Computer audio for dullards

[Diapason]

I love reading the threads on Building Dedicated Audio PCs and optimising Jplay Settings, and from time to time I even recognise some of the words. However, I thought I might start a thread dealing with things from the other side of the coin. Perhaps we can have this as a no judgement, no embarrassment area where questions can be asked that might be too basic elsewhere. I know I find the whole area of computer/streaming audio a bit intimidating, and I'm guessing I'm not the only one.

Roll up, roll up and share your ignorance!

[Diapason]

I know this is probably old hat, but for some reason I can never seem to figure out exactly what's needed and what the options are.

What I have:
- a laptop running Windows 7, Core i5 processor 2410M 2.3GHz, 6Gb ram, 750Gb hard drive;
- an old laptop running XP that no longer recharges but that can be used if you plug it in and remove the battery;
- an old desktop running XP that has the loudest, squeakiest fan I've ever heard;
- android phone;
- android tablet;
- amp, speakers.

What I want:
- the ability to wirelessly play music files through the aforementioned amp and speakers
- access to internet radio and spotify/rhapsody via this system
- all controllable via tablet and/or phone, with slick and easy to use interface, including album art n' stuff.

What I'd also like:
- the ability to add other rooms in due course, perhaps including rooms that don't have a hifi at all.

What I don't want:
- a large price-tag

The more I think about this, the more I realise that sound quality is not the primary goal (for now at least). Okay, I don't want it to sound so bad I'll never listen to it, but this probably won't be going into the main system and it won't get the last word in scrutiny. It will more likely be used as background music when cooking, eating, chatting, etc. The whole point here is so I listen to more music, rather than the current situation where listening is either *serious* (locked away in the mancave) or whatever comes on the radio. I don't have time for much concentrated listening these days, but I'd like to listen to (ripped) CDs and streaming music, and convenience is key in this. I'm also tired of not really having the means to listen to files that people might give me on a USB stick, for example.

On the face of it, this looks like a job for Sonos, and maybe that is indeed the way forward, but are there other options I should be considering? As mentioned elsewhere, Sonos occasionally looks like a slightly pricey solution, especially if I'll be going for multiple rooms in the future. That said, its user-friendliness appeals to me.

Also, do I need to have some computer source booted up every time I want to listen? Will it need to be the "good" laptop, or will I get away with one of the pieces of s**t lying around? Is there a way to connect a hard drive full of music directly to something or other that will mean I don't have to boot up a PC?

Finally, price is a truly limiting factor here. Price of entry has to stay very much in 3 figures if we're going to get started at all.

[nige2000]

i suppose there will be several different options for what your thinking off, multiroom might be the biggest ask on a budget, or you could turn it up enough to hear in every room

id start with you old desktop assuming its not doing anything else, put it beside your amp and connect it to a router wifi is fine
if you have no dac you could use the build in one on your pc, connect to your amp (build in dacs are not super but ist a start)
store your ripped music on it and use jriver the media player program, in conjunction with gizmo app for your android tablet, once everything is on, youll be able to flick through albums/ artists with album art and youll be able to adjust volume via software (on tablet)
there is a small charge for jriver and gizmo but i think its worth it, but its less than 50 euro for both.

then after that you can upgrade with jplay as a plugin for jriver its a great upgrade, and theres loads of settings even for pcs with modest capabilities.

after that there are several av receivers that are capable of playing music with android apps and using a pc/nas connected to the network as music storage
ive got this one http://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/audio- ... rx-v473_g/
but as you know the sound is not going to be just the same as hifi.

nige

[Ivor]

Good post Si, at some stage I (like yourself) will take whatever piece of crap PC or laptop I have spare and attempt to connect it to the hifi. I know I need a DAC but after that.....

[nige2000]

the crudest way to get a music into your amp from your headphone/speaker output on your laptop/pc:

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/3-5mm-Stereo-Hea ... 096wt_1184

[jaybee]

Dullard Alert...

Im going to speak now, while pretending windows works like a mac....

Si, the joy, for me of Computer Audio is right where your jib is cut...

I listen to more music that isn't Nicky Mivaj, Justin Bieber etc....

For first tentative steps, I'd heartily recommend

iTunes + Airport Express

This hits a number of your targets....

1. iTunes is free add bitperfect for 6.99
2. AirportExpress/Apple Tv is €90 ish brand new
3. For your kitchen, where quality isn't imperative you can stream directly from your phone, meaning you don't have to have a computer on all the time.

I'd setup the laptop beside your man-system with a USB to (any number of really cheap -eBay USB dacs up to 2nd Hand rDac)

Now put your airport express beside the kitchen system, using a dac or not, your choice.

you can now stream remotely the contents of your laptop to the kitchen, control the laptop remotely to play v good quality via usb in the mancave, or just play what you have on your phone in the kitchen...

It's not cutting edge, but by god it's easy and fun!

I have 2 Macs, two airports and a zeppelin air...

If you want to borrow an airport drop me a line...

JB

[jaybee]

ps

Your prose here is much better than mine as when I'm posting here, it's 99% of the time frm my phone, while using one of the above mentioned to listen to music...!!

[Fran]

What the lads are suggesting I would say are the easiest way to do what you want.

I could also throw in a vote for the squeeze boombox - basically its a squeezebox that works like a radio. You can hook up to your wifi and with play music that you have on your PC (PC must be on to do this) or else you can stream from online radio stations etc with no PC on. I'm sure you can use spotify wth it as well.

Other than that, the apple options are famed for being easy enough to set up and run (assuming you are part of an "apple" household).



Fran

[nige2000]

the apple solution works ok.
which would mean:
source; itunes either on a mac or pc and/ or iphone/ipad with music on i, will also do internet radio
a apple tv per hifi system
a toslink cable
and a dac thats got a toslink input such as:
http://www.arcam.co.uk/products,rseries ... ,rLink.htm

apple solutions are probably one of the simplest to use

but you could try jriver and gizmo for android first, you can get a jriver trial costs nearly nothing!

[MooseTrackz]

why not just spin the dial on the amp up a couple of clicks?

look at all the time and €€€ you'd save ;)