The "Official" Pioneer VSX-1020-K Owner's Thread - Page 139

Hi 413X3 -- I'm not sure what you're doing / trying to do but I just want to comment on your last sentence. Basically you have four buttons that you can press to change the modes on the 1020.

1. Auto / ALC / Direct : this will toggle between Auto Surround, Auto Level Control and Stream Direct / Stream Pure Direct
2. Standard : this will force Standard Surround Mode and toggle between a bunch of different ways to play surround sound
3. Advanced: this will toggle between Surround Effect modes, in which reverberation and other processing is applied
4. Stereo: this will force Stereo mode and toggle between Stereo, Front Stage Surround Advance Focus, Front Stage Surround Wide and Sound Retriever

So what do those modes do exactly?

• Auto Surround: if the input is a surround stream, it will use the appropriate decoder (ex. Dolb Digital DTS, ProLogic, etc.). If the input is stereo it will keep it stereo, using Neural Surround mode for FM radio, or Sound Retriever Air for the adapter input. This is basically what you want in most cases.
• Auto Level Control: this is the same but will try to equalize playback level. I personally don't like the result as it raises the volume of the surround channels quite a bit.
• Direct: removes every processing except MCACC calibration and phase control
• Pure Direct: removes all processing including calibration and phase control
• Standard modes: using these, you will force surround sound even when the source is stereo. This is also where you select modes using front heights and wides. I guess this is where you try selecting Dolby Pro Logic? Note that selecting Dolby Pro Logic there is only possible for stereo sources.
• Advanced modes: as previously explained, this will force surround sound and add effects such as echo or reverberation, which is pretty useless. The only interesting Advanced modes are Extended Stereo (in which stereo sources are sent equally to all surround speakers, which is great for ambient music) and Phones Surround, which uses the surround tracks and mix them down to stereo for the headphones output instead of using the stereo track.
• Stereo: this will force stereo playback even of surround inputs. The Front Stage Surround Advance features are different ways of mixing the surround tracks into stereo channels, while Sound Retriever is supposed to be a processing meant to improve playback of compressed stereo formats such as MP3s.

The problem with the 1020 is that if you select a mode other than Auto, it will stick to it, so if you select Advanced Extended Stereo mode for example while you listen to music on your PS3, and then later pop in a blu-ray, you'll get the stereo track extended on all channels unless you remember to revert to Auto mode. Thus, the auto mode really is recommended since the receiver will be able to select the appropriate surround or stereo mode. If you're listening to a stereo input, and select Standard mode, it will default to Pro Logic IIx Movie, which is probably why you end up with it more often than you like. Maybe the mode selection is reset when you pause then hit play; not sure why. Then again, if you're playing stereo content with matrixed channels (Pro Logic 4.1 sources), using Auto will recognize it and play it optimally. It may be that the 1020 will revert to PL11x Movie if it doesn't detect any matrixed content in a stereo stream. Matrixed channels in a stereo stream (i.e. Dolby Pro Logic 4.1) is an older technology that is not used much nowadays. Do you have Pro Logic sources? If you're listening to HD TV for example, the stream will by Dolby Digital 5.1 most of the time. If you hit Auto mode, you'll see what the receiver think is the best to play the current source. If it selects Dolby Digital, leave it that way. If it selects Stereo, then you can try expanding that using one of the Standard modes.

I hope this helps despite the length an the fact that I did not answer directly to your question...

Thank you for the explanation. Yes I am watching hdtv, and it only happens 100% of the time when the source is indeed stereo. I changed it to Dolby Pro Logic and for months it worked fine. Now suddenly it never stays on Digital when I have Pro Logic selected for stereo sources, if that makes sense.

Now when Pro Logic is being used for stereo sources, and I change the channel that's using digital, it switches to IIx Movie. When I am still on that new digital source, and change it back to Digital, it switches back to IIx Movie again when I pause or change the channel. It's really annoying and I have no idea why it's doing it.

I hope I'm making sense here, it's hard to explain. basically I have no idea why IIx Movie has become a new default.

Also, I have 7.1 speakers, should I let it be set to stereo or Pro Logic for stereo sources?

I may be confused myself but I was under the impression that Pro Logic is used by the receiver when the stereo input has two more channels that are matrix-encoded into the L/R channels. I fail to see any other use for the Pro Logic mode. To see if a stereo stream has matrix-encoded channels, when looking at the program format indicator at the top left of the receiver's display, the L and R channels should be on, and also the XC one just above LFE. The XC indicator lights up when either a mono surround channel is present or there are back/center matrix-encoded channels present. If the XC box is not lit up, I believe the Pro Logic mode is useless, and thus maybe the receiver reverts to Pro Logic IIx MOVIE, which is a way to expand stereo sources to multiple channels.

Now you say "it never stays on Digital when I have Pro Logic selected". This doesn't make much sense: Digital refers to Dolby Digital which is a specific format (widely used on HD TV and DVDs) that is used to encode up to 5.1 digital channels, different from Dolby Pro Logic, which is a way to encode 4 channels into two analog stereo channels.

In any way, for stereo sources, be it analog or digital, you basically have the choice of using your L/R channels only, "as originally intended", or to expand the sound to all your speakers. There are various ways of deciding what part of the stereo mix to send to the center and surround channels, which are the different Standard Surround modes for stereo input: PLIIx MOVIE, PLIIx MUSIC, PLIIx GAME, Neo:6 CINEMA, Neo:6 MUSIC, Neural Surround... If you use Auto, then shows in 3.1 channels will only use your front stage and sub; shows in stereo will only use your fronts, etc.

There are also Standard Surround modes for when the input is multi-channel. For example, using Auto mode with Dolby Digital 5.1 input, you will have 5.1 channels playing. If you select the Dolby Digital EX mode using the Standard button, the receiver will create the surround back channels from the surround channels present in the input. If your 7.1 setup includes front heights or wides, you can use ProLogic IIz or WIDE SURROUND MOVIE to send content to those. So there is no "best use" but when in doubt, Auto will probably do really well

What I mean is, when Dolby Pro Logic is selected for stereo sources, and a channel is changed to Dolby Digital, instead of Digital showing up on the receiver, it shows IIx Movie. I have to manually keep pressing the sound button to change it back to Digital.

Well this id indeed the behavior I get on my receiver too. I'm not sure why this was not the case previously for you. I think what happens is that it keeps using the Standard surround mode since it's not in Auto mode. I guess since it cannot use ProLogic on Dolby Digital sources, it switches back to the default Dolby ProLogic IIx MOVIE mode.

I agree with you that mode selection is pretty annoying on the 1020 -- I always double-check to see if I'm using the right mode before playing blu-rays.

It all started when I changed it to IIx movie mode to watch something on my mac mini connected via hdmi. Before this, it always used to stay on pro logic then switch to digital when needed. No idea what I did but I will try to reproduce it and get it to go back to staying on dolby pro logic. Thanks for the help I appreciate it.

So I wanted to add bluetooth streaming to my VSX-1020, but wanted something more flexible than a dedicated Pioneer module. So I've ordered one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Speaker-Bluetooth-980-000540/dp/B004VM1T5S/ref=pd_cp_e_0

I'm going to connect it to one of the receiver's unused audio inputs and plan to use it to stream audio from my Android smartphone & tablet, both provide me access to my entire music collection.

I liked the idea of a general purpose BT module rather than the Pioneer module, as it will allow me to apply it to other uses if I find I'm not using as much as I thought w/the Pioneer receiver. Also it was about $30 cheaper, which didn't hurt. I'm going to run some audio cables from the back of the pioneer so I can place the module at easy reach in the front of one of the slots in my entertainment center for easy access. Wish the 1020 was fully networked out of the box and supported DLNA.

That's pretty interesting -- cheaper and more versatile than the Pioneer Bluetooth dongle. Please report back on whether you like that or not; I may be tempted myself. Although the idea of having one more wall wart is kind of repulsive
Edited by neutro - 10/3/12 at 7:58am

I'll post back on how it works out...

Have to admit, a little confused about your reference to WalMart. ?

I'm also looking into linking an Apple Airport Express (around $70 used on Amazon) into the Pioneer in the same way - run audio cable from airport express to receiver, connect airport express to my network, direct the audio stream from my NAS to the Airport Express via an app like the Twonky Beam app (Android) from my phones/tablet. I played w/the Twonky app today and it easily found my entire music library on my NAS and was able to play it on my phone - so assuming it can connect to the airport express as a stream target that should work. However, the thing I don't like about that is it requires more devices to play nicely together (phone/NAS drive/Airport), and I've seen some posts about connectivity issues, but it would have the benefit of working at much longer range than the BT dongle will.

Regarding the BT dongle, and this would apply to any BT option, I'm also worried about something someone raised in another forum. When their phone was connected to BT to stream music, the phone assumed that the BT connection was two-way, both voice input and audio output. So if I they a call while streaming it will kill the mic on the phone assuming the BT unit will pick up the audio, but it can't so they are muted until they kill the BT connection. That obviously won't work... I'm still waiting to see how that goes. I can get around that by using my tablets to stream (I have a Touchpad running Android, and an iPad), since I don't use them for any calls, so that could be a non-issue for me in the end.

Decisions, decisions!

Read that again... I was referring to wall warts, you know, the external power supplies that plug into the wall or lie close by on the floor. I have thousands of them behind my HT cabinet and I'm running out of place on two power strips. I'm barely exaggerating. The Pioneer BT dongle is just a dongle while the Logitech adapter has to be plugged in. BTW I saw there are similar adapters by Belkin and Aluratek but they're not very well reviewed.

Isn't the Airport Express only compatible with iTunes and iOS (aka the Bonjour protocol)? That was my impression but I may very well be wrong. The beauty of it is that you don't have to control the device (BT adapter or Airport Express), you just have to select them as the source on the receiver. Having only one device to control is indeed the holy grail for me. Alas I bought the 1020 without knowledge of what that goal entails and I'm sorely missing the network standby feature. I really wish I could turn my receiver on using a phone or tablet. My next receiver certainly will have this feature.

Indeed. My solution to that was much more complicated but may be cost-free if you're really good with arcane software. Since the 1020 can stream from any net radio, I figured that one solution would be to make my own net radio station and point the 1020 to that. Then you'd simply shift the problem by having to control what's playing on that station with the phone or tablet. Many streaming server software have web interfaces so that could be the way. But I have not yet found the right combination to enable this. One came very close but the stream could only be started via a javascript event -- I could not get the stream as an actual URL that could be used with the 1020.

Good point -- but at least you won't miss the call as it would ring through your sound system Same thing here, I have the Nexus 7 tablet and could use that, but the real deal would be to be able to control what's playing with any device (phone, tablet, laptop, desktop) on the network.

I'm also looking at using 2nd zone to play the same content in two rooms (living room and kitchen area). Is it possible to use 2nd zone for that purpose with the 1020 or must the content be different in each zone? I'm also trying to see if there is another way to sync two streams across the receiver and another amp so that the same music plays simultaneously on another device. I saw many expensive solutions (RF systems, Sonos, Nexus Qs, etc.) to that but I wonder if I'm missing something.
Edited by neutro - 10/3/12 at 4:49pm

LOL...duh, wall wart. I have that problem as well...


Evidently you can stream to airplay devices from several apps on Android...see this article for a list of apps that support airplay devices:

http://gizmodo.com/5883721/the-top-7-android-music-apps-for-apple-airplay


Yeah, I'm trying to avoid solutions that start to hurt my brain. That one is probably a step beyond what I'm up for...


Yeah, I really want the "seamless" approach that doesn't require thinking, a must if my wife is going to be happy using it as well. So if the BT option screws w/call reception it may die a quick death, unless she's OK w/just using the tablets to stream. Happy wife, happy life and all that...


You know, I've never explored the 2nd zone feature much, but I remember that you can play the same source in both zones. But don't ask me how to set it up, I'd have to dig out the manual...

Ok good point. Is the older Airport Express base station easy to integrate with a non-Apple router? It says on the description that it can act as an independent router or extend an "existing Airport router". Will that work with any router? BTW for the record I know this sounds off-topic for this thread but I feel extending the networking capabilities of the 1020 is important if one does not want to upgrade receivers every year.

Ok then -- I'm always looking for someone who had done the same to give me the magic recipe. I still feel that once the right software is in place, this could be the best solution. You simply hit the net radio source and select your "home station", then use a web page on your server to build the playlist, and tada!

Same thing here but I'd really appreciate 1) not having multiple device to turn on and off and 2) not having to *control* multiple devices to begin listening to content. For example, I got a laptop connected to the receiver. If I want to use it to listen to music, the entire process to wake the computer, turn on receiver and switch inputs, and start the appropriate software, even using a harmony remote and a VNC app to control the PC, takes about 2-3 min if everything goes well. The process is easier with a media player such as the WDTV Live but then you have to stand in front of the TV to get the interface and navigate where you need it. Eventually what I'd like is just take my phone and hit "play", and bam, have the music playing in the living room and kitchen area.

I know I'm asking a lot, and that would require a receiver that can do network standby / wake-on-LAN anyway. But I'm not ready to upgrade yet so if I can approach this goal in any way I'd be happy.

That's good to know (but I remember 2nd zone cannot play content from coax / toslink and HDMI sources). Hopefully net radio can be played to the 2nd zone. Any way my GF banned bookshelf speakers from the kitchen area so I'd have to install in-wall or in-ceiling speakers, which I'm wary of. If instead I could sync playback between my HT setup and a secondary setup (such as a mini-stereo or dock) that could be really nice, if playback control is easy with a portable device.

I haven't seen anything that indicates it won't work w/any router. but there are some limitations...

So the Airport Express can be added to a non-apple router network, but in that mode can't extend wifi (which I don't need/want anyway). I'm going to hook the Airport up via ethernet if I do get one, as I have a network switch w/open ports at the TV already...

And a few links I've stashed away as I've been looking at this below.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4118034?start=0&tstart=0

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4587

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=749760

http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20060609053254368


Have you looked at powered wifi speakers as an option...I don't want to spend the extra money on them, but they are a "one-step" solution in that you can fire up your streaming client (phone/computer/tablet) and start streaming and it just starts playing.

I see; so in that case it's simply used as a streaming client / target. Still an interesting feature for $70.

No -- I was not aware they existed in fact. Though that leaves the question of streaming to those and the 1020 in sync open. I guess Zone 2 is really the best answer but it comes at a price -- namely disabling the surround backs and running wires. The only product I ever saw which explicitly mentioned syncing streams was the canceled Nexus Q, which was expensive and did not much else. (Google finally gave away the prototypes to those who ordered them in the first place... wow.).

Wow...I had missed that Google pulled the Q back. These comments on wikipedia about it are hilarious:

Re: wifi speakers, here's one example...you can stream from iPhone/Android via an app.

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-SANS400-HomeShare-Network-Speaker/dp/B004K1EO8O/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1349371648&sr=1-7&keywords=wifi+speakers

There are also BT speakers that do the same via BT, though w/the same range and potential phone-call issues.

But the BIG NEWS...I remembered to ask our wifi dudes at work (we have a team that works on wireless issues) and they had an Airport Express sitting around that they weren't using...taking it home to set it up at lunch and see how it goes.

If it works well I may just return the Logitech BT module and order an express for me.

The one concern I have is that I've seen that there are a LOT of Airport Express issues w/the units burning out...so many that there are sites w/instructions (not for the faint of heart) about replacing the power supply...

But it will be interesting to give this a try.

Yeah, the Q was really intriguing. It was expensive because made in the US. It also had an amplifier so you could connect passive speakers. There was no remote included: you needed an Android device. It was supposed to be hacker-friendly, so eventually more apps would have been compatible with it (the biggest problem was that most Android apps could not run on the Q since it had no touchscreen interface). But the most interesting thing with it was that two Q's could sync their playback of the same stream over WiFi; so if you could afford multiple Qs, you could have synchronized multi-room playback without wires. But I wouldn't have paid $600 for two Qs..., not counting an Android device.

Well those are pretty expensive, and if it needs a specific app to work, I'm really wary of this. I'd prefer something akin to the Logitech, i.e. simply a receiver. There are 5 GHz emitter/receivers for audio applications but they're expensive too. I think I just have to cool down and try to write down what I want exactly, and wait until I have enough money to buy the gear to do so. I guess having a receiver with network standby / wake-on-lan, 9-11 amps (so able to run 7.1 + a second and maybe third zone), and in-ceiling speakers would do exactly what I want. But it would be in a completely different price bracket than the 1020.

Great! If you can, please compare your experience with the Logitech BT adapter and the Airport Express. In the mean time I'll try to see if I can build my "home net radio station"

I am streaming as I type...Airport Express (AE) hooked up to network, headphones hooked up to Airport Express (don't want to yank my entertainment center out to get to the back of the receiver.

Setup was painful...had to update FW on the AE, would not read over network, had to connect directly to the computer.

I've set it up w/wifi off, ethernet connection.

Stream quality was not good initially w/the Twonky app...was getting skips and drop outs. Started again and so far have gotten skips again, sometimes multiple only seconds apart, enough to really annoy. Might have to try w/the AE wifi enabled as a network extender and see if that makes it any better, but ethernet should be the fastest...so maybe my phone wifi connect isn't so hot?

Played around w/other Android application options, most of which either did not see the AE, or if they claimed to see it did not stream to it.

That included PlayTo, iMediashare, BubbleuPnP, and a few others. Doubletwist claims to support airplay w/paid module ($5) but does not support the AE "yet."

So, at this point I only have one option on the phone to stream from, Twonky Mobile, and it's not really working well enough (too many skips/drop-outs) to be acceptable.

I could try some of the paid ones (as long as I don't try it for more than 10 minutes) and refund depending on results.

Now I'm even more interested in how the BT solution will work...the AE is not cutting it at this point.
Edited by Danabw - 10/4/12 at 2:46pm

Well Apple uses proprietary / closed protocols (Bonjour) in their streaming products so that half surprises me. And the AE doesn't use AirPlay as far as I know; it uses its predecessor AirTunes, so compatibility with AirPlay apps may very well be limited. Well the good thing is that you were able to test this without buying the AE.

Let me know!

Yeah...I've also noticed that I can set my BT connectivity for each device my phone is paired with to be either audio, phone, or both, so when the BT dongle arrives, at least for my phone, the issue I was worried about won't be an issue. Just have to confirm my wife's phone has the same options.

The AE is supposed to support Airplay - says so on the apple site, and on Amazon as well...so I think the issue is the Twonky app just isn't robust, I've seen other complaints about it on the Google app store...

The hunt continues.

Come to think of it, I think my issues would vanish if my music source (phone, tablet, laptop) can simultaneously stream to a bluetooth device *and* output audio through the 3.5 mm jack. This way I could use a docking station in the kitchen to play the audio directly and a BT adapter to send audio to the receiver. However I had the impression that this is not possible, but I don't think I ever tried. Maybe I'm wrong and I'm thinking this too hard.

In any case maybe I should focus my effort on getting Zone 2 speakers to my kitchen and dining area. You made me realize that there are multiple solutions allowing us to then stream music to the receiver (bluetooth, wifi, etc.) -- at least when it's on. Wiring in-ceiling speakers will be a pain but it will probably be worth it in the end.

I think you'll be disappointed about a device streaming through BT and the audio jack at the same time...from what I've seen it's either/or.

The nice part about a BT option, as we discussed earlier, is that no additional SW is required...the Airport Express/Airplay option only works with an Airplay-enabled app, and on Android devices that would and as I've seen so far it's not so easy to find a good app to do that.

Also, using BT I can get any audio from the phone to the stereo, including using my favorite podcast player, etc., while w/the AE option I can only play media that the Airplay enabled android apps support.

I did try using airplay from our iPad, using songs stored on the iPad, that plays flawlessly.

Also wanted to try local content from my Android today, but Twonky now can't see the AE any more...clearly a flaky app...

UPDATE

Streaming music from my NAS to my Roku via PlayTo app from Android App store. Added Roku channel to my Roku. The private channel code is MHCGR if anyone else wants to try this on their Roku. Requires the PlayTo iPhone and Android apps...there are free and paid (no ads) versions.

Streaming is smooth and glitch free, access to my music on my NAS seems via DLNA seems to work w/out issue. Just tried this five minutes ago so haven't played w/it a lot, but this looks like it could be a "free" solution since I already have the Roku and the full version of the app is only a few bucks.

You can stream web content to the TV as well if you want to, e.g., I'm streaming a youtube video to the TV right now. Pretty interesting...this seems to actually work unlike other apps I've tried over the past few days that claimed to do this via airplay.

The one thing this doesn't seem to do is allow me to stream podcasts to the Roku...have to look into that. But for music this might be a good way to go.

It does lack it's own volume control (Twonky app had that), so you have to control volume via home theater remote...you can pause/play/stop from phone.
Also can't figure out how to choose to play an entire album or artist w/out adding every song to the queue individually.
Edited by Danabw - 10/5/12 at 12:01pm

Yeah that's what I thought...

I'll look into that as similar options are available for the WDTV Live (which I have). The problem is always having to place the HT in the correct mode (receiver on, wdtv live on, tv on, receiver on wdtv input) then maybe toy with the media player interface a bit or a specific app... I know I can't have it all and having flexibility demands ways to set things up properly, the setup can't read my mind. But yet I feel something simpler is possible.

OK, for now both the Roku and Airport Express are non-starters for streaming through receiver using the PlayTo app - PlayTo folks have confirmed:

So I can stream one song, but the app can't tell when it's OK to send the next song...so not very useful.

The PlayTo app does work well in some limited testing for streaming web content to the Roku - I was able to quickly stream a YouTube video from my phone to the TV, but that's not my goal at the moment...

So the Logitech Bluetooth dongle is looking more and more like the simple alternative that I'll have to rely on. Its overall simplicity, that my wife in particular won't have to use another program or think about it too much, just connect and play from whatever app she is wants to use on the phone, is a bonus.

Still going to look around on this a bit while I wait for the BT dongle to arrive from Logitech...

The IMediaShare app (free and paid versions) support the WDTV devices...you should check that one out, reading app description sounds like it will stream to the WDTV, and supports DLNA to access your music off another network device if required. Also the ArkMC Media Center app.
Edited by Danabw - 10/6/12 at 11:48am

OK, more info, kind of in the "Doh!" category...my NAS (Synololy) has a mobile audio app. I don't use it much, but was doing some NAS housekeeping and realized I hadn't looked at it for this purpose and BOOM, it supports Airplay, and works perfectly w/the Airport Express I have attached to the VSX-1020.

Streaming songs now w/zero skips/issues, plays perfectly. EDIT: I said at first that volume couldn't be controlled from the DS Audio app on Android, but I was wrong, volume can be controlled. .

Anyway, Synology is a pretty popular NAS brand, so wanted to pass this on...one cool feature is that you can connect to you NAS when you're away from home and play songs at someone else's house via Airplay (assuming they have an Apple TV or Airport Express.

Still thinking that the BT option is going to be the best option after all of this...full playback control including volume, able to stream all audio from phone (including podcasts, which I listen to a lot) and wife will be able to use it w/out having to master anything new/different from playback on headphones, other than the initial BT connection and turning on the stereo to the right input (which w/the Harmony remote will be easy).
Edited by Danabw - 10/7/12 at 9:02am

Yeah the thing is BT streams *any* audio -- it's universal and does not depend on the source. So it will work regardless of the fact that you're choosing songs on your DLNA server or if you're listening to a personal Slacker Radio station or to Rdio or Pandora or a net radio channel...

Has anybody here tried the Pioneer dongle for bluetooth? It's pretty expensive at $99 but the fact that it has its own dedicated source and does not require to be plugged in has a lot of appeal. What about range and all that? Then again, I'm not sure I'd invest that amount of money in a receiver that I know I will upgrade sooner than later, because I want something that can be turned on via the network eventually.

Logitech BT dongle arrives today...excited to put it into place and see how it goes.

I think I'm going to end up w/a two-part solution...

BT: For all streaming audio

Roku: For streaming video via the "Play To" app. Used it last night to stream some footage on my phone from a concert I was at last night, and it seemed to work pretty well.

Airport seems like a nice option for streaming from the Synology mobile audio app, but not worth the additional $60 or so it would cost to get one to replace the one I borrowed from work, and I can stream from the Synology app via BT as well, so other than longer range, not an issue.

It arrived...

Connected up to an available stereo input, paired w/our phones (only connects for media audio, so no worries about it messing w/phone calls) and streamed music and podcasts w/out issue. Range, as expected, is the only constraint...going to a spot where there is a wall between the phone and the logitech unit starts the skipping....but streaming from anywhere in our family room (about 20x30) it works fine, as well as from a ways into the back yard through the screen door.

So this will work perfectly for my wife for any playing audio at home..all she has to do is turn on Bluetooth on her phone, hit the Harmony for the "Bluetooth" activity, and start playing her music. The only obvious down-side is if she leaves the room she'll have to leave her phone behind if she wants to keep the music going.

My work is done here... This is the unit: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004VM1T5S/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=
Edited by Danabw - 10/9/12 at 9:47pm

Thanks for the quick review... So I guess it works like any bluetooth device, only one paired device at a time, and once it's paired, the device will output all media audio to bluetooth only?

I like the concept but there's a dividing wall between our kitchen area and the living room. That would be a PITA if I can't stream from the kitchen, so the BT adapter is not a panacea for me. Still, operation looks pretty simple.

I forgot to mention that the unit has a soft red LED when not connected, which turns to green when connected. I hate bright component lights, but this one is nicely muted.

Yeah...once the phone is paired w/the unit, when they connect the phone media audio (not calls) is routed to BT...I turn on BT on my phone (Android Samsung Galaxy Nexus) and it connects w/the Logitech unit automatically. And on my phone, not sure about my wife's, there's an option within apps like Google Music that allows you to toggle between local and BT audio output. I have the most recent Android OS (4.1 Jelly Bean) and she has 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, so I'm not sure if she'll have the same option. Also, every app doesn't have that...my podcasting app, for instance, doesn't. But I basically just turn off BT via a home-screen toggle on my phone when I'm done listening.

The nice thing about this dongle as opposed to the pioneer one, is you can place it where ever you want to maximize reception, it isn't stuck at the back of the receiver at the back of your entertainment center. You're only limited by how long a cable you want to run. So depending on your setup, you could position the BT unit for optimum reception in your house, run the audio/power cables from there to power and to the receiver. Of course, the positioning and cable runs would require wife approval... But depending on your layout, you could probably find a good spot for the unit where the audio cable/power cables would be unobtrusive. Mine is sitting on top of my DVR at the front of my entertainment center, which works perfectly for me for reception and unless you're looking for it you don't really see the small, black unit.

I'm thinking about getting another Logitech module for the bedroom, along with something like this (http://www.amazon.com/LP-2020A-Lepai-Tripath-Class-T-Amplifier/dp/B0049P6OTI/ref=pd_sim_sbs_cps_5) and re-purpose some left-over ceiling speakers I have from a previous upgrade to be able to stream audio in the bedroom easily...or maybe just get some powered speakers to connect directly to the BT module. The bedroom is far enough from the family room that it wouldn't cause interference w/the other Logitech module, and it would be nice to be able to play and control music in the bedroom this way as well.

>>I'll look into that as similar options are available for the WDTV Live (which I have).
Our PlayTo app for Android does support WDTV with support for all 3 media types and continuation of songs (local or network) as well. WDTV is one of the very first devices we supported. Give our free App a try and let us know what you think - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dayglows.vivid.lite