Apartment + Projector + Chromecast + wireless speakers = possible?
October 14, 2015 3:55 PM Subscribe
At the age of 32, I've finally become an adult with my own apartment. Now I need an adult-sized audio/visual set up. Is it possible to have Chromecast (or other) plugged into a projector, and somehow getting the audio to go to wireless speakers? Also, when the projector is turned off, I'd like to be able to use those wireless speakers with Spotify. How do I set it all up?
EDIT: I've never owned a TV, I've never had a complex speaker system, I don't know the jargon...
We don't want a big TV to be an ever-present part of the room, so we're getting a projector. On it, we mainly want to watch Netflix and YouTube, streamed from our laptops (both of them 2014-model Macbooks), plus whatever we have on our laptops (downloaded/purchased videos). For music, we either listen to Spotify or the music libraries on our laptops.
I know the rough needs of the projector we want to get: 2,000+ lumens, 720p+, lens shift, keystone.
The rest I'm pretty lost on.
QUESTIONS
THE SPEAKERS
For this set up, is one of the following speaker systems better than others? Sonos, Denon Heos, Bose Wireless, Samsung Shape. Or are those four options all overkill – do I just need some really simple wireless speakers (of course, with good sound)?
I should be going through my home wireless router, right? That's less droppy than bluetooth?
And is there a cheap wireless speaker for surround sound that you'd recommend?
THE PROJECTOR
Are there any ins/outs on the projector I need to be aware of? In other words, I know it'll need both HDMI in and a USB to power Chromecast. Is that all?
THE STREAMING SERVICE
Netflix, Amazon, Spotify, plus whatever we have on the computers themselves (iTunes library, DVDs). Chromecast will meet these needs? Or...Roku, Apple TV – better for this situation?
CONNECTING EVERYTHING
Just about the only thing I'm sure about is that the Chromecast plugs into the projector.
– Does the laptop send video to the chromecast, and audio to the speakers?
– Do I need a thingy to split video to the Chromecast/projector, and audio to the speakers? If so, which thingy? In other words, how do we get video to go to the projector and audio to go to the speakers? Is this just as simple as selecting the wireless speakers in my laptop's audio-out?
Thank you!
EDIT: I've never owned a TV, I've never had a complex speaker system, I don't know the jargon...
We don't want a big TV to be an ever-present part of the room, so we're getting a projector. On it, we mainly want to watch Netflix and YouTube, streamed from our laptops (both of them 2014-model Macbooks), plus whatever we have on our laptops (downloaded/purchased videos). For music, we either listen to Spotify or the music libraries on our laptops.
I know the rough needs of the projector we want to get: 2,000+ lumens, 720p+, lens shift, keystone.
The rest I'm pretty lost on.
QUESTIONS
THE SPEAKERS
For this set up, is one of the following speaker systems better than others? Sonos, Denon Heos, Bose Wireless, Samsung Shape. Or are those four options all overkill – do I just need some really simple wireless speakers (of course, with good sound)?
I should be going through my home wireless router, right? That's less droppy than bluetooth?
And is there a cheap wireless speaker for surround sound that you'd recommend?
THE PROJECTOR
Are there any ins/outs on the projector I need to be aware of? In other words, I know it'll need both HDMI in and a USB to power Chromecast. Is that all?
THE STREAMING SERVICE
Netflix, Amazon, Spotify, plus whatever we have on the computers themselves (iTunes library, DVDs). Chromecast will meet these needs? Or...Roku, Apple TV – better for this situation?
CONNECTING EVERYTHING
Just about the only thing I'm sure about is that the Chromecast plugs into the projector.
– Does the laptop send video to the chromecast, and audio to the speakers?
– Do I need a thingy to split video to the Chromecast/projector, and audio to the speakers? If so, which thingy? In other words, how do we get video to go to the projector and audio to go to the speakers? Is this just as simple as selecting the wireless speakers in my laptop's audio-out?
Thank you!
Amazon streaming video does not play well with Chromecast and probably won't for the foreseeable future. Netflix and Spotify do work very well though (provided you are a paid Spotify subscriber), in my experience.
posted by telegraph at 4:18 PM on October 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by telegraph at 4:18 PM on October 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Follow up question – the projector may not have an audio out. People seem to be using something called an "audio extractor" with limited results.
However, I can't seem to see how to set one up. Is it:
Laptop sends signal (e.g. YouTube) to Chromecast.
Chromecast attaches to extractor attached to both a projector and an audio transmitter
Extractor sends video to Projector
Extractor sends audio to transmitter
Audio transmitter sends audio signal to wireless speaker system.
Like this diagram I just drew?
posted by omnigut at 4:35 PM on October 14, 2015
However, I can't seem to see how to set one up. Is it:
Laptop sends signal (e.g. YouTube) to Chromecast.
Chromecast attaches to extractor attached to both a projector and an audio transmitter
Extractor sends video to Projector
Extractor sends audio to transmitter
Audio transmitter sends audio signal to wireless speaker system.
Like this diagram I just drew?
posted by omnigut at 4:35 PM on October 14, 2015
Response by poster: @Stoneweaver, thanks for that, but I think we want to do this without cables – i.e. no cable from laptop to projector, no cables from projector to speaker...
posted by omnigut at 4:37 PM on October 14, 2015
posted by omnigut at 4:37 PM on October 14, 2015
I think your diagram is mostly correct, though technically the chromecast-extractor-projector branch is all output in that order. YMMV with an extractor though.
But like I said, I think an Apple TV might be easier for your situation since it natively supports wireless music playback on your platform.
posted by a halcyon day at 5:34 PM on October 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
But like I said, I think an Apple TV might be easier for your situation since it natively supports wireless music playback on your platform.
posted by a halcyon day at 5:34 PM on October 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
So a lot depends on what the actual layout of your space is. Generally speaking, as convenient as wireless everything is, it's also often a pain and you're better off running wires for a lot of stuff, especially speakers.
And audio extractor will work and your last diagram is fine and will work provided... there isn't a lot of interference in your apartment. But if that's the case, yeah, that setup will work fine. Just be careful that the audio extractor doesn't mess up HDCP. I have never bought one so I don't know if they're all the same or whether some are better than others.
posted by GuyZero at 6:09 PM on October 14, 2015
And audio extractor will work and your last diagram is fine and will work provided... there isn't a lot of interference in your apartment. But if that's the case, yeah, that setup will work fine. Just be careful that the audio extractor doesn't mess up HDCP. I have never bought one so I don't know if they're all the same or whether some are better than others.
posted by GuyZero at 6:09 PM on October 14, 2015
Also Chromecast will work great for Netflix, YouTube, HBO Go and a lot of other services except not Amazon. You can screen mirror your laptop for itunes video and it'll be OK, you'll get better results by just buying a HDMI dongle and wiring it into your projector. Spotify works well with Chromecast.
To a certain extent people start to use services based on what works well with their AV setup, so you may find yourself using iTunes less for video if you have a Chromecast.
posted by GuyZero at 6:12 PM on October 14, 2015
To a certain extent people start to use services based on what works well with their AV setup, so you may find yourself using iTunes less for video if you have a Chromecast.
posted by GuyZero at 6:12 PM on October 14, 2015
Chromecast will meet these needs? Or...Roku, Apple TV – better for this situation?
I post this in every thread like this, but the thing you want is the firetv stick, not the chromecast. I've done everything mentioned here and more. Roku, chromecast, firetv, appletv, variations of computer connected to TV(whether it was my laptop, my main desktop, a secondary machine, dedicated HTPC... i've done it all).
The firetv handles everything better than any other option i've seen. And it has so much more capability due to it running android and not being locked down to some curated app store.
It supports bluetooth speakers out of the box! It will stream any service i can think of, including the cool extra-legal "pirate" ones and every paid service, including stuff like hbo go/now(or whatever their new subscription stream only service is called?). The only thing it doesn't play nice with is itunes, and even then it supports airplay via kodi.
I can't say enough nice things about the ability to one-box it like this. It includes a remote, which is a lifesaver sometimes. The remote app for smartphones is the best such i've used outside of the apple ecosystem(and better than anything i was controlling my HTPCs with). And seriously, not having to try and get the netflix app or whatever to reconnect just so you can pause a show when the phone rings is so awesome.
The chromecast is, and was, pretty good for the price. But the firetv stick is $5 more and has WAY more than $5 more functionality and is basically infinitely modifiable/expandable. I shelled out for the fancy big version, but i've directed all my friends/family to the small one and other than load times and some stutter in menus it's *just* as good and capable. The big one is basically just faster, but it's also not a "stick" you can hide away attached to your display(and it requires a power brick, whereas the stick runs on USB like the chromecast)
posted by emptythought at 6:14 PM on October 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
I post this in every thread like this, but the thing you want is the firetv stick, not the chromecast. I've done everything mentioned here and more. Roku, chromecast, firetv, appletv, variations of computer connected to TV(whether it was my laptop, my main desktop, a secondary machine, dedicated HTPC... i've done it all).
The firetv handles everything better than any other option i've seen. And it has so much more capability due to it running android and not being locked down to some curated app store.
It supports bluetooth speakers out of the box! It will stream any service i can think of, including the cool extra-legal "pirate" ones and every paid service, including stuff like hbo go/now(or whatever their new subscription stream only service is called?). The only thing it doesn't play nice with is itunes, and even then it supports airplay via kodi.
I can't say enough nice things about the ability to one-box it like this. It includes a remote, which is a lifesaver sometimes. The remote app for smartphones is the best such i've used outside of the apple ecosystem(and better than anything i was controlling my HTPCs with). And seriously, not having to try and get the netflix app or whatever to reconnect just so you can pause a show when the phone rings is so awesome.
The chromecast is, and was, pretty good for the price. But the firetv stick is $5 more and has WAY more than $5 more functionality and is basically infinitely modifiable/expandable. I shelled out for the fancy big version, but i've directed all my friends/family to the small one and other than load times and some stutter in menus it's *just* as good and capable. The big one is basically just faster, but it's also not a "stick" you can hide away attached to your display(and it requires a power brick, whereas the stick runs on USB like the chromecast)
posted by emptythought at 6:14 PM on October 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks for the help everyone. I have a couple more questions:
Why are wireless speakers a hassle? Is there a lag?
If I were to get wired speakers, instead of wireless, would there be some way of me getting the audio from whatever I'm playing on the projector (via either a firetv, chromecast or apple TV, or just plugging my computer straight into the projector), and for when I'm just listening to music to have Spotify stream from my phone to the wired speakers? The projector won't be in the room most of the time – only when we're watching movies.
I'm assuming that I'd have the box that controls everything (a "receiver"? – like I said, never owned a TV before), and have the speakers plugged into that receiver, and then I'd have to have another gizmo plugged into it (firetv stick, Chromecast etc) that could get the signal from our phones or computers? Like this diagram?
posted by omnigut at 9:01 AM on October 15, 2015
Why are wireless speakers a hassle? Is there a lag?
If I were to get wired speakers, instead of wireless, would there be some way of me getting the audio from whatever I'm playing on the projector (via either a firetv, chromecast or apple TV, or just plugging my computer straight into the projector), and for when I'm just listening to music to have Spotify stream from my phone to the wired speakers? The projector won't be in the room most of the time – only when we're watching movies.
I'm assuming that I'd have the box that controls everything (a "receiver"? – like I said, never owned a TV before), and have the speakers plugged into that receiver, and then I'd have to have another gizmo plugged into it (firetv stick, Chromecast etc) that could get the signal from our phones or computers? Like this diagram?
posted by omnigut at 9:01 AM on October 15, 2015
I had an ask question a while back about wireless headphones for tv and the consensus was that there will always be some lag and that bluetooth was worse than radio wireless. I imagine speakers would have the same issues.
I still haven't gotten any headphones.
posted by srboisvert at 8:01 PM on October 15, 2015
I still haven't gotten any headphones.
posted by srboisvert at 8:01 PM on October 15, 2015
Yeah, using an AV receiver is the logical solution and they don't have to be hugely expensive, but it's definitely one more thing to buy. Basically it would be a stereo system with the speakers wired up all the time that you can plug a projector into when you want it. Chromecast works pretty well in that configuration - better in some ways since a receiver can decode multi-channel sound ("5.1") that the device doesn't decode itself.
The issues with wireless speakers are 1) configuration 2) interference and 3) audio delay. 1 and 2 may not necessarily be big issues but delay is tough to avoid. Wired speakers don't have that issue.
posted by GuyZero at 8:32 PM on October 15, 2015
The issues with wireless speakers are 1) configuration 2) interference and 3) audio delay. 1 and 2 may not necessarily be big issues but delay is tough to avoid. Wired speakers don't have that issue.
posted by GuyZero at 8:32 PM on October 15, 2015
Response by poster: OKAY THANK YOU EVERYONE!
I'm going to go learn what an AV receiver is, then go buy one, plus speakers, Chromecast and a couch.
This has been awesome, thanks again x
posted by omnigut at 4:35 PM on October 16, 2015
I'm going to go learn what an AV receiver is, then go buy one, plus speakers, Chromecast and a couch.
This has been awesome, thanks again x
posted by omnigut at 4:35 PM on October 16, 2015
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Assuming your Macbooks both use iTunes for music, you may be better served by an Apple TV. You can push the music to the Apple TV from within iTunes, which will in turn push it to the speakers. I don't know of a clean way to do that with a Chromecast*. Plus, streaming to a Chromecast kind of works best using the Netflix iOS app, for example, rather than the device's own interface or your Mac.
Potential caveat: verify that the projector will pass thru the audio even when it's in standby mode, or only when it's on; otherwise you will need to connect the optical or RCA audio out of the Apple TV directly to your speaker transmitter.
All of this happens over your regular wifi. There's no Bluetooth involved.
*A similar situation also occurs with Youtube where you can cast a Chrome tab, but the Apple TV interface is easier.
posted by a halcyon day at 4:14 PM on October 14, 2015 [3 favorites]