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Post by mj on Mar 22, 2010 22:21:30 GMT -5
Howdy: In talking with the CFO of the house (my blushing bride) she's made it clear that tying whatever stereo gear we get with her ipod or the NAS box (itunes server) is pretty important to her. This is a set of features that the UMC lacks and that many AVRs have.
I am not here to rain on the UMC (I have one on pre-order myself), but would rather like to get other people's opinions on viable options for adding this capability outboard of the UMC and connecting it up. I've read up some on sonos ($$) and the logitech squeezebox, and I'd appreciate feedback from someone who has tried them. She doesn't want just audio from the ipod - she wants to be able to use a remote and GUI to control the ipod. (which implies a usb connection to the ipod, plus a bit of software  ) And if whatever the box is that connects to an itunes server, she wants a remote and nice GUI there as well. - mj PS. If I can't find a good answer for her, I will likely end up with a Pioneer SC-25 or a Denon 3310, so if there are any gotchas there I'd like to know also ... PPS. Wireless or wired network is fine, as long as the wireless supports 802.11g and WPA2. |
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Post by bigred7078 on Mar 22, 2010 22:24:39 GMT -5
just get an Apple TV. Problem solved  |
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Post by jimbailey on Mar 22, 2010 22:44:15 GMT -5
According to big Dan at Emofest 2009, an Emo branded iPod dock may be forthcoming for the "future expansion" port on the UMC-1. Haven't heard any more about that since then, though.
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Post by wizardofoz on Mar 22, 2010 23:33:23 GMT -5
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bootman
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Typing useless posts on internet forums....
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Post by bootman on Mar 23, 2010 8:05:48 GMT -5
Now that I would consider for a HTPC.
Know any good sites on setting up a mini for HT use?
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ratmice
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I'm not an actor, but I play one on TV.
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Post by ratmice on Mar 23, 2010 8:19:29 GMT -5
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bootman
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Typing useless posts on internet forums....
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Post by bootman on Mar 23, 2010 8:22:12 GMT -5
I was just reading those. |
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Post by Stevens on Mar 23, 2010 8:26:06 GMT -5
I'll second the AppleTV suggestion. It really works well, is simplicity itself, and the GUI doesn't get much better than that (like turning your TV into a giant iPod complete with CoverFlow, menus, pictures, iTunes music store, etc.).
There's also some limited internet access (Youtube, Picasa, etc.). If you're so inclined, there's also the ATVFlash hack that adds additional functionality, but I haven't yet felt the need to go that route.
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ratmice
Emo VIPs
I'm not an actor, but I play one on TV.
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Post by ratmice on Mar 23, 2010 8:49:19 GMT -5
If you have an iPod, then you have iTunes. So using an airport express and accessing your iTunes library may be the ticket. You can use an iPhone, or iPod Touch for a remote, with GUI. I do it and like it. YMMV. There are also ways to get access to NAS, other music SW on the host computer, but they are not as staright forward as the itunes thing. Apple TV could be the ticket as was stated earlier in the thread. Or almost any other NMT device.
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Post by leffe67 on Mar 23, 2010 9:37:46 GMT -5
I am also in the airport express with air tunes camp. You can pick one up on ebay for $40-$60 and they work great. I find that using my laptop is definitely more efficient than anything I can do with a remote.
If you have a laptop, or computer nearby & a wireless network this is a great option. Make sure to pick up an optical toslink cable and a 3.5mm adapter to let the UMC-1 do the D/A conversion. It sounds better to me than letting the airport express do it. If you have the storage space, try to use apple lossless compression when importing your CD's so you don't lose quality.
It would be nice to have iPod capability, however, so when I have guests over they can just plug in their iPod...
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Post by mj on Mar 23, 2010 15:20:49 GMT -5
Thanks for all of the great feedback. Great links on the mac mini as well.
I had hoped to not have to leave one of my macs on all the time for an audio server - I'd like to use either the NAS or an ipod. I do have a mac mini in the MBR, so I will see if I can get it and the NAS playing nice. If I can, then either another mini in the living room or an apple TV is probably the right way to go.
My wife and I have also been talking about putting speakers out on the deck. I had been thinking about just wiring in a set of outdoor speakers, but maybe something like the Sonos would be a better deal. (we have AC in multiple places on the deck) I'm going to have to look into that a bit more. ;D
- mj
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Post by lang827 on Mar 23, 2010 18:27:10 GMT -5
Haven't used it, but heard it is the best option for IPOD control out there: URC's PSX-2.
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Post by maseline98 on Mar 24, 2010 15:50:37 GMT -5
I personally just hook my iPod to my xbox360. It's not quite as "flashy" as the Apple TV, but I think it works just fine....
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bchav
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Post by bchav on Mar 24, 2010 21:47:11 GMT -5
I bought a logitech squeezebox receiver (~$135) and use my IPOD touch as a remote to access all music on my PC. A little tricky to initially get set up if going wireless but pretty easy if you have a wired network connection to your component rack...it works great. I set up a Sonos for a friend of mine (using Iphone as the remote) and that works very well also...it was easier to set up too. I considered Apple TV but have not personally tried it.
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) And if whatever the box is that connects to an itunes server, she wants a remote and nice GUI there as well. 
