Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with stereo and music

Listening to my mp3s on my stereo via the magic of wireless technology....

You Should See the Other Guy — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:30:54 -0800

Sending my music across the room... So I have a 25 year old amp (Technics if it matters) and a record player on the ground floor of one end of my apartment. On the other end, on the second floor, is my computer, which has all my non-vinyl music on it. The music is on an external drive. The computer is an aluminum iMac. Is there a way to get my mp3s to play out of the stereo? Note that at present I have no wireless stuff except a d-link modem and whatever wireless is built into the computer. There are no walls between the computer and the stereo. Please explain it to me as if I was an idiot. A bit more info inside. A bonus would be if there were some sort of interface next to the stereo that would allow me to navigate through the music. Note that I do not have a television so using one as the display is not an option.

Also note, and this may be important: I DO NOT listen to music using the computer. That is, I do not sit in front of my computer and listen to music. So if there is some device that allows me to plug my hard drive into my stereo directly, and navigate through it, that's fine too. However, bringing the drive upstairs to copy new tunes on it will probably be a pain in the ass. (I get 5 - 20 albums a week).

Presently my solution is to copy music to my iPhone and plug that into the stereo but the storage capacity is a pain as is transferring the tunes and having my phone ring through my speakers every time someone calls or rings the doorbell.

For the most part, cost is not an issue. Well, it is, but please answer as if it isn't.

I have read the past Ask threads about this topic but they're 3+ years old. I suppose those solutions will still work but I'm wondering if those solutions have been improved upon.

Wireless music

downing street memo — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 08:42:04 -0800

I have a computer hooked up to my entertainment system, and I'd like to stream music to it from my laptop. Help! I thought about buying an Airport Express, but if I can do this with tools I already have, I'd rather save the $100. Basically, I have a Windows box hooked into my entertainment system, and I'd like to make it so whenever I play a song on my laptop, the file is streamed to the Windows box and through my stereo, rather than through my laptop's speakers. Is this possible? My laptop is a standard MacBook, OSX 10.5.6 if that matters. Both computers are running iTunes currently but I'm happy to investigate other software. Thanks!

Help me find an album from the 70s that was never released

phunniemee — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:12:38 -0800

Once upon a time (the seventies), there existed a Lincoln Majorca live album that stores used to sell stereo equipment. Help me figure out what it was and where it can be found (on CD or mp3). Here are the details as my parents remember them:

It was a single live cut by Lincoln Majorca, and was entirely instrumental save for one piece by Thelma Huston. Songs on it were America, Blackbird, and something from Porgy and Bess.

Apparently it was never commercially released, and this high-quality recording was given to stores to use when selling stereos. In the (possibly) mid-seventies. My dad bought the stereo and the clerk at the store took the record and copied it onto a tape; the cassette is squirreled away in the attic somewhere, so unfortunately that's all the info I have.

Does a quality version of this album exist digitally anywhere? And where could I get my hands on it?

Thanks!

Left ear: melody. Right ear: harmony. More, please!

Sweetie Darling — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:11:13 -0800

Left ear: melody. Right ear: harmony. More, please! In an effort to increase my personal safety, I'm walking the dog in the morning with only one earbud in. It's been fun to shuffle through my iPod and get the occasional song where the music I hear in one ear is markedly different than what you hear when listening with the other ear. It seems to happen mostly with mid- to late-'60s songs - Mamas & Papas, CSN, Grateful Dead.

So as I walk, I wonder:
- Was that production style a trend specifically in that era? Did it have to do with the transition from mono to stereo? Why did people stop doing this?
- Can you give me any more examples of artists and/or songs that utilize this technique (any era, any style)? It's kind of fun to listen with one ear, then the other. I think I'm learning more about harmony, which is kind of cool.

Thanks!

Need a headset for music AND landline phonecalls

dtgriscom — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:16:36 -0800

Is there a wireless headset that will let me listen to beautiful music from my computer as well as make/receive phonecalls on my landline? I spend all day listening to music from my Mac Pro using wireless headphones (Sennheiser RS120s; great for what they are). Problem: when the phone rings I have to whip off the headphones and pick up my cordless phone. This, technically speaking, is a pain in the rear. I'd love to have a wireless headset that could do both functions.

For music, the solution would either plug into the Mac's 1/8" speaker jack, or connect to it via Bluetooth (I'm running Leopard, which supports A2DP). For phonecalls, the solution would plug into a modular phone jack (I use Callvantage VOIP, so theoretically the solution could connect straight to the data stream, but Callvantage is proprietary so I don't think it would be possible.)

There must be millions of desk workers in my shoes who would buy something that solves this problem; I find it hard to believe that there isn't a company who's seen the market and built a solution. The closest product I've found is this, which adapts a wired phoneline to a Bluetooth phone, with a stereo input on the side. It doesn't seem to be available, though.

Which speakers should I get for my Mac?

OmieWise — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:17:32 -0800

I'm going to be relying on my iMac and the music stored on it for a while. I would like to get a set of speakers so that the computer sounds better. What reasonably-priced powered speakers have folks had success with? I'd rather not get a separate subwoofer. I'd be willing to get a small amp and use my small stereo speakers if all the other options are too crappy. Thanks.

Help improve my sound!

aladfar — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:44:19 -0800

Help improve my sound! After listening to some pristine, rich & dynamic music at a friend's studio, I've decided to improve my own setup. The catch? I don't want to spend thousands and have no interest in audiophile snake oil. Recommendations? Details on my existing gear inside. Note: I should point out that I was listening to uncompressed AIFF audio at the studio. While I've no plans to get rid of my MP3 files, I want to get the most out of my vinyl and lossless digital.

My current setup:
Mac w/iTunes
Small Mackie Mixer (A glorified switcher, sometimes used for podcasting)
Pro-Ject Phono Preamp
Pro-Ject Debut III Turntable
M-Audio Stereophile Monitors

What I heard at the studio:
Mac w/iTunes
Apogee Ensemble D/A Converter
Mackie HR824 Monitors

Is there a nice spot in the middle? Should I ditch the powered monitors and pursue an amplified solution? Recommendations would be much appreciated. I'm open to anything, but would like to keep things at or below (preferably below) $1k. Thanks!

Home Stereo of the Future, revisted

rouftop — Mon, 05 May 2008 08:34:15 -0800

Looking for a home stereo setup that supports internet radio, traditional radio, CD's and MP3's without a computer in the middle. My wife and I want to buy a nice home stereo system that can handle both the old and the new. This earlier thread from 2005 asks very similar questions to what I'm looking for, but a lot can change in three years.

My wife enjoys listening to internet radio stations using iTunes, but she hates having to leave her computer on when she's just listening to music. She also has an iPod which she uses to listen to audiobooks while at the gym, but sometimes she wants to continue them at home without having to put on earphones. And of course we still have / buy CD's. (heck, sometimes my wife pulls out cassette tapes from high school!)

Ideally it'd also be able to handle surround sound and speakers in different rooms in the house.

Any suggestions?

Will my head explode if I wear my earphones the wrong way round?

grumblebee — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 13:01:43 -0800

stupid question: why are there left and right stereo speakers? Okay, I understand (and appreciate) that there are two sets of sounds and that they're separated in space. But I don't get the specificity of left and right. On my headphones, one speaker is labeled L and the other is labeled R.

Several times a day, I start to put them on without first checking that I'm matching the speakers to the correct ears. Then I realize what I'm doing and check the labels. Part of me feels like it's a good thing I'm doing this; another part of me feels like a lemming, mindlessly following directions to march off a cliff.

Would it make any difference if I listened to L with my right ear and R with my left ear? When I've boldly (and guiltily) done this, I haven't noticed any difference. Is this because L and R are bullshit labels? Or is it because I'm not a sophisticated enough listener to appreciate L and R? Would a real audiophile exclaim, "What's going on? Why is the string section on the right?!?"

All I wanna do is listen to Cheap Trick ive at Budokan

travosaurus — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 10:01:21 -0800

Does anyone else have problems with their cat attacking the record or the turntable every time they try and play vinyl? She likes that it spins. If so, any way to combat this? I prefer not having to lock my dear little in a separate when I want to listen to vinyl. Yes, I have tried moving the turntable... but she finds it.

Non-audiophile setting up Small biz stereo

ibechase — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:40:09 -0800

I'm setting up a stereo system for a small business but for some reason I can't figure out exactly what I need. Details after the jump... It's a small salon that consists of a fairly large waiting area, and 3 separate rooms. The primary source of music will be an ipod which will just interface via a headphone to RCA adapter. What I need is a receiver (which I have found a few of, but none that will support 4 sets of speakers.), 4 sets of speakers and some sort of interface/box that will allow me to independently control the volume in each room.

So, I'm looking for the following:
-A way to control the volume to each set of speakers independently. (Most important)
-Recommendations for a receiver and affordable speakers.
-A way to complete the entire system for <$1,000.

To sum it up, I essentially need someone to tell me "This is the receiver that will support 4 sets of speakers and control the volume independently." or "There is a(n) _____ box that allows you to split the audio output to 4 sets of speakers and mix down volumes for each set."

Any help is appreciated, also any creative ideas on how to implement a variation of this system would be tremendous. Thanks!

I've lost my hair, I've lost my youth and now it's time for my hearing to follow. recommend a stereo system, please.

krautland — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 14:01:08 -0800

I've lost my hair, I've lost my youth and now it's time for my hearing to follow. recommend a stereo system, please. I come to you with grave concern.
you see, I moved into a shiny new apartment complex. the elevators are fast, the views are vast and the food is delivered on time. I think I'd be ready to love this place if only the young asian couple next door would refrain from agreeing to each other so much and so intensely. besides, they have a habit of waking up early and their preferred wake-up call consists of agreeing to each other and european techno music I last heard in the early nineties, a period in time during which I wore neon yellow sweatpants. it's unfair that the kids today get to pick and choose what former trends to pick up again and it's unfair I now have to awake at five o'clock in the morning. my reputation of being the last in the office is at stake, as is my beauty sleep.

what is not at stake is my hearing. I am failing in the family tradition that is loss of hearing. my dad has been pumping up the tv further than a dog can stand for at least ten years now, my grandfather used to require no less than three repeats of every word uttered, just I am fine. people are beginning to suspect I've been adopted.

I have decided that a mix of faith no more as social commentary for the kiddos next door ("it's a dirty job but someone's got to do it") in combination with richard wagner for my hearing will fix my problems and I am willing to put my money where my fingers are (or, since this is the internet, my credit card).

so help me lose my hearing, will ya? recommend a mini stereo system I can play cd's with, listen to npr (isn't that what old liberals do?) ad perhaps hook my mac up to. I don't need anything fancy, just a good bass that can shake the 6 or so solid feet of concrete that separate us. I'm willing to throw between 100 and 300 bucks at it.

stereo

riotgrrl69 — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 20:39:37 -0800

Why don't more songs use total stereo seperation of different instruments? It worked for the Beatles. Why did they use it so extensively when few others seem to have?

I'll take "A New Stereo" for $200, Alex.

exceptinsects — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 12:33:02 -0800

So, the stereo I won on Jeopardy is about to break...what should I replace it with? What I already have and would like to hook up:
Surround sound speakers
TV
DVD player
iPod
iBook

I would like to also have a basic CD player [the old one was a 24-disc changer and completely irritating--1 CD at a time is plenty] and AM/FM radio. A tape deck would be nice but not at all necessary.

So...should I get one of those integrated stereo things again? A receiver and separate CD player? A wireless doodad so I don't have to actually plug in the computer/iPod?

I'm not a big audiophile, so it doesn't have to be AMAZING sound quality, and I don't want to spend more than 2 or 3 hundred bucks at most. I also would prefer not to have to build it myself out of parts from Radio Shack. (Do they still have Radio Shack?)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Which sound system iPod Hifi or Bose Sounddock?

jeremias — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 18:18:32 -0800

Which sound system: iPod Hifi or Bose Sounddock? Small apartment, no stereo system. The iPod Hifi is purty expensive at $350, the Bose Sounddock is also expensive at $299 but I might be able to get a discount to bring it down to $250. So is the iPod Hifi worth the extra $100?

How do I connect an old record player to my stereo?

huskerdont — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 21:29:24 -0800

Stereoidiot filter: I recently purchased an older turntable and am unable to connect it to my (newer) stereo. Help! I recently purchased a 1970s-vintage turntable (Dual model 1249) used. Instead of the standard red/white stereo connector wires, it comes with a shorter red wire, a longer black wire and a copper grounding wire. So... how do I connect this to my stereo receiver and what, if any, adapters are needed??

Stereo to Mono: Keep Both Channels?

kenneth — Wed, 18 Jan 2006 06:34:20 -0800

So, I'm gonna DJ tonight using my 12" PowerBook as the source. I know the mixer requires mono--the question is how to do it. I don't want to ignore the right stereo channel. But do I use a stereo-mono adapter? Stereo-mono cable? Software? I'm betting the adapter just ignores the right channel. I'm betting the cable fuses the two channels into one mono signal. As for software...

I could use DJ software under the right conditions--it's the kind of event where I want to just put a bunch of songs in a playlist (while still create that playlist on the fly) and have it crossfade between them automatically.

Baytex Party 4 is almost perfect because it integrates so well with the iTunes playlists containing the source mp3s, and i can get headphone output of songs with my iMic, but it won't let me 1) save playlists 2) automatically play songs from the playlist (as far as I can tell, I have to add each song from the playlist pile to a deck and then crossfade myself at the appropriate moment--not what I want to do.)

Is DJ-1800 that much better? Any others?

From Computer to Stereo

selfnoise — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 17:39:34 -0800

What's the cheapest "good" solution for getting my music from computer to stereo? I've got my PC in one room, and my stereo in the next room over. I don't have wireless internet at the moment, and I can't run a wire through since I'm not supposed to operate on the apartment and my wife doesn't want cables snaking under the door. (I haven't actually had this conversation, but I can imagine it vividly) On the other hand, a wireless solution would require me to buy a wireless router (I think) on top of everything else. I was looking at this Logitech product, which is about as much as I want to pay total, but it hasn't been around long enough for reviews to accrue. Any suggestions on what I should do?

airtunes vs. tivoli deathmatch

luriete — Sat, 07 Jan 2006 19:33:06 -0800

i just bought a tivoli system (kloss model 2, extra speaker and cd) and have it on the bookshelf but some questions: The Tivoli staffperson I emailed said it had an aux in and would work fine with my airtunes setup. However, there's an aux in (for the CD player, I think?) and a "mix in" which is also a single (mono?) mini rca. My old stereo went mini RCA (airtunes) > full size right and left stereo jacks (stereo), so now I've run a single mini RCA cable (on both ends) from airtunes to the "mix in" jack and it sounds just OK. Not as good as the cheapie sony boombox we used to have. Is this because before I had stereo sound coming in and now I just have mono? Is there a better way to hook this stuff together? I really like the warm sound of the Kloss speakers and it looks very pretty, and I like the big knobs ... I assume there must be some way to make the music from my powerbook sound better than it does on my crummy powerbook speakers; right now they sound about the same.

Anyone know about portable mic preamps or recording on mp3 players?

sirion — Sun, 04 Dec 2005 13:54:56 -0800

Are my recording needs met by a Creative Zen Nano Plus? If not, what device would easily allow fairly good recording from an unamplified single point stereo mic onto my computer (Mac) at low cost? Alternatively, anyone know much about small, cheap, portable microphone preamps? I'm trying to record music lessons and masterclasses and put them onto my computer at greater than playback speed. Right now, I use a Sharp Minidisc recorder, record using a single point stereo T-mic, then play it back into the microphone port in my computer and record it. This is a bit of a pain, and I'd like to make a bit of an improvement to this process.

I just got a $100 giftcard to bestbuy, and noticed that Creative Labs mp3 players are currently 25% off and have line-in recording capabilities. Might these fit my needs? Would I need a microphone preamp? Are there small, cheap preamps?

On a related note, it seems as if a preamp would allow me to record onto my iPod with the help of iPodLinux. Is this true?

Looking for a car stereo with a good UI.

Plutor — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 06:36:24 -0800

The factory-installed stereo in my car has stopped playing CDs, and my commute is fairly long, so this is essentially unacceptable. I've looked into getting it repaired, but the whole stereo'll have to be sent away for weeks, and it'll end up costing a bunch. But I've yet to find an add-on in-dash stereo for $200 or less that isn't terribly ugly. I have a 2003 Nissan Altima; the current stereo (and dash) looks like this, which I'm otherwise 100% happy with. I'm not really an audiophile, so pretty much any stereo will probably sound good enough for me. I've considered buying an MP3 player, but my stock stereo doesn't have an aux port, and it'd require a lot of CD-ripping time to convert all of my collection. I'm savvy enough that I have absolutely no problem mounting a stereo myself.

But I absolutely hate the trend of blinking lights and tiny lettering on tiny chrome buttons that seems pervasive in the car stereo market. My priority is a good UI. Is that too much to ask for?

Best Stereo For Mixtapes?

Ash3000 — Sun, 14 Aug 2005 23:14:38 -0800

If you had $200-500 you could use in obtaining an entirely new stereo system, solely for the purpose of making mixtapes, what'd you do with it? Basically, I have acquired enough funds to replace my falling-apart stereo that I'd had for about 8 years or so, and one of the two main purposes of such a purchase would be to make mixtapes (the other would be listening at home). I far prefer mixtapes to cds for all sorts of reasons, mostly aesthetic, but have no idea where to find the best stereo for such an endeavor (I'm not really a traditional audiophile). I'm looking for all the neccesities: an ability to vary recording level from source to source, some sort of outlet for phono, etc. Cool stuff like a fading feature (even in the form of a recording level knob rather than lever) would be neat, but not essential. If possible, I'd prefer that it'd be easy for transporting to and from dorm rooms, as I'm still in college. Thanks!

home stereo advice

devilsbrigade — Mon, 25 Apr 2005 18:32:19 -0800

I've always played music through my PC & PC speakers, or through a cheap boombox/stereo. I get decent quality through my PC, but I'd really like to separate it out and get some good speakers for just for music. The problem is, I don't exactly know how to go about this. I googled around some, but maybe for the wrong thing, because I've come up with nothing useful (its either extremely technical, or 'just buy a stereo'). I'm looking for general information about what exactly I'll need, how to set it up/wire it, etc.

At the moment, my picture is having a few rackmount(-ish, if not rackmount) things connected to some speakers and maybe a sub. I'd like to have a CD player, tuner, some sort of equalizer, and somehow some way to play digital music (I have a nice ogg/FLAC collection I'd like to be able to play) - I could use advise on this, too. At some point I'd like to be able to attach a turntable to the whole setup also, so I'd like the components to be separate, not just an all-in-one stereo system.

Wireless home theater, possible?

danwalker — Mon, 27 Dec 2004 04:34:06 -0800

In considering the home entertainment setup for the house I've just purchased, I'm looking for suggestions and advice on going wireless and streaming music from a PC to, well, everywhere. How best to do this? The main PC doing the work can be located anywhere, but I'd sure like some sort of control over what's playing in each of the main locations. Stereo in the living room, maybe some small speakers in the kitchen and upstairs... whatever. Your experience and product recommendations, please.

How to find a skipless CD player for my car?

luser — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 05:45:18 -0800

My car CD player (a Sony unit, probably about 6 years old) pretty much stutters/skips every CD I put in it, usually 5-10 minutes into the disk. Should I replace it, or try those lens cleaner thingies? Also, if I go to replace it, what's the metric in CD players' model specs that will tell me how well the lens will handle light scratches and/or burned CDs? I guess I could just get a really expensive one, but the only feature I really care about is that it doesn't skip.