Wireless audio solutions?

[archerkit]

Hi all. I'm wondering what folks are using for wireless audio to create separate Xlobby zones. My xlobby server and wireless router will be in the basement, along with a home theater.

I'd like the living room to be a second zone, without the need to run cables, yet still retain good quality. Are there any wireless audio solutions that simply appear as a sound card, so that Winamp can push audio to it?

I haven't decided if a TV will remain in the living room, I was planning on using a PPC or laptop to control the living room zone. So the media extender type devices may not work for me, since they need a video interface.

I thought the Apple Airport Express would be ideal, but that only works with iTunes (Airtunes?), correct?

Any info or advice would be great!

[hjackson]

There are NO GOOD inexpensive methods that I am aware of to do this. Do you also need ampilication for the speakers in the living room or do you intend to run the audio into an amplifier first (ie. stereo receiver)? If you need amplification for the speakers you could check out the wireless Extreamer amp ($370) and Instreamer IP distribution device ($350) at http://www.smarthome.com. If you have CAT 5 from the basement to the living room and the amp is in the living room you can try a pair of audio Baluns' (also at smarthome for $80 each, you will need a pair). The cheapest method is the RF AV transmitters that are about $100. You can get those anywhere (ie. Radio Shack, Best Buy) I am not sure those Network AV media centers and network adapters will work because I believe they use a proprietary software audio player. If they actually can take a stream from winamp (try wasting your time asking one of those Best Buy or CompUSA sales people if it can ) then you (we!) are in luck!

hjackson

[archerkit]

It's going to go to a Yahama (old 2-channel analog) receiver. I did some looking around, and like you said, didn't find much out there. I think it'll be cheaper for me to take an old PC, add wireless to it, and just use it as an Xlobby client and directly attach the soundcard to the Yamaha. I have an old one that's quiet enough to fit the job, and won't take much in the way of resources to play music.

[laumansm]

I read about an iTunes plugin for WinAmp that people succesfully used in order to stream their WinAmp music to their airport. I haven't personally tested this but it sounds like this should be possible with xlobby without too much tweaking.

There is also a command-line app that sends one specified file to the airport. I do not recall the name.

I suggest googeling for winamp itunes plugin.

Let me know about your success. I will likely try to do the same.

Marius

[scottw]

m4pplug.exe is what you are looking for although I don't know how it works on the airport. It does work to play protected itunes files which is awesome.

[laumansm]

Maybe some clarification:

the problem is that Airport needs files encrypted with Apple's ALAC format. The ALAC encryption scheme is not public (yet).

However, you can use JustePort in order to stream a line to AirPort: http://nanocrew.net/software/justeport/

Based on JustePort, some guy made a WinAmp plugin for the AirPort that seems to work: http://sourceforge.net/projects/winamp-airport

It'd be interesting experimenting with either solution.

Marius