mp3 via home hi-fi

A mate of mine connects his ipod to his hi-fi (through the headphone jack i think) and puts it or random play which is great.

I've finally ripped all my cd's and now have around 15GB of WMA files. I dont have an ipod or anything (Ive heard the battery costs a lot to replace and bad things about reliablility - when we're all supposed to be more environmentally friendly the idea of 'disposable' ipods doesnt seem right somehow. My mates on his 5th!!) but I'd like to be able to play my tracks through my home hi-fi.

I've got a 360 and considered an external hdd but its pretty noisy and not really ideal. I then started looking at one of the TViX boxes as they seem to get pretty good reviews. The problem with both of those is I'd need to switch the tv on to get it started. I'd also consider a normal (reliable) portable mp3 player plugged into my hi-fi or an Archos. The Archos appeals as I'd have a decent screen to select tracks with (without turning the tv on) and it could sit on top of the hi-fi, they also seem quite good value.

My last option (apart from a HTPC) would be xbmc. I have an old xbox with xbmp2.4 and a 130GB hdd already but Ive heard XBMC is so much better. My tv's component input is being used by the 360 and not sure if any leads exist to connect the xbox1 to the tv and also to the hi-fi (is there a lead available to allow sound through the tv for games AND sound through the h-fi for music ?)

So in a nutshell this is what I'd like.......

1. Play mp3/wma's through home hi-fi (basically a NAD amp connected to some decent speakers)

2. Avoid using the TV ideally

3. Slick GUI if i DO have to use the telly

4. Not have to swap leads around when i want to listen to mp3s / play xbox games (yes i do still play them from time to time!)

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Pete