For the music/audio "enthusiasts" out there...

[caseydog]

Okay, I used to be a big-time audiophile. I had to have the latest and best thing in stereos. I mostly outgrew that, but not completely.

I have my music library all on computer now, and buy my music at iTunes. No big deal. That's normal these days. My 76-year old dad does the same thing.

In addition to my musical computer, I have a home-theatre system in my "man cave" loft, and a cheap stereo system in my garage. About a year ago, I set out to connect all of the above so I could have the same music playing all over my house, and in the garage.

So, I got a couple of Apple's AirPort Express modules, and they send my music from the desktop computer (iMac) to both audio systems.

That was cool, but I had to run upstairs to the computer to change songs or playlists.

I just downloaded an iPhone app from Apple that turns my iPhone into an iTunes remote. Now, if I want to change songs or playlists, pause the music, or change the EQ settings, or whatever, I just reach into my pocket, pull out the iPhone, and do it.

To a 20-something, this is probably a yawner. But, to this pushing 50 guy, it's pretty cool. Music everywhere, and a remote to control it. I can sit on the patio listening to Deep Purple, and if I decide I want to hear a little CSN instead, I can make the change in seconds with my freaking cell phone.

Sometimes (but not always), I really like technology.

Anyone else out there played with this new-fangled stuff?

CD

[hotrod]

Ive got a pioneer am fm underdash 8 track player thats going under the dash of the 64 impala, does that count? lolol
Actually Ive been really needing a decent stereo out in the shop. Ill never get as fancy as being able to run it off a cell phone (ill never own one) but I would love to get the stuff I listen to in the house computer here plumbed out to the shop.. Ive got a good set of bose speakers in the house here and if you open them up about 1/3rd throttle you can hear them outside clearly but its not good for neighbor relations.. lol

[Darren]

Dude. The iPhone is the stuff and yes the technology is mostly not impressive to the younger people. I'm a new recruit to the Mac world. Picked up a unibody MacBook 13" last fall and love it. Funny thing is my day job is supporting Windows 2000 machines and I have always been pro-PC. Anyway the Remote app is great but if you haven't seen it check out Air Remote. It makes the iPhone act like a remote touchpad. A newer game out called YNTH is pretty cool also. Something I discovered recently if you are in the Maps app you can select one of your contacts and it gives you a Google Street View of the address.

[caseydog]

Dude. The iPhone is the stuff and yes the technology is mostly not impressive to the younger people. I'm a new recruit to the Mac world. Picked up a unibody MacBook 13" last fall and love it. Funny thing is my day job is supporting Windows 2000 machines and I have always been pro-PC. Anyway the Remote app is great but if you haven't seen it check out Air Remote. It makes the iPhone act like a remote touchpad. A newer game out called YNTH is pretty cool also. Something I discovered recently if you are in the Maps app you can select one of your contacts and it gives you a Google Street View of the address.

I have heard your tow vehicle -- from a good distance.

So, I know you like audio techie stuff. But, you'd probably also appreciate my old-school Klipsch speakers with their "dinosaur" midrange and tweeter horns.

Being able to hear music all over my house, and control it with my iPhone, without spending a zillion bucks just tickled me. That's the teenager in me, I guess.

CD

[Darren]

Be sure to check out TuneWiki if you haven't seen it yet. It displays the lyrics of the song playing. Pretty cool.

[Oasis Maker]

CD, I should just copy and paste your post verbatim in agreement. Same experience. Music lover, audiophile purist meets Apple technology. Mother was a classical pianist so my love of music goes back to childhood. Always considered the stereo as being the "last instrument" in the chain. Many years had all tube equipment for a warmer sound, always partial to planar speakers and have owned Magnepan Magnaplanar speakers for 20 years. Spent way too much money on DACs back in the 90's when digital was trying its best to catch vinyl in quality. Maturity and common sense is what ultimately prevailed. I now have the same set up as you with all of my music on my Apple laptop with iTunes, to Time Capsule WiFi to Apple TV (run through my DAC to main stereo) and remote on iTouch. I plan on getting an Airport Express for the stereo in the kitchen that has speakers out to my patio.

Scott G.

[Mightydog]

Kinda, but not.

Like you, I wanted to hear music through the house. Having gone to cell phones and no more land-line in the house, we had lots and lots of high quality copper wire going to every room in the house.

I disconnected the wire from the phone system at the interface on the side of the house. Then, I replaced all of the phone jacks with RCA audio plugs. The phone wire is two pair, so the orange pair went to the left side and the blue pair went to the right. A little solder and time on the floor and all of them were changed out.

Now, if I want to stream music from one of the lap tops, .mp3 player or something else, I plug it into the system and it plays to computer speakers set up through the house. In the living room, the signal feeds into the aux input on my mid-70's Sansui receiver. The DVR is also set up to feed into the system. We get Sirius radio on Dish Network, so we can listen to Blues while we work on the trailer.

The sytem is quite flexable. It still needs to be controlled from one point in the house, though. Other than that, I'm pleased with my little jury-rig.

[laoutdoorsman]

Ive got a pioneer am fm underdash 8 track player thats going under the dash of the 64 impala, does that count? lolol
Actually Ive been really needing a decent stereo out in the shop. Ill never get as fancy as being able to run it off a cell phone (ill never own one) but I would love to get the stuff I listen to in the house computer here plumbed out to the shop.. Ive got a good set of bose speakers in the house here and if you open them up about 1/3rd throttle you can hear them outside clearly but its not good for neighbor relations.. lol

now thats country when you talk about getting your music from the house computer "plumbed to the garage"....lol


im a huge music freak/audio buff myself...one of my fav hobbies is concerts...mostly outdoor concerts....hey, im an hour from "da quarter"...so...we got lots of great spots for music lovers...(yes, the french quarter is much, much more than just cheesy street music, and girls flashing on bourbon street.......dang tourists...)

i always consider having a kickazzed soundsystem a necessity of life...car, home, boat, backyard (bonfires on winter w/e's), camper(soon to be)...anywhwere...lol

i am 37, and my interest in music is hugely diverse...

the techonolgy thing...i dont have an iphone, but have been with ipods and itunes for years....im intersted in learning more about this port thing to get my itunes in more places than just my pc....(hmm...)

my son is 15, so...kids nowadays can figure out anything electronic or computer related...while his taste in music, i dont call music-----he knows itunes and music downloading in and out...


good topic....great find on the remote...ill have to check into that...

[Todah Tear]

CD,

I know what you mean. I just purchased a Netbook w/Wi-Fi on it that I can used to play music in different areas (my garage, exercise room, etc.). I plan on using the online station http://www.theradio.com (Someone on the forum recommended it. I love, love, love this website!) You can pick the genre that you like or type in an particular artist or group and the site will mix a good blend of the artist's songs into music of the same kind. I got tired of changing out CDs and the radio has about 5 songs that get played.

I selected an Gateway (I was given a discount by the manager, then I got a crazy price break on it because of particular circumstances that ocurred at the store.). It got good volumn and clarity in the store; it doesn't thump the treble and the bass to my liking, but it will do! I plan on loading my verizon broadband software to it and using my air card.

"I love mu-si-ic...just as long as it's groovin'..." Some of you may remember that song.
Todah

[starleen2]

I just a got a Blackberry and impressed at it's capabilities. it can be tethered to my laptop for an Internet gateway, syncs my calendar and address book, and does e-mail. But what impressed me is the amount of storage it has - I can download my entire music files directly from the computer. It replaced my MP3 player - and it can be plugged into the audio system of my Jeep - no more CD's. It'll even connect to set of amplified speakers that i have at the office, so I'm set with portable music. It's rapidly becoming a one device that does it all world!

[Roly Nelson]

Man oh Man, what are you guys talking about. Every time the spring on my gram-o-phone gets wound down, the tempo of the long-play record seems to slow down and I have to run over and wind it up again before the last part of that Laurence Welk tune is finished. Rudy Valley just doesn't sound the same on anything except on a 78 rpm hi-fi disk.

The problem I have is that the goofy horn that the phonograph needle is attached to, keeps clogging up with dust in my shop. So, I set it outside, ran a tight wire from the horn to an old coffee can bottom, and as long as I am right next to it, I can hear the beat just fine. How come all of these songs sound so scratchy lately? There must be a better way to enjoy music, but what has been described in this post.......I just don't understand it. Must have something to do with that modern stuff.
Roly