media player for amplifier recommendations?

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rphenix

897 posts

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# 136420 26-Nov-2013 17:39

I see there a lot of devices similar to the chromecast android based devices that plug into a TV. I'm not so interested in using with a TV but rather connecting to my AV Receiver either by TOSLINK/optical or HDMI audio with the idea of streaming music from my PC or even better if I can let the media player connect directly to a shoutcast server etc and/or network shares.

The AV Receiver/Amp is in the lounge ideally I have speakers connected up to the AV receiver in my office as a second speaker zone, so really wanting to control music with a media player without being in the room.

So far I figured something like the WD TV Live might be okay it has toslink for audio out, looks like you can control it from smartphone and there is modified firmware available for it. Any other recommendations?

Bonus points for anyone finding a media player that can also send IR codes to the amp remotely to control volume.

davidcole

4673 posts

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# 941210 26-Nov-2013 18:47

Apple TVs also still include a toslink port. I use this for spotify from the iphone to the stereo with no tv running (as opposed to my roku, which while it has a spotify app, the audio to the stereo is sent from the tv to the AVR.

I guess with modern AVRs having HDMI ports it's becomming less important.

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rphenix

897 posts

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# 942880 29-Nov-2013 12:09

I ended up getting the WD Live. Android/Iphone apps are a bit disappointing it would make sense to show in textual form at least on the app what the machine is up to so you can control it without seeing the TV but its nothing more than a glorified remote I don't really see the use for the official apps. Instead I'm using a uPNP app to control music remotely so overall its functions well enough for what I wanted.

I would have liked to get a bluesound node - in black. Still waiting on a response to buying it directly from the US since theres no NZ distributor.

Dunnersfella

3678 posts

Uber Geek

# 944389 2-Dec-2013 21:20

Two things...
Can the WD Live play music in the second zone? I'm guessing it must have an analogue output?
I guess you're after a dual zone network receiver really, the app control seems to be improving over time.

rphenix

897 posts

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# 951916 13-Dec-2013 21:44

Dunnersfella: Two things...
Can the WD Live play music in the second zone? I'm guessing it must have an analogue output?
I guess you're after a dual zone network receiver really, the app control seems to be improving over time.

It has toslink output, along with hdmi out and 3.5mm analog output. I only use the toslink connection to the amplifier and from the amp choose which zone to send the music out to as all speakers are centrally wired back to the amp in the lounge.

Replacing the amp would definently do the job installed a Yamaha amplifier recently in our AU office and it was great web based control for streaming music and zone selection along with ipad/android apps.

My home amplifier with the exception of internet streaming has everything I could possibly want and sounds great seems a waste to replace it otherwise I would probably have done so already.