Best setup for wireless music with AVR

[itawad]

Dear Experts

Its been a while and you guys helped me alot setting up my outdoor system which I have been enjoying for 6 years.

Q: I do have a cinema room which now converted to indoor cycling studio for me (kids older now). I have:

1. HK 247 receiver
2. Polks 5:1
3. Recently purchase a bluetooth wireless adapter.

I know for a fact that music is not the best with this kind of setting that is designed for movies. But from your experience what is the best set up on the HK to come up with good quality music ?

APpreciate your reply
Itawad

 

[sterling shoote]

I have my music on iTunes. I purchased an Airport Express and now I have Airplay. This is wireless from computer to Airport Express and analog or optical S.PDIF to preamp. I prefer this to Bluetooth. The Airport Express converts at 16/44. If you are using its analog outputs. I've had my Airport Express for about 5 years. Music from iTunes sounds really great and, for the most part, using Windows Audio Session, music is hardly ever disrupted by me doing other activities on my computer.

 

[highfigh]

Dear Experts

Its been a while and you guys helped me alot setting up my outdoor system which I have been enjoying for 6 years.

Q: I do have a cinema room which now converted to indoor cycling studio for me (kids older now). I have:

1. HK 247 receiver
2. Polks 5:1
3. Recently purchase a bluetooth wireless adapter.

I know for a fact that music is not the best with this kind of setting that is designed for movies. But from your experience what is the best set up on the HK to come up with good quality music ?

APpreciate your reply
Itawad

As long as you're in range for the BT adapter, you're fine- you're not comparing the sound with anything else, so it's fine. It's not as good as other methods, but when you're huffing and puffing, who cares?

 

[lovinthehd]

Are you asking what specific mode to use on the avr for music instead of movies?

Rather than bluetooth I'd have gone with a Google Chromecast Audio or Airport Express type of adapter for your receiver. What is your source, your phone?

 

[itawad]

As long as you're in range for the BT adapter, you're fine- you're not comparing the sound with anything else, so it's fine. It's not as good as other methods, but when you're huffing and puffing, who cares?

Thank you
Good point !
I had the receiver as 5 ch stereo and it seems quite good

Thanks again

 

[itawad]

Are you asking what specific mode to use on the avr for music instead of movies?

Rather than bluetooth I'd have gone with a Google Chromecast Audio or Airport Express type of adapter for your receiver. What is your source, your phone?

Thank youi
Yes, what mode on the receiver
I had the receiver as 5 ch stereo and it seems quite good
Yes its the phone BT to the adapter which is hooked to the receiver.

 

[itawad]

I have my music on iTunes. I purchased an Airport Express and now I have Airplay. This is wireless from computer to Airport Express and analog or optical S.PDIF to preamp. I prefer this to Bluetooth. The Airport Express converts at 16/44. If you are using its analog outputs. I've had my Airport Express for about 5 years. Music from iTunes sounds really great and, for the most part, using Windows Audio Session, music is hardly ever disrupted by me doing other activities on my computer.

THank youi
The Optical definitely better than my analogue connection.
If I want perfection, I might do Apple TV and stream music through it.
Now I have good range of feedback
CHeers

 

[sterling shoote]

THank youi
The Optical definitely better than my analogue connection.
If I want perfection, I might do Apple TV and stream music through it.
Now I have good range of feedback
CHeers

Airport Express is like Apple TV but no video. Airport Express is ideal for getting any music in your iTunes Library wirelessly to your stereo system. If your preamp, integrated amp, receiver or AVR has optical S/PDIF input then Airport Express S/PDIF output will send 16/44 to your DAC. If your AVR, preamp, or whatever has analog inputs then Airport Express's DAC will decode as long as the music is AIFF, ALAC, or WAV file. The only thing which might make Apple TV be perceived to be better for audio is it sends out at a 16/48 rate. I've gotta tell ya, I also use a wired X-FI HD which sends up to 24/96 to my Home Theatre pre/pro and I do not perceive it makes my iTunes music sound better. In addition, I now have a usb DAC which decodes everything in iTunes up to 24/192 and this does seem to sound more detailed than the X-FI HD 24/96 DAC, the Sony 24/96 DAC, or the Airport Express 16/44 DAC.

 

[lovinthehd]

You like 5ch stereo mode because it uses all the speakers? Personally if I want to expand 2ch music to all speakers I use Dolby PLIIx, sometimes DTS Neo:X or just leave it as 2ch, but I don't like the all-ch stereo modes much except for parties; not sure what your choices in the HK avr are. Just experiment with what upmixers you have and see if any tickle your fancy, or continue to use the 5ch stereo mode....

 

[itawad]

Airport Express is like Apple TV but no video. Airport Express is ideal for getting any music in your iTunes Library wirelessly to your stereo system. If your preamp, integrated amp, receiver or AVR has optical S/PDIF input then Airport Express S/PDIF output will send 16/44 to your DAC. If your AVR, preamp, or whatever has analog inputs then Airport Express's DAC will decode as long as the music is AIFF, ALAC, or WAV file. The only thing which might make Apple TV be perceived to be better for audio is it sends out at a 16/48 rate. I've gotta tell ya, I also use a wired X-FI HD which sends up to 24/96 to my Home Theatre pre/pro and I do not perceive it makes my iTunes music sound better. In addition, I now have a usb DAC which decodes everything in iTunes up to 24/192 and this does seem to sound more detailed than the X-FI HD 24/96 DAC, the Sony 24/96 DAC, or the Airport Express 16/44 DAC.

Perfect
Thank you again for this valuable information. Really appreciated

Itawad

 

[itawad]

You like 5ch stereo mode because it uses all the speakers? Personally if I want to expand 2ch music to all speakers I use Dolby PLIIx, sometimes DTS Neo:X or just leave it as 2ch, but I don't like the all-ch stereo modes much except for parties; not sure what your choices in the HK avr are. Just experiment with what upmixers you have and see if any tickle your fancy, or continue to use the 5ch stereo mode....

Thank you
Yes I am playing with different modes now. The room is closed and small and even the 2 Ch + sub will blow my head off and hopefully push me on the bike more !

Thank you guys again

 

[lovinthehd]

Thank you
Yes I am playing with different modes now. The room is closed and small and even the 2 Ch + sub will blow my head off and hopefully push me on the bike more !

Thank you guys again

Experimentation is the way to go, and it may depend on what type of music it is as well....

I wish you luck on your indoor cycling, something I never got into even tho I got a full set of Kreitler rollers at one point, sweating indoors isn't for me. Prefer to go out and ride bikes (road and mountain).

 

[itawad]

Experimentation is the way to go, and it may depend on what type of music it is as well....

I wish you luck on your indoor cycling, something I never got into even tho I got a full set of Kreitler rollers at one point, sweating indoors isn't for me. Prefer to go out and ride bikes (road and mountain).

Totally agree with, I'm also an outdoor person, but this is only to stay fit during our Canadian winter months to be prepared to hit the roads coming spring !

 

[itawad]

So after some trials, now I have my Harmon Kardon bluetooth adapter RCA attached to CD inputs on the AV receiver (HK 247). The mode I found with best sound (for me and that sounded nice with my speakers) was NEO:6 5Ch Music.

I stayed with the bluetooth for now but will take Sterling Shoote in the future for similar projects.
Thanks again