Re: Alternatives to Sonos?

["Duncan" <duncan.sample@xxxxxxxxx>]

--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, Andy Powell <ukha@...> wrote:
>
>
> On 9 Feb 2009, at 04:16, Rob Iles wrote:
>
> > Hello Everyone,
> >
> > I've read the recent Sonos thread - great info in there. Sounds
like
> > a very
> > good product.
> >
> > However, IMHO, it's rather expensive. (I'm sure it's worth the
money
> > - and
> > in an ideal world, I'd go for it).
> >
> > Does anyone know of a cheaper alternative?
> >
> > Doesn't need to be Plug and Play - happy to build from scratch if
> > need be.
> >
> > Requirements:
> >
> > #1 All media (mp3/AAC/WMP) located on Vista Media Centre PC.
> > #2 Ability to play music in ~ 15 "zones".
> > #3 Ability to play different music in different zones
(simultaneously)
> > #4 Be controlled by IP or through a serial port. Spec needs to be
> > documented
> > so that I can write software to interface it with the HA software
> > (Harmony
> > 2007)
> > #5 AS CHEAP AS POSSIBLE!
> >
> > In UKHA tradition, the cheaper the better. I realise that
> > audiophiles will
> > be aghast...but, the primary zone - living room, already has a
> > reasonably
> > good 5.1 surround sound system (Sony STRDB940 - yes, it's old,
but
> > it still
> > works well enough for me) (Incidentally, anyone know how to
control
> > this by
> > means other than IR / have a list of IR codes for it?). Bedroom
> > zones will
> > generally be used for alarm clock duties, but some "easy
listening"
> > will
> > take place too. Bath-Zone will be ...how to put this
> > delicately....."sufficient" for one to continue
listening to TV/
> > Radio when
> > answering a call of nature/taking a shower. Stereo will be
adequate
> > in all
> > but the living room - but that's already taken care of bith the
> > surround
> > sound tuner).
> >
> > Any ideas, ladies and gentlemen?
> >
> >
> I came up with 3 options
>
> 1) Slimserver + 15 DDAR (Rio receiver running slim rio) + ipod touch /
> iphones running ipeng
>
> You don't need to see the DDAR/Rio's  - which isn't a bad thing.
>
> 2) 15 x xbox (classics) running xbmc + ipod touch/iphone running xbmc
> remote
>
>
> 3) 15 x small headless pc running xbmc + ipod touch/ iphone  running
> xbmc remote
>
> I don't know why they're all using iphone/ipod touch as the
> controller, I'm just lazy :) - you could use any sort of web browser
> to control xbmc but xbmc remote is much friendlier imho,
>
>
> I use option 1 (x4), but I also have option 2 (x1) for the living
> room. Of course if there's a harmony remote that can do webish stuff
> then that might do too.. :D
>
>
> ---
>
> Andy Powell / ScaredyCat / FuzzyCat
>
> Twitter: http://twitter.com/ScaredyCat
> Blog: http://blog.automated.it
> Site: http://www.automated.it
>

At the moment I use option 1 from Andy's options, but it's worth
remembering that Slimserver can stream to any MP3 stream receiver, and
there are a number of cheap(ish) choices for those, of course ideally
you'd use the Slim players, but you can even run a tiny software
version of the player on any computer around the house too.

As for remote control, In my living room I use Salling Clicker, which
controls my OSX and Windows computers using Bluetooth/wifi using my
Nokia N95 and old E70 and 6680.

Duncan



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