Streaming mp3's from computer to receiver

[scott1147]

I'm looking for a device that will transmit music from a downstairs pc to an upstairs receiver/stereo system. And you get a bonus star if you have one that could go from either pc OR mac (I know, heresy) to receiver/stereo system. I'm not sure if I'm posting in the right forum...if not could you please redirect me to the correct niche? Thanks!

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Have you considered an FM transmitter? They are quite common these days and you should be able to find some on eBay. Walmart, Radio Shack etc also carry them.

[scott1147]

I'll look up the transmitters, but would a system like that be able to stream remotely from pc or mac? I only have an Ipod shuffle for working out; no other mp3 player. So if I plug the transmitter to the shuffle, I won't be able to see what is coming up, etc. Also, the shuffle does not have a built in equalizer so it sounds pretty rancid on the system.

[mjc]

Short of dedicating another computer to handle the playback, what you are looking for doesn't exist.

MP3s are a compressed digital format, so if you could actually 'listen' to one, it would not sound anything at all like music...more like a dentist's drill going through a blender at a very high rate of speed. So, as such a 'receiver' can't do anything with them. You need something to translate the digitally encoded file back into music...hence the DAC (digital to analog converter) chips in things like MP3 players.

Once the file has been converted back into analog, you lose all the title/track info, anyway, so a small, 'in house' FM transmitter isn't going to be leaving anything behind.

A small computer, on the other hand can do the conversions after the music has been 'streamed' to it, and preserve all that extra info. Also the streaming can be done with 'normal' networking equipment.

[Fruss Tray Ted]

What I suggested works well if all you want to do is play music through your receiver. I've done this with mp-3 players, CD-Walkman's etc on the road playing music to my truck radio. It also works well for my friend's truck who can be a 1/2 mile away and still receive the signal from my vehicle.

If you want the ability to choose what to play or see what is in the library upcoming, you will need to have something more.

Your iPod Shuffle should work fine on your receiver as long as it is hooked up properly. No EQ on the Shuffle is no big deal, isn't there one on your system?

It can even be a method of communication in areas that have no cell-phone reception if your mp-3 player is also a digital voice recorder. You can record a message and then transmit it to the other vehicle (boats included) with playback. Not as good as CB radios or walkie-talkies but it'll get the job done in a pinch.

As mjc mentions, the best thing, is to use another PC, Mac or even a stand-alone DVD-player hooked directly to your stereo system with line-out or speaker-out connected to line-in or tape-in, even auxiliary input. Do NOT use turntable (phono)-in!

[scott1147]

OK Thanks for the help! I'll look up your ideas and try to implement!!