iWant to know if this exists?
July 13, 2010 3:02 PM Subscribe
How can I play my iTunes library from anywhere in my house?
This piece of technology must exist...
I have a large iTunes library on my desktop, and would like to listen to it in any room in my house. Is there a gizmo (like a radio or something) that can connect to my wireless network, read my desktop's iTunes library, and play it?
If not, is there a way (short of buying an iPod and one of those speaker thingies that plays your iPod) that I can do this myself?
This piece of technology must exist...
I have a large iTunes library on my desktop, and would like to listen to it in any room in my house. Is there a gizmo (like a radio or something) that can connect to my wireless network, read my desktop's iTunes library, and play it?
If not, is there a way (short of buying an iPod and one of those speaker thingies that plays your iPod) that I can do this myself?
You can use either Apple's Airport routers or an Apple TV to do this.
There's a button on the bottom right of itunes that let's you select which speakers to play the music from.
posted by empath at 3:07 PM on July 13, 2010
There's a button on the bottom right of itunes that let's you select which speakers to play the music from.
posted by empath at 3:07 PM on July 13, 2010
You can also do this with an iPod touch or iPhone, using the free Remote app.
posted by Happy Dave at 3:08 PM on July 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Happy Dave at 3:08 PM on July 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
You're pretty much stuck with an Apple solution if you have any iTMS DRM music. Airport Express is headless and will require computer control or a iPhone/iPod.
If you don't have any DRM music, Logitech has several wifi music players.
posted by wongcorgi at 3:13 PM on July 13, 2010
If you don't have any DRM music, Logitech has several wifi music players.
posted by wongcorgi at 3:13 PM on July 13, 2010
Nth Airport Express, with a (cheap, or not) set of computer speakers plugged into it. Plus, it can serve to extend the range of your wireless network.
I discovered recently that they fixed an odd sync issue that used to be present, so that if you set your computer to play from multiple sources, they're all in sync-- you can walk from one room to the other with continuous music.
The Remote app, already mentioned, doesn't actually stream music; you can just control its playback. This is especially useful with a multi-room setup; you can change the playback devices as well as navigate, browse, play, pause, skip, etc.
posted by supercres at 3:29 PM on July 13, 2010
I discovered recently that they fixed an odd sync issue that used to be present, so that if you set your computer to play from multiple sources, they're all in sync-- you can walk from one room to the other with continuous music.
The Remote app, already mentioned, doesn't actually stream music; you can just control its playback. This is especially useful with a multi-room setup; you can change the playback devices as well as navigate, browse, play, pause, skip, etc.
posted by supercres at 3:29 PM on July 13, 2010
Best answer: I use a $10 FM transmitter (the kind sold as an automotive accessory) that broadcasts any signal over unused radio frequencies. Plug it in like headphones, and every stereo in the house can be tuned in. It's not elegant or ideal or iFuturistic, but it works.
posted by foobario at 4:17 PM on July 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by foobario at 4:17 PM on July 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
It's pricey, but I've heard good things about the Sonos "wireless multi-room music system".
posted by Alt F4 at 4:27 PM on July 13, 2010
posted by Alt F4 at 4:27 PM on July 13, 2010
If you have a Tivo you can do this by installing Tivo Desktop on your computer. Designate the iTune Music directory as shared in the Tivo Desktop program, audio out from your Tivo to your stereo and voila! Note that you won't really be using iTunes in this setup, but sharing your iTunes Music directory with the Tivo, so you can't play playlists.
posted by Kafkaesque at 4:32 PM on July 13, 2010
posted by Kafkaesque at 4:32 PM on July 13, 2010
If you have computers around the house, you can try Airfoil and Airfoil Speakers by Rogue Amobea.
posted by reddot at 4:39 PM on July 13, 2010
posted by reddot at 4:39 PM on July 13, 2010
Airport Express, Apple TV, and Airfoil are the power three. I have a MacBook in my 'office' room with the music library. I can simultaneously send music to the Airport Express in the bedroom, the Apple TV in the living room, and my iPhone running Airfoil Speakers plugged into a speaker dock in the backyard. I carry my wife's iPhone around and use Apple's Remote app to control it. It feels like the future.
posted by cebailey at 9:30 AM on July 14, 2010
posted by cebailey at 9:30 AM on July 14, 2010
second Sonos. It's amazing. Yes, you get what you pay for. Two zones, about $1500, need to check current prices for a two-zone bundle. But it just works, and no computer required. You can listen to your itunes library from a NAS, Pandora, last.fm, any internet radio station, and Sirius/XM if you subscribe. Listen to each zone independently or together in "party" mode.
Airport Express works too, but it definitely takes more time to set up multiple rooms.
I've used both systems, and Sonos is the way to go, if you can afford it.
posted by cahlers at 5:44 PM on July 26, 2010
Airport Express works too, but it definitely takes more time to set up multiple rooms.
I've used both systems, and Sonos is the way to go, if you can afford it.
posted by cahlers at 5:44 PM on July 26, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by entropicamericana at 3:03 PM on July 13, 2010