Media streaming

paddya

paddya

paddya

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Joined
28 Mar 2004
Posts
604
Location
Devon, UK
Hiya, not sure if anyone here can help.

I'm in the middle of deciding on a NAS box to store my music collection and trying to find a way of playing it back either on my current home cinema box (with digital audio in) or a new AV receiver.

I see there are a vast choice of players, but they all seem to need the television on to control the music. I could do that at the moment with my Xbox 360, but want to find a way to choose music without the need for tv operation.

Thanks
 
check out the Squeezebox range. They were originally made by Slim Devices but now made by Logitec

  • Slim Devices Squeezebox 3 (pick up one very cheap off the bay these days, still great)
  • Logitech Squeezebox Classic (logtic branded version of above)
  • Logitech Squeezebox Duet (very handy remote that shows all cover art etc)
  • Logitech Squeezebox Touch (fancy big touch screen version)
 
I'd echo the above. Otherwise you're spending a lot of money on SONOS gear.

You can get an app for an iphone/ipod touch aswell to control the music or control it using a web client.

What NAS are you looking at? I had a Netgear Readynas and thought it was dreadful. Ended up building a cheap one and running Vortexbox which has been excellent since
 
Hmmm the classic seems the cheaper option and looks good. Not sure on the NAS yet, been looking at a few. Just trying to get together everything I need to try and get all at once. Thinking they pretty much all function as an iTunes server and remote access now a days anyway.

Been looking at AV receivers and originally looking at an Onkyo 608. Noticed though that Denon do a networked iPod dock that has ethernet and network capability for their receivers http://denon.co.uk/uk/Product/Pages...roductId=77773e82-9306-43be-947f-498ac1b9bb29

Looked at an option from Buffalo and Western Digital that seem to hae storage builtin and optical out but again assume control is via the TV. Not sure if I have any options with my Xbox, but guessing this would need tv on as well. Good if I could get a remote or something to control music on my xbox without the need for tv display
 
The squeezebox Touch (can be had for £180 if you shop around) can connect to a usb HD. So you wouldnt need a NAS and you wouldnt need your tv on
 
Yep just looking back at that Touch. Looks pretty. Guessing I can have it wifi or ethernet into my router (to connect to storage of some form) and then optical out pointing to my av receiver and sit it somewhere and let it look pretty
 
Yep thats fine.

The good thing about the touch is that it can have Squeezebox Server installed on it to then stream music to other wireless devices around the house so you wouldnt need to software installed on your NAS. (Although it is advised as it would run quicker)
 
ok, so with regards storage, what's recommended if I go this route? Was originally just looking at a 1Tb drive hard-wired to my router. As mentioned this would then store all my music that's currently on my PC and then also store stuff like pictures & videos (possibly to tv) and general docs shared by mine and my partner's laptops.
 
ah just noticed. Am I right in thinking both the Squeezebox Duet and Touch both only work with audio?
 
That would normally be fine. However i think this may have problems for wirelessly streaming to the squeezebox as you need to have Squeezebox Server installed where the files are stored. Whether it would work if you hard wired the SB Touch into the router aswell i'm not too sure.

What is another option would be to build a small M-ITX pc and use it as a server with something like Freenas or Vortexbox installed as an operating system. This would allow you to installed various software for streaming and give extra flexibility. (These software work on the very basic of hardware so an old P4 rig would be excellent. It would also mean adding extra storage space would be easier)

The last option would be to get a portable hard drive and then connect it to a "Homeplug" which is basically a tiny pc the size of a plug which could have freenas installed on it.
 
hmmmm. Ok what drives are out there that would let me install Squeezebox on it, but then maybe this isn't the solution now as ideally I wanna be able to support photo's and video's as well if possible. Not essential I guess but would be nice to have something that does everything.

I like the idea of the classic as it seems to be just a box I can sit in my tv cabinet and simple remote. However the touch looks nicer and not much more, but then looks like it would take more space
 
Thanks guys. Just spoken to my partner, who thinks I'm crazy spending the money, and might do in parts.
  1. Buy form of external storage for all music/photos/videos/docs that's currently on PC
  2. Use Xbox 360 to stream the music/photos/videos to TV and exisiting Panasonic SA-PT467 via optical out
  3. If I find that I'm streaming a lot of music, then purchase Squeezebox Duet or Touch knowing that it supports storage and output via optical out
  4. If I decide to replace my Panasonic box with something like an Onkyo 608, I know that the music via Xbox or Squeezebox will still work via optical out

My Panasonic box only has 1 optical in and I'm already swapping between my xbox and sky HD box so I would look at a switch box.

I'd want to make sure that what ever storage I buy, its good enough to stream music to my 360 (think it works via Windows Media Player) and support Squeezebox server should I take that option.

Think this works out the cheaper option to keep budget down and I might find that I'm not streaming music much. We don't at the moment but obviously something I might want to do in the future and want to keep options open.
 
Ok think I've decided on one of 3 NAS. Qnap,Synology or ReadyNAS Duo and 2 bay ones with 2 x 1Tb drives for RAID failover. Advantage with the ReadyNAS is that there is currently a promotion to buy with 1tb and get 1tb free which is good.

I've then been recommended a Roku Soundbridge, which seems nice and cheap compared to the Squeezebox, but will have to see.

Think as long as I get one of the 3 NAS' mentioned above, I should get the support which ever route I take afterwards
 
synology every time. had a readynas but after a shocker experience with netgear support i returned it for refund.

the synology performs so much faster too.
 
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