I have 1 PC in my basement rec room, and I have set up a MP3 jukebox using software called Virtual Music Jukebox. Currently, I play MP3's here, and output the sound from my soundcard into a stereo about 10 feet away using the traditional 1/8" mini-to-RCA cable. What I want to achieve is to keep this ability, but also to wirelessly transmit the same thing to two other stereos in my house (living room and garage). The reason for this is for parties if I am in the rec room, and walk to the living room, and then outside, I want to hear the same song!! I dont need to control the MP3's , tracklist, or anything from anywhere else.
I have tried several ways to do this, and all have come up short:
1) el cheapo 2.4gHz A/V transmitter from X10 (something like THIS). CONS: The sound quality and range were never that good. Plus, it went nuts whenever I used the microwave or the 2.4gHz cordless phone rang. And I just added a 802.11b network in the house, so I know that wont help the situation.
2) Pretty expensive FM transmitter called "PCI Max" (www.pcs-electronics.com) This seemed like a great solution. I hooked it up with a small antenna, and the range is great. The problem is that the sound is just not that good (think of a weak FM station). Sounds kinda flat. To get better sound, they told me to hook up a larger (read: HUGE) antenna in my attic or roof. No thanks.
3) RCA Lyra wireless (RD900W) (LINKY) This works GREAT!! Basically, it is a transmitter that hooks up to your PC via USB. Think of it as an external soundcard. I hooked it up, transmitted to my garage stereo, and it sounds great and even has a full 4 bars of signal strength. CONS: Since it is basically an "external soundcard", I have to choose between my regular soundcard and this Lyra USB "soundcard". I can only output to one soundcard at a time (Win XP Pro). SO, either I can output to soundcard to stereo in basement, OR I can output to USB to transmit to garage.......just not both at the same time. RCA says that this Lyra WILL work with multiple receivers, so all I have to do is buy two more receivers (for a total of three....one in basement, living room, and garage). Problem is, RCA DOES NOT SELL THE RECEIVERS SEPERATELY!!! This means I will have to go buy two more Lyra kits at $99 a pop in addition to the one ($99) I already have. I sure do wish they sold the receivers seperately.
SO.....thats where I am at. Any suggestions on how to transmit my music so I can listen to the same song, in sync, on three stereos, at the same time....all from ONE PC?? Like I said, I dont even need to control the PC from anywhere else. I just want to transmit the audio!
Thanks for listening,
Fat Johnny
I have tried several ways to do this, and all have come up short:
1) el cheapo 2.4gHz A/V transmitter from X10 (something like THIS). CONS: The sound quality and range were never that good. Plus, it went nuts whenever I used the microwave or the 2.4gHz cordless phone rang. And I just added a 802.11b network in the house, so I know that wont help the situation.
2) Pretty expensive FM transmitter called "PCI Max" (www.pcs-electronics.com) This seemed like a great solution. I hooked it up with a small antenna, and the range is great. The problem is that the sound is just not that good (think of a weak FM station). Sounds kinda flat. To get better sound, they told me to hook up a larger (read: HUGE) antenna in my attic or roof. No thanks.
3) RCA Lyra wireless (RD900W) (LINKY) This works GREAT!! Basically, it is a transmitter that hooks up to your PC via USB. Think of it as an external soundcard. I hooked it up, transmitted to my garage stereo, and it sounds great and even has a full 4 bars of signal strength. CONS: Since it is basically an "external soundcard", I have to choose between my regular soundcard and this Lyra USB "soundcard". I can only output to one soundcard at a time (Win XP Pro). SO, either I can output to soundcard to stereo in basement, OR I can output to USB to transmit to garage.......just not both at the same time. RCA says that this Lyra WILL work with multiple receivers, so all I have to do is buy two more receivers (for a total of three....one in basement, living room, and garage). Problem is, RCA DOES NOT SELL THE RECEIVERS SEPERATELY!!! This means I will have to go buy two more Lyra kits at $99 a pop in addition to the one ($99) I already have. I sure do wish they sold the receivers seperately.
SO.....thats where I am at. Any suggestions on how to transmit my music so I can listen to the same song, in sync, on three stereos, at the same time....all from ONE PC?? Like I said, I dont even need to control the PC from anywhere else. I just want to transmit the audio!
Thanks for listening,
Fat Johnny
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