After an xbmc (tablet) based solution

platypus · 19 Oct 2015 at 13:58

...or Kodi as it is now called!

I want to get a very small, ideally tablet based, solution that will allow me to use my current xbmc setup in another room. I'm trying to find a small (ideally micro) amplifier that might do the job, but can't find one with any hdmi input, and I thought that getting a tablet with hdmi out might mean that the sound quality is better than using the headphone socket to split a single channel to two.

I want to avoid the need for yet another htpc, monitor, etc.

Hopefully thats clear...any ideas?

I guess something like the Sonos Connect:Amp sounds like it would do it, but obviously at a premium. I'd be after a cheaper solution

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FerretBoy · 19 Oct 2015 at 16:43

You can get kodi for Android. Add a Bluetooth speaker if the tablet sound isn't good enough? Id imagine the headphone socket will be fine though as it works fine for headphones and people spend a fortune on them.

I'd recommend you centralise the database though.

Pi2 and TV would be better though.

platypus · 19 Oct 2015 at 16:57

I want an amplifier with good speakers though, rather than using the tablet just for sound.

FerretBoy · 19 Oct 2015 at 17:06

Plenty of pc kits offer small amps and speakers. Then there are soundbars.. Guess it depends on your requirements

Marsman · 19 Oct 2015 at 19:16

Highly unlikely you will find a small amp with HDMI.

How about a Raspberry Pi 2 connected via HDMI to one of these. You can connect a small amp to either the RCA output, or a DAC to the SPDIF out, then an amp; or maybe even an amp that has SPDIF input.

Just an idea, but that's how I do it; although I have the Pi connected to my network via Ethernet, rather than Wi-Fi. Easy to play music using my phone to control Kodi without having to have the TV on.

Is your music stored on a NAS, or are you intending to play it directly from a tablet to whatever setup you end up getting?

platypus · 19 Oct 2015 at 19:30

It's all stored on a central server, I just wanted a miniturised solution to put in the garden office.

I think I might have to go down the htpc route and use an old mobile for controlling it.

Or as you say use something like http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/192K-24BI...c-Coaxial-INPUT-SMSL-SD-192-PRO-/311125038330, but I'm really not sure what the quality would be like, plus then I'd need to power the speakers somehow.

Hum just had another idea. Try to find an iphone dock that has amplification so I can use my own speakers? Or just get over it and use an iphone dock/speaker all in one (would that even work? If I used a jailbroken iphone with XMBC running?). Thats probably the easiest solution but not one I necessarily want!

http://www.sonos.com/en-gb/shop/connectamp is basically the perfect solution but sooo expensive.

platypus · 19 Oct 2015 at 19:59

Ok think I might be getting somewhere.

Something like http://www.richersounds.com/product/wireless-docks,-speakers-and-portables/pure/i-20/pure-i20 or http://www.arcam.co.uk/products,rSeries,iPod-Docks,drDock.htm, connect to small amplifier, use a jailbroken iphone/ipad.

That should work shouldn't it? So I just need to find a reasonable but as small as possible amplifier now.

Avalon · 20 Oct 2015 at 17:45

Linx 8" Z3735 atom based win8 tablets are 50-60 new including office 365 for a year, they're capable little devices with micro HDMI out, you can run kodi, various plugins such as navi-x etc. and a VPN client to stream whatever you want. I got one and took it on holiday, it played back local and streamed content perfectly and provided wifi for the rest of our group as a virtual router.

platypus · 21 Oct 2015 at 14:30

That might be a good option with a dac inline to a compact amplifier.