Computer / Audio Advice

[hot_wire]

All of my music is on my computer. My stereo system is across the room. I'm tired of using my 3.5mm to RCA cable and I want to achieve two goals:

 

1) Wirelessly steam music from my computer's iTunes library (and possibly pandora, youtube, etc) to my stereo.

 

2) Improve sound quality (hopefully 192kbps and 5.1 audio) by using a fiberoptic or other quality connection from whatever wireless receiver to my home theater system.

 

I've considered an Apple Airport Extreme/Express because it has the fiberoptic toslink connection. I'm not sure if it can stream anything other than itunes though. I've also thought about an ad2p bluetooth receiver plugged in next to my stereo. Not sure about the audio quality there.

 

Also, it would be extra nice if my roommates could connect their laptops (mostly Macbooks) to the stereo as well during houseparties. What do you guys use?

[Rally Pat]

Got an iPhone or iPod touch?

 

1. Download Orb App

2. Install Orb Server on your computer.

3. ???

4. Profit

 

Now it won't do toslink, obviously, but it works amazing.

[Fubar231]

Not sure if you can (Some pc's have them some dont) but you could get a FiberOptic Sound cord (Light through sound) and then run it that way. Thats how i have my xbox hooked up to my surround sound. Clearest type of audio ive ever heard.

[hot_wire]

Got an iPhone or iPod touch?

 

1. Download Orb App

2. Install Orb Server on your computer.

3. ???

4. Profit

 

Now it won't do toslink, obviously, but it works amazing.

 

Thought about this, but I like surfing the web on my computer while playing music across the room.

 

I also just upgraded my stereo and would like an upgraded connection. Keep the ideas comin though

[hot_wire]

Not sure if you can (Some pc's have them some dont) but you could get a FiberOptic Sound cord (Light through sound) and then run it that way. Thats how i have my xbox hooked up to my surround sound. Clearest type of audio ive ever heard.

 

That's exactly what I want.... Except I dont want my laptop tethered to the receiver.

[Fubar231]

That's exactly what I want.... Except I dont want my laptop tethered to the receiver.

 

Only thing i'd be worried about is if your Going from laptop ---> wireless whatever ---> speakers, while going from laptop to wireless wirelessly, then whatever to the speakers with the fiberoptic, wouldn't you only get the sound clarity thats as good as the wireless part?

[hot_wire]

Only thing i'd be worried about is if your Going from laptop ---> wireless whatever ---> speakers, while going from laptop to wireless wirelessly, then whatever to the speakers with the fiberoptic, wouldn't you only get the sound clarity thats as good as the wireless part?

 

Truth. I don't know much about this, but I thought that the wireless part would be a pure digital transmission at whatever bitrate the songs are saved at. Am I assuming too much?

[Nitrousbird]

Bluetooth would work well. I link my iPhone to the system in my Avalanche and the sound quality is just as good as my hard wired iPod. Not sure about 5.1 though.

[BIGGU]

linksys wireless music bridge, thats what i use and it works quite well.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124056

[Mensan]

Logitech Squeezebox Duet.

 

Edited August 2, 2010 by Mensan
Found better review

[unfunnyryan]

Providing you really want to use that optical port for 5.1

 

http://www.pcworld.com/article/126102/pctostereo_streamer_puts_you_in_control.html

[dragknee66]

Not sure if this is what youre looking for but I use tversity to stream everything from my PCs to my xbox onto the stereo. You can use it with ps3 too.

 

?

[unfunnyryan]

Not sure if this is what youre looking for but I use tversity to stream everything from my PCs to my xbox onto the stereo. You can use it with ps3 too.

 

?

 

+1..

 

For the price of all this stuff, a 360 would probably be the way to go.

[87GT]

Install the wire under carpet or through the walls. Be a man and it it right.

 

Tversity is also cool you can have it stream to anything almost. I have it working on my ps3, xbox360, sony psp, and my android phone. Orb in my opinion sucks but whatever.

[hot_wire]

Tomorrow I'm making a big move and buying a MacMini off of craigslist. I'm going to use it as the centerpiece of my home theater and hook it to the lcd tv via HDMI and to the receiver by toslink. I think a dedicated computer has a bunch of benefits that a simple bridge would not.

 

My roommates and I are planning to control it solely via our wireless network and remotedesktop. This will allow us play full quality music with no lag/ share our external harddrives/use it as a print server/watch saved movies/stream internet content & tv shows. I'm also going to try to get it setup to automatically backup my laptop's files every few days.

 

Thanks for the solid advice! I feel like if I am already committing to spending a hundred on a wireless setup, might as well spend double and get my entire home theater organized haha

[unfunnyryan]

I'd just set up a webserver on it and use that to control itunes (it can be done)

 

Install Boxee for all of your movies.