Multiroom audio streaming from my PC

[tjrundy]

Hi,

 

I have a media PC at home, and I would like to set up some sort of

streaming system from it, so that whatever's playing through the sound

card (i.e. audio line out), can be streamed to a receiver in another

room.

 

My flat is small (450 sq. ft), and I have my PC and stereo in my living room.

 

I have a spare pair of the Harman Soundsticks II which I have set-up

in my bedroom, and I would like to hear in my bedroom, what's playing

in my living room. That way I can wander between the two and hopefully

hear both sources of music in sync, or listen to TV or podcasts whilst

getting on with other things.

 

I've had a look at the sonos and the squeezbox, but I'm not sure if

they allow one to stream from the PC - it seems they only access files

on the PC.

 

I have assumed that a wireless stream from the PC would be the

cheapest way - perhaps there is a high quality analogue transmitter /

receiver instead?

 

Any advice or suggestions would be much appreciated!

 

Thanks,

 

Tom.

 

[Audio_ELF]

Not sure if it is in the price range that you were thinking of, but an Apple Airport Express will stream music controlled by the computer to a separate room via Wireless Ethernet. Designed to be used with iTunes, other applications can stream to it using the Airfoil software.

 

Eloise

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

I highly recommend using J River Media Center with an Airport Express and Air UPnP. Air UPnP will make an Airport Express apear as a separate Zone in J River MEdia Center so you can send the same or different audio to your computer and different Zones.

 

 

 

http://forum.dbpoweramp.com/showthread.php?p=92949#post92949

 

[Audio_ELF]

Chris, on what basis do you recommend J.River and Air UPnP over using iTunes with the AirPort Express?

 

Is it based on: increased SQ (to the AirPort); the interface of J.River; sound quality of J.River used for the main zone; that J.River will play nicely with WAV and FLAC; improved reliability of Air UPnP vs iTunes direct; or the fact it works as a separate zone rather than same music everywhere.

 

ELoise

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi Eloise - Yes, yes, and yes etc...

 

I like the customizable interface of J River, sound quality for the main zone since iTunes on a PC is not my favorite, FLAC support, separate zones etc...

 

My main thing is the fact that iTunes on a PC is a mess in terms of sound quality / bit perfect output.

 

[Audio_ELF]

So it's all about the sound quality (and interface) of the "main" computer zone rather than any advantage J.River plus Air UPnP has over iTunes at the AirPort Express - just seems like you might be over complicating things...

 

Eloise

 

[hifitubes]

If the OP indeed has a PC, I would suggest simply trying JRMC demo for 30 days. And compare to iTunes. Maybe the OP doesn't need a really useful and progressive feature-rich app.