Solutions for listening to mp3s on home system

[samskimilla]

Hiya all,
as my thread title suggests I would like to listen to mp3s that I have (on PC) on my home system. I wonder what the best solution for me is.
I am aware of the different avenues open to me - i.e. connect PC to Hi Fi - (I dont want to do this as this means having to have my PC on - which I want to avoid)
Using a portable mp3 player in conjunction with a docking device / adaptor of some sort to enable connection to home system. (This is a maybe option for me)
A hard drive / home mp3 player (to use as a hi fi seperate that is just connected up as per normal). (This strikes me as the most preferable solution for me just for ease and for quality but this also strikes me as the most expensive solution).

I wonder if anyone can give me any help with this - i.e. any information that may prove helpful in me making a decision on this. Does anyone have experience with an attempt(s) to do this?, has it gone well?, did it go badly?
Any recommendations or products to avoid? Also, does anyone know of suitable products in the category of home mp3 / hard drive players?

Thankyou either way.

peace and love

Ian.

[KJ_Palmer]

I'd go for the home deck approach, either a CD or DVD deck, to get the best integration with your hi-fi, and possibly the best sound quality. I use a Philips CDR800 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005AY8T/102-5829940-8012158?v=glance&n=172282) to play MP3 encoded Cds. With 4 decks that gives 30+ hours at decent bitrates. It does mean that you'd have to burn your own CDs, that's all.

Otherwise, I think Yamaha and Sony etc. make hard drive MP3 decks which might be preferable...

[andrew1810]

You have a few options here really:

1) MP3 player with dock/wire connected to a hifi, possibly a dock with a remote.

2) Hard drive mp3 player, like the Cambridge Audio 640H, Hifidelio etc.

3) Wireless streamer connected to a NAS box


1) is the cheapest providing you have an mp3 player, but 2 and 3 will offer more options and IMO sound better

Details on the available players for 2 and 3 are here: http://www.audiofi.co.uk/reviews

[kirsand]

Hi,
I use the Logitech Wireless Music System for iPod/MP3 Players.
It uses bluetooth technology and works well every time. The received connects to an input ot your main amplifier system, and the transmitter, which is very small and operated by internal rechargeable battery, plugs into the headphone socket of the mp3 player. You can then operate the player from anywhere within a 33ft radius.
Cost is around £99.00 in the UK.
Hope this helps.

[samskimilla]

Hiya again - I 've just noticed this product that fits my requirements - does anybody have any experience or have heard anything about the product.

Rimax Alum TVIX - Multimedia DivX and MP3 Jukebox with 80GB Hard Drive

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000F2BTFI/sr=1-3/qid=1149335137/ref=sr_1_3/203-2531974-6549550?%5Fencoding=UTF8&s=electronics&v=glance

(I have no requirement for a photo - movie capability either so if anyone knows of similar products with just music storage and playback then please could you post it. This would be appreciated.)

Thankyou
Peace & Love
Ian

[Flipper]

I went through the same as you a few months ago. I was thinking about a wireless Squeezebox and pc setup. In the end I got an ipod with a dock. For convenience and size (Mrs didn't wany anymore boxes in the lounge) its perfect for me.

We sometimes dock it to the tv in the bedroom as we have lots of tv episodes on it. And when we go on holiday later in the year it just a case of putting it in my pocket.

[Uridium]

I'm using the Roku Soundbridge connected wirelessly to an old PC with an 80gb disk in it sitting tucked away in a cupboard.

Works flawlessly, PC chugs away silently 24x7 and I access it remotly via Remote Desktop from my laptop if i need to log on to it for some reason.

Roku soundbridge works excellently with Win Media connect 2.0 so pc doesn't even need any other software installed.

Roku then sits discreetly under my TV plugged into my surround sound kit. Display is easily readable from across the room and I can even contol it remotely using wireless on my Pocket PC

[extremelydodgy]

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/tunecenter/index.php

http://www.slimdevices.com/

http://www.rokulabs.com/

http://www.sonos.com/

[samskimilla]

thanks X-dodgy - I like the sound (and look) of the tune centre - that can go on my maybe pile - the other devices are not for me though.(I want to not have my PC on, or connected but a stand alone device. Thanks anyway.

[samskimilla]

Hiya - I would just like to add - My preffered solution (above all the options mentioned is for my cd player to play the cd's I burn. It doesn't - which is the reason for these posts.
If my cd player played burnt cd's then I would be happy with that and not bother with an mp3 player.
I know the cd's work as they play on even what I would term 'budget' cd players - namely, Cd player/ radio/tape deck in one - £30 - 50 range. So it would seem that it is just my cd player - yamaha cdx510. A little additional info - my cd player has played them or some of the tracks a couple of times but now doesn't.
Anyone got any ideas on this one? This is my preffered solution. Any ideas appreciated.
Thankyou
Peace & Love

[AMc]

IF your music collection will fit onto a portable player at your preferred quality (e.g. 30GB or 60GB iPod or similar) then this will be the simplest to control and easiest way to do this. Add a dock and bob's your uncle + all your music anywhere you go.

My collection is too big so I went for a small music serving PC and network MP3 players. It works really well but has had it's pain in set up and if you don't have most of the stuff available already (wireless networks, big hard drives and spare PCs) then it works out expensive.

From what I've seen the HiFi MP3 players look pretty limited, especially in storage. The Sonus players do look very nice and the remote looked lovely but you pay for the priviledge.