The Dude Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Anybody ever used Roku to stream Pandora to their 2 channel system. I don't want to have a monitor or TV hooked up if I don't have to. But was hoping to just use my phone as a remote to stream Pandora to my receiver and listen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McMiRA Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 I've used an apple airport express and an Apple TV for that purpose but never touched a roku. When my equipment was out for repairs all I had for music was my la fayette tube amp and no sources. So I took an airport express and plugged it directly in and it worked great from my phone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerwoodKhorns Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Good topic. I have been looking into this a little. It looks like a DVD player may be the way to go as they seem to have the features. But I really don't know and have not had the time to research this. There are also network streamers like a Denon unit that is about $300, but I really don;t know about the interface. I would eventually like to be able to stream music to several systems in the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Posted November 14, 2013 Author Share Posted November 14, 2013 I was looking at Sonos for this as well, but yes at 350.00 a player it gets expensive just for streaming Pandora, or others. I really would like to be able to control it from my computer or phone and don't want to have to get up to do so. The dvd player I never thought of, but would actually kill 2 birds with 1 stone, and wouldn't take up anymore aux. inputs on the preamp(not that, that is a issue). I am going out with my dad this weekend to look at TVs, and blu ray players I will have to look at this option as well and will report back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 I got a WD TV play a couple of months ago at 45.00 for the master bedroom, whose audio system feeds speakers in the downstairs family room as well. Better interface and more features than Roku. I don't listen to compressed music, but my wife does and she has enjoyed Pandora on and the better Netflix interface. If there is a downside, it requires a Cat5 connection, a wireless Ethernet bridge, or a homeplug. I am using a homeplug and it works great. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McMiRA Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 If your looking to stream from an apple device an airport express is the way to go, they are $70. They double as a network extender, printer port, etc and have a built in toslink. They can even receive airplay from a windows pc. If you want to stream video also then Apple TV is the next step at $99. If your just looking for a device to access your stored digital files than the list for that goes on forever. Seems everything you buy these days has pandora and netflix on it. My entire house is connected with (3) airport expresses, (2) apple tv's, and (2) marantz receivers that are on the wired network. Pandora and other audio can be streamed directly from phones , tablets, and laptop wirelessly, or I can use the receivers built in abilities to do the same thing and also pick up dlna and network media. I use the airplay mirroring capabilities of the apple tv's mainly from my macbook. When I need a large monitor I just send the video to one of them and can use my theater or regular tv to review and edit videos. Back on track to streaming audio though, there is a lot available. We use an Apple TV at my good friends house for pool parties. My phone is in a lifeproof case and goes in the pool with me and streams music to his outdoor speakers. Can turn the volum up and down and change songs from the pool. Net step will be an ipad mini in a floating case to keep in the pool area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Posted November 14, 2013 Author Share Posted November 14, 2013 I got a WD TV play a couple of months ago at 45.00 for the master bedroom, whose audio system feeds speakers in the downstairs family room as well. Better interface and more features than Roku. I don't listen to compressed music, but my wife does and she has enjoyed Pandora on and the better Netflix interface. If there is a downside, it requires a Cat5 connection, a wireless Ethernet bridge, or a homeplug. I am using a homeplug and it works great. Dave So you don't need a tv with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Well, unless it happens to be on Pandora you need the TV to select it. Of course, then you can turn the TV off if using analog out instead of HDMI. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerwoodKhorns Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 The WD solution sounds decent, but does it do high bitrates? I really need a solution that will do uncompressed through the whole house. I am wired with CAT 6 everywhere. If I coudl buy a tablet or use an android to control everything that would be great too. McMira, sorry, but the first buy one smal apple product, then buy more, and more and more and eventually you MUST have everything apple... If I can network everything but not become an apple deciple an dstill use Linux, android and, god help me, Windows, I'd be on board. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Specs don't say, TWKH, but I've seen references from users of up to 96. I don't listen down there a lot, but maybe I'll try some stuff from my server and see what happens. I've quite a lot of 88.2 and a bit of 96 on there. BTW, it looks like they have wireless N on board now. Mine was 45.00 delivered and may have been "last years." Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Posted November 14, 2013 Author Share Posted November 14, 2013 Well, unless it happens to be on Pandora you need the TV to select it. Of course, then you can turn the TV off if using analog out instead of HDMI. Dave Not that I don't need tv I just don't have one down there yet. If the Sony outlet store opens this month with a smokin deal on a 60" then I will and it would be no problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Posted November 14, 2013 Author Share Posted November 14, 2013 McMira, sorry, but the first buy one smal apple product, then buy more, and more and more and eventually you MUST have everything apple... If I can network everything but not become an apple deciple an dstill use Linux, android and, god help me, Windows, I'd be on board. That's what I don't like about apple, none of my stuff on my music server which is all so copied to wmp on one of my computers, isn't recognized by Itunes so it doesn't sinc to my Ipod. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeW Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 This works great, just pair your phone with bluetooth. http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/btr100.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McMiRA Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 (edited) Airplay works on both apple and pc. No additional apple products are required. Look into airfoil by rogue amoeba, it sends all windows audio to airplay and is not dependent on iTunes. Edited November 15, 2013 by McMiRA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrickdj1 Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Just get a BDP since you will head that way soon and save the money on intermediate devices. I really like my 3 BDP since the have Pandora and other apps. They also pick the My Book Live external hard drive for cloud service. A good BDP and My Book can be had for under $300. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerwoodKhorns Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Airplay works on both apple and pc. No additional apple products are required. Look into airfoil by rogue amoeba, it sends all windows audio to airplay and is not dependent on iTunes. OK, I keep hearing great reviews about the Apple Airplay, so this should work. What do I do? I have a server in my office. I can add a dedicated laptop (I have a Vista Machine that also has Linux Mint). Can I use that to send a signal to a bunch of Apple things that have outputs that can go to various receivers throughout the house? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McMiRA Posted November 18, 2013 Share Posted November 18, 2013 If you are using a windows source then you will have to install a product called airfoil on that computer. It takes any audio that would output to the computers speakers and streams it as airplay. The more airplay compatible devices you have the more options you will have within airfoil. On the receiving end of things you will have either native airplay devices such as airport express or Apple TV, or you will have devices that are airplay compatible( most new a/v receivers with wifi) your only limitation will be your network. Everything in my house that isn't portable is hard wired with cat5 with a cole exceptions. At one end of the house is my wireless router(apple) and at the opposite end of the house is an apple airport express in the garage that runs the airplay for the garage receiver and extends my wireless network. Both of my main receivers have airplay built in and are hard wired and also have an Apple TV wired into the same rack. (Kinda redundant but allows me to mirror the screens on my laptop, phone or tablet). My office has an airport hard wired and the master bedroom has an Apple TV ran wireless due to lack of access in the attic. I can send music everywhere in the house, and in some instances video. My 2 bedroom tv's are older sony internet tv's so I can stream to them also, but only from YouTube app.( android devices) There are many ways to skin a cat, apple isn't the only answer, it just works really well for me. When you start adding more devices to it it gets even better. Great when people come over that have compatible devices and an interest in music. I would suggest continuing your homework on it, I'm sure there is other stuff out there that will also work, just keep in kind your network is the key in all of this. A WORD OF CAUTION: make sure on any wired network, coax system, or anything else that is common to all your devices in the house you have proper lightning protection. If it's all hooked together and unprotected it only takes one device getting hit to take out the rest. I have another post just on this subject titled panamax and lightning. Lightning infiltrated my house through the cable modem and took out my main av rack a few month a ago. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Posted November 19, 2013 Author Share Posted November 19, 2013 I might just wait and see if I can get a smoking deal on a new tv for up stairs. Then I will move that tv down, and will get a good blu ray player. But I am still up in the air, the way air play was explained makes more sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McMiRA Posted November 20, 2013 Share Posted November 20, 2013 to avoid hijacking this thread i created an airplay thread in technical and uploaded a short video on how it operates. https://community.klipsch.com/index.php?/topic/146894-airplay-demo-video/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Posted November 20, 2013 Author Share Posted November 20, 2013 Just watched it great demo, you could of kept it here. It kind of stays on topic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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