View Full Version : Music setup help?


Chrononaut
12-10-08, 05:26 PM
I have recently purchased most of two AV systems, but neither system really has a satisfactory way to play music. At the moment, each system provides two listening options:

(1) Play individual redbook music CDs on the DVD player. Both DVD players have decent SQ, but this option isn’t very convenient because every 45 minutes or so I need to change the CDs; or

(2) Play Sirius radio through my DishNetwork DVR. This is extremely convenient, but provides slightly worse SQ and suffers substantially because the radio stations obviously don’t play only songs that I like.

What I want is to play music independently in the two systems with near-optimal SQ (given the “mid-range” quality of my systems) in an ultra-convenient way. That isn’t too much to ask, right? ;)

Each system has its own AVR. In case they are useful in finding the best solution, 2 iPods and 2 computers with iTunes are available. Neither computer is physically close to either AV system.

I talked with a clerk at Radio Shack, and he suggested connecting a short-range FM transmitter to a computer, playing music on the computer, and using the AVR tuner to pick up that music as an FM signal. This is a pretty cheap solution, but is it going to get the SQ I want? Is there a better way?

Maximum budget = $500, but cheaper would be preferred.

Rupert
12-11-08, 02:26 AM
If you want to use iTunes, the Apple Airport Express would be a good choice:

http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/

Also, look at Squeezebox and Roku for similar products. I would stay away from FM transmitters....the SQ is not good.

Chrononaut
12-11-08, 06:14 PM
Thanks for the info. I'm pretty clueless about how to proceed, so I wanted to ask in the most general forum to start out. Based on your response, it looks like I should take my question to the Digital Media Servers & Content Streamers forum. Sound about right?