Waay off topic Q about "music systems"

[SadieKate]

So I was chatting with V the other day bemoaning the lack of classical stations in the area and that the few have very weak signals. She mentioned "music system." What? I'm barely beyond vinyl. So my poor little old boombox won't take a powered antenna which means (cuz I researched the new tech) a "micro system."

Due to the chat with V I discovered there is a ton of free classical radio on the net, including my beloved NPR station, but I hate speakers 18" from my ears. So I think with this little bitty Sony I can somehow turn off my monitor's speakers and connect via cable to the Sony? Or for another 50 clams add bluetooth.

My new computer is a Dell Latitude D630. Of course, my company didn't provide any manuals, no nothing. How do I tell if it is Bluetooth enabled? Dell's website says it is but I can't find anything on the computer but then I'm not a compooter geek. coming up for air It would be cool not to deal with wires across the room (unless I'm confused about this whole thing).

HyperConnectTM
Keeps users connected any time, virtually anywhere2
Wireless-N, based on 802.11n technology, with up to 5X the speed and 2X the range of traditional Wi-Fi® when used with a Wireless-N router3
HyperBand Diversity Antenna delivers superior multi-band wireless performance for mobile broadband and Wi-Fi
Integrated Bluetooth 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate makes it easy to connect personal devicesTake advantage of Dell’s support for the industry’s leading mobile broadband carriers
Built-in Dell WiFi CatcherTM Utility switch lets you quickly find a network, even when the laptop’s closed
Anyone have any suggestions for solving my need for classical music radio? Of course, I could call on Thom in my usual way, but I can just see his eyes rolling. There goes SadieKate again!

PS for Mr. Thom - thanks for explaining the VPN/printer network challenges in English. Now, if Bill could figure out how to scan a document all by his little self we'd really be rolling.

[bikerz]

Hey SK -

My new laptop is a Dell Latitude 630 - the bluetooth was an optional accessory. If you have it and if it is enabled, you will see an icon like the one circled in red in your system tray.



It also might show up under your network places.

[OakLeaf]

I love my Squeezebox! But it connects to an existing audio system.

ETA: I don't know what kind of bitrate you can get over Bluetooth. Plus the range is much shorter than 802.11, only about 30 feet or so. Audiophiles complain about bitrate over 802.11g, but I can't hear any problems with the sound quality (and neither can DH who has a much better ear than I do).

[bikerz]

Oh yeah - the Squeezebox is extremely cool.

I spent months researching and preparing to move to digital audio, and I ripped all of my CDs to flac files over the winter "break". I have been using the Squeezebox hooked to my regular amps and speakers for months now; the sound quality is excellent, and to my ear (and after many hours of comparative listening), indistinguishable from the original CD.

I found that the quality digital/audio converter (DAC) in the computer sound card had a much, much bigger effect on overall quality than the the wireless bandwidth. The DAC on my PC's sound card was horrible, even after I upgraded, but the Squeezebox DAC is very, very good for the price.

SK - the Squeezebox in and of itself might be overkill (and too $$$) for your immediate purposes, but it is a really cool way to expand your access to music without giving up any existing investment in analog stereo equipment. Even if you don't want to use it to play mp3s or other format digital music from a hard drive anytime soon , it has a great web interface and remote for playing music from radio stations on the net or through subscription music services like Rhapsody and Pandora.

[if you think you might be interested in going this route, let me know, because I might have an extra one to sell very slightly used...]

[SadieKate]

You guys are sure trying to spend my money, huh?

OK, here's the deal. Good stereo is upstairs. It can receive at least the two local public stations. It is hooked to the DVD/CD and cable TV. Would it be nice to get internet radio up there? Yes, but not critical.

My office downstairs - I have to have classical music but I like being exposed to new recordings or composers that I don't have in my collection, therefore I need (ok, want) radio. I only have a cheapo Aiwa boombox that cannot take a powered antenna, and so far the Aiwa mini-system which will take an antenna is not receiving the one classical music station with the powered antenna we just bought last night. Not looking good.

So I have to buy some kind of music equipment for my office but don't want to spend an arm and a leg. It's a small room and it's background music to work to. I have a somewhat critical ear from early training, but I'm no audiophile. Plus, there's the hum of the computers and printers. That little Sony had fine sound for the purpose.

What I'd really like is something like the Squeezebox I could hook up to my modem to access internet radion and feed to the little Sony and never have to do anything with my work computer. Then I could play my iPod when I want or use the radio.

Does anyone make some kind of standalone product that will do that? Probably costs an arm and a leg and a half.

FYI, the iPod files are on our personal computer which is down the hall in Bubba's den and used for his work so I only use it for quick down/uploads for iPod and Polar.

PS - The Squeezebox is hooked to your stereo? Then wireless feed from your PC to the Squeezebox? I'd suggest this to Bill for the upstairs stereo but it would have to work over a long distance and then Bill would have to be willing to leave his computer running, and that ain't going to happen. He turns it on and off 3 or 4 times a day.

[SadieKate]

Bikerz, no Bluetooth. Thanks for the easy to use set of instructions.

I could always use a Bluetooth adaptor. Would still prevent the cable across the room logistics problem.

[bikerz]

But OF COURSE I'm trying to spend your money! (I'm just returning the favor of how much fun everyone has had helping me spend my money on bike stuff over the years).

The Squeezebox has an RCA "out" jack that plugs into your amp as just another source input. It receives music signals streamed wirelessly from your PC (either from the internet or from music files on your PC) through your home wireless network. It does require a powered PC somewhere connected to the internet whenever you want to listen to music, and it needs to plug into something that received standard RCA inputs. [ETA: the new Squeezebox Duet does not need a PC turned on, according to the site. I have the slightly older model, without the neat-o color display.]

Now that I understand your setup better, I'd recommend the Squeezebox if you had a spare amp and speakers laying around, which you could set up in your office, and use the Squeezebox as your music source.

But since that's not the situation, probably a pair of powered speakers hooked up to your laptop or docking station would be perfect for your purposes. You can get some that have slightly longer cables so they are not so close to your head. I haven't had any experience with the wireless speakers, but bluetooth adapters are cheap and easy to come by.

[SadieKate]

We haven't tested our wireless reception throughout the house. Do you think a Squeeze box installed upstairs would work with a modem downstairs? What internet speed is necessary given the fact that wireless is a little slower than ethernet?

I may tell Bubba about this so he can get his jazz stations.

Editing - our home internet speed is 1.5 Mbps/896 Kbps

[bikerz]

If you can access your wireless network upstairs from your laptop, the Squeezebox will work just fine (it has it's own wireless card built in). Your internet speed is totally fine.

In my house, the cable modem and wireless router are downstairs, and the Squeezebox is upstairs, and I have no transmission issues at all - it works perfectly.

One of my pals who has this system purchased an inexpensive media PC to power his music system and Squeezebox - it is whisper silent, and has a very compact form factor (way smaller than most stereo components). I am using an old PC I had around, and it is fine, but I plan to resuscitate my dead laptop drive and then use my laptop for the music system since it is quieter and smaller.

I'd like to upgrade to the new Squeezebox with the display in the remote in the next month or so, and when I do, I'll have this one available for sale cheap...

[SadieKate]

Just carried my old work computer upstairs and the wireless signal was, at least, not lost. So that seems good.

So now there is a $400 model, huh? Sigh. We need to sell a house or two.

[SadieKate]

You can add receivers to a Squeezebox?? So we could install a Sqeezebox on the home computer and upstairs stereo, then add a receiver to something in my office.

http://www.slimdevices.com/pi_receiver.html

[SadieKate]

[ETA: the new Squeezebox Duet does not need a PC turned on, according to the site. I have the slightly older model, without the neat-o color display.]

The website says the 3.0 can be played with your PC turned off also. Have you tried?

http://www.slimdevices.com/pi_squeezebox.html

It looks like you will be able to buy the spiffy remote (the Controller) to use with your existing 3.0. Then you get the cool color screen without buying a whole new setup.

Not that I want to talk you out of anything but I'd feel guilty if I didn't say something.

[bikerz]

Ah - the Squeezebox bug has bitten you! (better than a giant weta bite!)

I'll check out the internet music streaming with the PC off tonight and let you know.

I didn't realize I could get the spiffy remote separately... Hmmm. (My friend recently upgraded to the Duet, and his SB 3.0 might also be available for sale, if I decide to keep mine.)

Receivers: In your office, you'd need an amplifier and a pair of speakers, and then you could get a second SB receiver and plug it into that amp. But the Squeezebox has to have an amplifier and speakers to plug into - think of it like another audio source, like a CD player.

This is so diverting - I was obsessed with it all in November and December. It's even easier to spend money on audio stuff than on bike stuff (especially in the winter!)

[SadieKate]

Hey, Oakleaf! have you tried your Squeezebox 3.0 without the PC turned on?

[Pedal Wench]

It's even easier to spend money on audio stuff than on bike stuff (especially in the winter!)

Tell me about -- I'm a recording engineer, and I freelance in the consumer electronics/technology fields -- I love that stuff!

One thing you might want to think about wrt Internet radio -- it only sounds as good as it's uploaded. So, while your speeds, and the connection speed and bitrates might all be fine, if the station is uploaded at a low rate, it won't sound great. But, in some cases, it will sound as good as your current FM sources, but never as good as CD quality.