Wireless home audio systems

[oboe]

Anybody have any experience with upgrading old school home audio (non-remote receiver and cd changer) to digital and wireless (as much as possible anyway)?

I recently got a secondhand iPod Touch, and so have iTunes and stuff.  I really like the convenience of the digital format, and also like interacting with the touchscreen on the iPod.  I'm envisioning a touch screen station like an HP All-in-one computer running iTunes and feeding my audio system through the aux in, but I bet there are more elegant and wireless solutions out there.  Just wondering abut options at this point.

I'll probably have 700-800 CDs to convert when I finally start converting.   Also kinda wondering about iTunes vs Win Media Player, or any other player.

Thx advice and opinions.

[Melvin]

You lose sound quality when you convert CD to mp3 format. Don't do it.

[oboe]

So what's the best digital format?  iPod is not mp3, its M4a I think.

[Thruster]

"Thx advice and opinions."

Can O' Worms.

$.02.....Since it's 2011 and you just got an i-pod it seems your not a disciple of the mobile music movement. If you just like the idea of distributing audio in the house you're probably better off going Windows based. Like every other Win/Apple discussion it's about money and flexibility.

Other than that you probably need to get out there virtually or otherwise and do a bit of research.

The best digital format is another loaded question. But as far as the consumer market goes it's a matter of quantity over quality.

Industry standard is a 16 bit .wav @ 44.1k.

[Masherbrum]

Screw itunes and the itouch.  Get the Logitech Squeezebox and keep your current PC and play em through your system.

[Melvin]

Here's a good link for you to check out. I'll do a bit (pun intended) more research.

http://www.lincomatic.com/mp3/mp3quality.html

EDIT: Personally, I like running my favorite music through my CD or record player. I have most of my music on the computer as well, but only run it through the speaks in the computer room.

[RTHolmes]

airport express works great with itunes, ive used them from win and mac laptops, I assume they work with ipod touch too. they do tend to die after a coupla years though ...

[Meatwad]

I guess im really oldschool, I have a turntable and some 45's and 78's still in use

[Rino]

     At least you're using electricity Meat 

[Meatwad]

Whats this "electricity?"

I just have the wife stand there with a crank to turn it 

[Nilsen]

Screw it all and get Sonos! 

[MrRiplEy[H]]

If you want to stream music through bluetooth audio for example you can't use windows for that, windows bluetooth stack is deliberately crippled. MS said something about too much options confusing the end users 

With a mac you simply go to bluetooth icon on top of your screen, choose the advertised bluetooth capable amplifier and voila you have streaming radio or mp3/ogg/m4a playing wirelessly.

Second option would be to get a apple tv (150 bucks) which you can connect to your home audio system. It can be connected to your imac/macbook with a couple keypresses to share your music on wireless lan. You can also play movies through it naturally, or rent/buy tv series etc.

[Melvin]

All of these guys are dropping good ideas.

However, if you insist on using these compressed formats, you might just want to get one of these...

http://www.amazon.com/3-5mm-Mini-Plug-Computer-Stereo/dp/B000FEHO0U

Just plug it into your ipod and then into the aux on yer stereo. Instant ipod speakers. Any electronics store has them for a couple bucks.

[icepac]

Bluetooth and MP3 (in certain rates) either lose information concerning dynamics of frequency response....or sample rate.

You surely don't want to try to stream music on bluetooth as even the latest lexus $100,000 LS600h sounds like crap streaming bluetooth.

To me, having music anywhere is worth the investment to do it right.......or not at all.

[oboe]

All of these guys are dropping good ideas.

However, if you insist on using these compressed formats, you might just want to get one of these...

http://www.amazon.com/3-5mm-Mini-Plug-Computer-Stereo/dp/B000FEHO0U

Just plug it into your ipod and then into the aux on yer stereo. Instant ipod speakers. Any electronics store has them for a couple bucks.

That's exactly what I do now, and made me wonder about a larger, more permanent implementation.   I think it'd be cool to have a 15-20"  touchscreen somewhere to interact with the stereo system. 

SONOS looks pretty cool - and comes with a free app you can run on a touchscreen.   Or maybe get an iPad and use that as the controller.    If I understand correctly, the music is stored in your digital library on your computer, which must be part of your home's wireless network.  A device called the SONOS bridge plugs into your home network's router, and then a device called an SONOS Zone Player plugs into your home audio system.   Music is transmitted on your wireless network to the Bridge and thence to each or every Zone Player, whereever they may be located throughout your home.