"Stream" Audio

A

AnotherUser

Limp Gawd
Joined
Oct 7, 2011
Messages
137
Does anyone know of a product out there similar to the Sonos CONNECT but without the cost?

Esentially what I'm doing now is attempting to pay audio from my PC via bluetooth to a stereo with one of these and it's just not working out. The bluetooth is cutting in and out from my phone and my laptop both well in range of the adapter.

I'm not 100% sure on how the Sonos works but I assume there's some sort of app that runs on my PC/Laptop/Phone that connects to the device to play it's audio? Wireless or Ethernet based is fine, I just don't want to pay $350 as I'd like to get a few for around the house :)
 
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anthrex said:
I'm not sure but I think maybe something like this http://audioengineusa.com/Store/Audioengine-W3/W3R-Wireless-Audio-Receiver might be what you are looking for.
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The W3 consists of 2 parts, the "Sender" and "Receiver". The Sender transmits audio from your computer through USB audio or from any product with 3.5mm mini-jack or RCA audio outputs. The other side of W3, the Receiver, delivers audio to any product with mini-jack or RCA audio connectors.
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No, I don't want to attach anything to my PC/Laptop or phone, I want to use some sort of application to send the data to the receiver.
 
I'm starting to think Rasberry PI and some research. If anyone can find another product that I'm looking for that would be awesome though.
 
Hate to say this, there are a few options to get "like sonos", but you will never "be sonos". Even Apples "air play" does not do what Sonos does. Sorry..probably why they charge what they do. We have three units in our house and been a fantastic experience.

Good luck though...if you can figure out, lemme know. FYI...sonos has a some really strong (and legit) patents in regards to audio synchronizaiton over wireless.
 
Trepidati0n said:
Hate to say this, there are a few options to get "like sonos", but you will never "be sonos". Even Apples "air play" does not do what Sonos does. Sorry..probably why they charge what they do. We have three units in our house and been a fantastic experience.

Good luck though...if you can figure out, lemme know. FYI...sonos has a some really strong (and legit) patents in regards to audio synchronizaiton over wireless.
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Ah patents, gotta hate them.

I did find this: http://www.orb.com/en/music/tech-specs.html

What features does the Sonos trump others? What I'm looking for seems to be fairly basic stuff.
 
AnotherUser said:
Ah patents, gotta hate them.

I did find this: http://www.orb.com/en/music/tech-specs.html

What features does the Sonos trump others? What I'm looking for seems to be fairly basic stuff.
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In terms of music distrubtion and streaming...they trump everyone in every category. But to put it simple.

Sonos is its own wireless network instead of your household WiFi. Should be obvious why this is a good thing.

Sonos uses a mesh system...which means all the nodes talk to each other to best distribute music. This can also greatly extend your range.

Sonos is true multi room and multi source where other similar systems are not. In short.. a single controller can decide what zones are connected and what they are playing.

Sonos doesn't care who/what is controlling it (PC, iDevice, Android device) and can switch easily between those controllers. Furthermore, you dont have to have any of the controllers on for it to keep playing.

Now other systems claim they can match Sonos..but in reality they just get "close" and never quite do it. Again, becuase of this they can charge a hefty premium. Now, if you are willing to make some sacrifices (and understand them) you can probably get 90%+ of the experience at a fraction of the price. However, I chose to to be done with it.
 
what about something like subsonic.org?
my friend streams all his mp3's from his whs with subsonic and has an app or can simply use a webpage
 
jdl said:
what about something like subsonic.org?
my friend streams all his mp3's from his whs with subsonic and has an app or can simply use a webpage
Click to expand...

The OP indicated that he is looking for multiroom synchronized audio...not sure how that helps.
 
I wanted to do the same thing as AnotherUser. I bought these and havent had any issues at all.


Belkin Bluetooth Music Receiver

Kensington Bluetooth USB Micro Adapter

I previously had an all in one (I think) Logitech product that did pretty much the same thing with my audio library. But ... it would only play/stream audio thru its own 3rd party proprietary player. And it only worked for audio files. So needed to copy all of my MP3's into that player's library and then needed to continually update that player's library.

With the Belkin/Kensington combo I'm able to play any audio from my laptop to my receiver. Its setup is simple and now with a couple of clicks the audio plays on my receiver. Then when it's connected any audio I'd play on my laptop goes thru my receiver. Streaming music, YouTube, etc all the audio plays on my receiver.

It's been a really good/simple solution for me.
 
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