older XP did stagger sometimes.

Actually, I use PCs for my work, but Apple is good for entertainment purposes. My son clued me in on all this music stuff. I can run all the stereos at once or just the one I want.

Also, if you have an iPad, there is a remote app so that you can control the music, once it is running, off of the Pad.

Maybe more than you wanted to know!

[GreenLanternCorps]

Everything you will ever need to know about speakers is in the film “Ruthless People”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19CvEO3Riy0

(Not Safe For Work)

[Marie Antoinette]

This thread has some interesting info, thought you’d like it.

[al_c]

Have you considered Apple's AirPort Express?

[narses]

Thanks!