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  1. #16
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
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    Pambula
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    58
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    12,779

    Default

    what is wrong with an ipod or similar and a dock?
    Too low-tech for me!

    No, actually that works fine for being able to take music where you want, but I'm not excited about the sound quality you get out of those things, so I wouldn't want it as the main sound system.

    Here is the dream:

    I've got a reasonably good amp and a pair of nice mid-sized Mordaunt Short speakers, which is what we usually listen through. At the moment it's just based on a CD player. What I would like to do is add a music server into the system so that I can burn all our favourite CDs on it and set up playlists so that we don't have to constantly change the CDs. The output is still through the stereo, so we still get the good sound.

    As an extension of this, I got the idea of connecting an FM transmitter so that we can also listen to it elsewhere in the house, or out on the deck without having to run speaker wires.

    Then I thought I could connect the music server up to the ADSL modem so we can listen to Internet radio. And if I take the input for the FM transmitter from a line out from the stereo, we can also tune in to the Austar radio channels and listen to them.

    That's how I got to this point. It's part of a larger plan, so the portable/FM business is not the main objective. I'm still working on it.
    "I don't practice what I preach because I'm not the kind of person I'm preaching to."

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  3. #17
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Hobart, Tasmania
    Posts
    183

    Default

    The sound quality would most likely be poor because the mp3s on it are of poor quality or because the EQ is turned on (which causes digital cliping).

    The former issue is also relevance if you are ripping to play from a PC. I'd suggest either FLAC or LAME set to -V0 --vbr-new with Exact Audio Copy. Its all free.

    Your criticisms of the iPod sound quality would also be quite applicable to FM radio. Why not just go with wi-fi and stream your music digitally to where you want it?

    You could consider something like this box: http://www.pccasegear.com/prod5534.htm. Or you could probably buy a little 12in laptop for about that cost, and the system requirements for playing audio files are tiny.

    Enlightened Sound Daemon is one option for streaming audio over a network, but I don't know what the support is like for your platform.

    You can input Austar radio to just about any PC if it has RCA outputs or similar.

  4. #18
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    Aug 2003
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    Pambula
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    58
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    Default

    I find the little speakers on those things a bit tinny, that's what I was thinking of. They're a bit of a compromise. Yes I realise you lose a fair bit of quality when you rip a CD, which is why I want to keep it all integrated with the stereo so that I can play straight from CD too if I want to. The music server idea is just for parties or when you want background music.

    I'm trying to avoid going for anything that requires a special receiver. If I can't do what I want with FM, I'll probably just run speaker cables out to the deck and put some speakers out there and then just use the portable MP3 player and a dock elsewhere. I suppose I'll just have to get used to 10CC and Air Supply on my clock radio if I go that way.

    I'm still holding out hope that I can get the FM broadcast thing working satisfactorily so I can use my existing radios to receive.

    One thing I've noticed is that PCs introduce a fair bit of interference on radio, I wonder if there is a filter or something I can get for that. It's a sort of low pitched crackling that is only there when the PC is on.
    "I don't practice what I preach because I'm not the kind of person I'm preaching to."

  5. #19
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Hobart, Tasmania
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    183

    Default

    Fair enough, however if you rip with EAC (to ensure no errors) to FLAC (lossless) you won't loose any quality ripping to the computer, plus you get all the advantages that computer playback has to offer and your CDs don't get worn out, lost or scratched. I rip my cds to FLAC then store the disc away and basically don't use it again. You do have to work around software re-sampling by directx or asio output from your audio player though.

    The rest is fair enough, but I would argue that in this day and age that wifi is very common.

    If the radio is connected to the PC in some way, then the noise could be an earth loop. The easiest solution is to switch to an optical cable between the PC and radio if thats the case, most other solutions are fairly fangled. The other possible problem could be a crappy soundcard, this would be the case if it didn't go away with headphones on.

  6. #20
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Pambula
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    I must look into CD ripping a bit deeper. We're only using Windows Media Player at present.

    I've seen these advertised on TV: http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Real_So...rders/E4A9D8G6
    I gather you need a WiFi transmitter for the PC as well. At $1,300 it's not exactly a budget option (not my budget, anyway).

    Yes WiFi is common, apparently, although not in my house. I have had no need for it so far because I like to leave my computer where it is when I knock off. I've got no interest in roaming the house with it. Also, I've got all these FM radios around the place and so I'm trying to work with the technology I've got. I imagine something wonderful will come out one day that does exactly what I want, but I don't even own a plasma or LCD TV, so I'm not exactly the Gadget Guy.

    The radio is in the next room. The set up is that I have the MP3 player transmitter connected the sound card line out and it is powered from the USB port, so it is connected to the PC by two paths. If I disconnect the USB and run on batteries, the interference is still there.

    Where I can hear the interference is out in the next room when I tune the FM receiver into the MP3 transmitter. I also get the same interference on my walkman radio running on batteries. I haven't tried different FM channels yet, but I will do.

    I haven't tried the MP3 transmitter on a different audio source yet either but will give that a shot tonight too and see if I can eliminate the PC as the source, but I'm pretty sure that the interference is coming either from the PC or the broadband modem, because I have the same problem here in my office with my work PC and my FM radio - although admittedly they are on the same power circuit.

    The trouble we go to for music...
    "I don't practice what I preach because I'm not the kind of person I'm preaching to."

  7. #21
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    melbourne
    Posts
    34

    Default have a look at this

    This may be out of your range but it is worth looking at for future reference.

    http://www.apple.com/au/airportextreme/

    http://www.apple.com/au/airportexpress/

    http://www.apple.com/au/imac/

    Apple have wifi built into all their machines and it very simple to connect all you electronics via their airportexpress or extreme, even other macs in the house can have access at the same time.

    You have access to the largest music library in the world through iTunes (available for Microsoft PCs too) and you can buy one track at a time or the whole album. You will soon be able to download (hire or buy) the latest movies and tv programs. You can watch YouTube, and podcasts etc on your tv. You can rip your CDs into iTunes and play them throughout the house from your Mac, or you can burn your music downloads from iTunes onto CD, easy peasy.

    The latest Mac’s can run both Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows, XP and Vista. And it is easy to switch between both if you need to.

    In the attached photo you can see a small remote controller that comes with every Mac (on the left), it’s about the size of a small pack of gum. That is the controller for all your music, ipod, tv shows, movies and much more stored on your Mac. There are only 6 controls so even a two year old can use it.

    Cheers
    Last edited by zen monk; 1st March 2008 at 08:30 AM. Reason: added word

  8. #22
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Port Augusta
    Posts
    37

    Default

    Just my 2 bob's worth! I have "built" 2 FM stereo transmitter kits from Oatley Electronics, 1 for myself & 1 for a relative. Each is hooked up to an old PC & transmits beyond the boundaries of the property (normal house block), fair audio quality, certainly better than small FM radios & earphones. I find them quite handy. The kits have prebuilt PCBs & only need to be fitted to the supplied case. Cheers, Les.

  9. #23
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    melbourne
    Posts
    34

    Default no image

    sorry, image did not carry across. I will try again.

  10. #24
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Hobart, Tasmania
    Posts
    183

    Default

    Five bucks says zen monk works for apple

  11. #25
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    195

    Default

    I don't think your aim of having good sound quality, with ripped (loseless) audio, transmitted over the airwaves is achievable.

    I'm no audiophile, but I know that good sound starts either a minimum 16bit (cd quality) digital source that is passed through the best possible Digital to Analogue Convertors (DaCs), or an analogue source, then through the most accurate speakers you can afford. Every other component in this process will reduce your sound quality. So if you plan on transmitting wirelessly, then expect reduced quality from the outset, then factor in your interference and your drop outs.. get the picture? (no.... its gone fussy.... wait..)

    There are PLENTY of options that don't involve spending big bucks on squeezebox sonos etc. For example someone mentioned one of these units cost $1800. SWEET that will buy a new pair of Paradigm Studio 20 Speakers. Sex on toast. Put them in another room, hook them up to your amp and you have your additional room kitted out with sound. No interfence, plus it sounds fantastic!

    If changing CD's all the time is an issue, then using a hard drive head unit to store digital music (like an IPOD) is an option, as is a media PC. As long as you rip your music in a lossless format, I don't think you'd notice much less quality than your CD player. Again, this is not that hard, and connecting these devices to your amp doesn't require expensive special connectors - your amp will have RCA and/or 3.5mm inputs that you could use for this purpose.

    Once all that is said, I think you'd get enjoyment out of meeting those goals than trying to convince some whiny, scratchy little transmitter to broadcast music to your amp in an acceptable way. I think one day we may see wireless music servers introduced, but for now there are definitely cheaper, more reliable and ultimately more satisfying ways of achieving those goals.

  12. #26
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    melbourne
    Posts
    34

    Default Thanks Noodle Snacks

    Thanks for the $5 Noodle Snacks.

    I am retired, and live in a Housing Commission flat, and try to live on a disability support pension. I do not have any where where I can go to do any woodworking unfortunately. The closest I can get to anything that looks related to woodworking is to come here and see what others are doing and be very, very envious.

    I do have an Apple iMac and it is brilliant, however I cannot afford broadband so I cannot use the wifi features of my Mac (the iMac requires broadband to download from iTunes music store). I can wirelessly connect to my two printers in my bedroom though, and to other devices if need be.

    PM me and I will tell you where you can send me the $5, I need it.

    Yours was a very stupid comment. The Macs are brilliant.

  13. #27
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Hobart, Tasmania
    Posts
    183

    Default

    Haha, I use regularly macs as well, I just don't think there is any reason to be fanatical about them. My comment was simply that your post read so much like an advertisement it made me chuckle.

  14. #28
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Adelaide, S.A.
    Posts
    1

    Default

    I agree with Makin Sawdust - I've built two "Micromitters" from Jaycar for myself and my Dad which can certainly cover a large house and yard...They're probably similar to the Oatley units but I think you have to solder the parts in...I don't recall...but good instructions, everything included etc...

    The sound quality is as good as any of the other FM stations (and far better than those little plug in ones!)...they're $49.95,

    Cheers,

    Jesse

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