• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

Music Server

D

Daishiknyte

Limp Gawd
2FA
Joined
Nov 24, 2004
Messages
333
My family is currently building a new house and my dad wants to get a $3600 Elan VIA! DJ Digital Music Server. Being a) cheap b) a concerned son c) horrified I wanted to see if there was an alternative.

Is it possible for me to get several high end sound cards such as Audigy2s and software that will allow me to set up different zones in the house so that each zone had independant control over what they listened to from the music server? If that is possible, can you guys give me a push in the right direction?


Thanks for any help.

Daishiknyte
 
Actually your suggested route, while may be possible, would be a nightmare to keep working properly.

$3600 is not that bad, however I am unfamiliar with that hardware.

But for that price you could do something else that may work well for him.

Build a dedicated PC that is really just a file storage device with a small server app (Slimserver). Then for each room you want music in, buy a Squeezebox ($250/each). Each room will need network access, however the Squeezeboxes also come in a wifi varient. The hardwire method would be less problematic since wifi can be flakey.

The Squeezebox supports all kinds of formats, however it does not really support any with DRM crap, so while it will work with iTunes, it can not play music purchased off of iTunes. I personnally use my Squeezebox with lossless FLAC and connect it to a Denon 3805 via digital coax (Denon has better DACs than the squeezbox).

Also with the Squeezebox you can sync them so they act like a single device playing the same song throughout the house.

Another benefit of the squeezebox is you have a nice display where each squeezebox is and can easily control each one.
 
Go with the multiple squeezebox route. It's much more flexible. However, how is he amplifiying fro each zone? Is there a central multi-zone amp with impedence matching volume controls, or are there separate amps/receivers in each zone?
 
The Squeezebox stuff looks like what I need. The networking won't be a problem because the entire house is going to have ethernet ports and wireless availability all over the house.

Would a Philips Pronto Universal remote be able to control this as well?



Thanks for the advice.
 
Daishiknyte said:
The Squeezebox stuff looks like what I need. The networking won't be a problem because the entire house is going to have ethernet ports and wireless availability all over the house.

Would a Philips Pronto Universal remote be able to control this as well?



Thanks for the advice.
Click to expand...

Pronto should have no issue controlling a Squeezebox. The Squeezebox remote is a basic RF, in fact I think they use a JVC remote codes by default, however you can change that in a file for slimserver.
 
Each room has its own set of 2 or 4 speakers. Will I need to get a receiver for each room or... :confused: ? Audio equipment is not my strongpoint. :rolleyes:

Thanks for the help and patience.

Daishiknyte
 
http://www.hometech.com/learn/audio.html


Whole House Audio Tutorial
So you think you want speakers throughout your home? Do you want to have nice background music playing while you move around about your tasks? Do you want to hit a button to conjure up an instant "party atmosphere" for that big bash?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, or have any one of a thousand other reasons for building an audio system into your home, then you've come to the right place. We've spent years researching the esoteric world of whole-house audio systems -- and we're ready to publish this previously secret (or at least jealously hoarded) information.
 
Pick up a pocket pc(must have wifi built in)
buy Jriver media jukebox(it has multzone contro)
Purchase some m-audio sound cards(I recomend the revolution 5.1)
Buy Netremote

Install sound cards into PC, install Jriver media jukebox on said pc, install netremote on pocket pc(gallery is here), and off you go.
 
The Squeezebox system seems right. The link you posted madclown is just about setup, not hardware. stgdz, that seems more complicated than the Squeezebox and would require additional cabling. Remember, this is a whole house project.

Thanks for all the help.

Daishiknyte
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top