PC to receiver

[rob29715]

I have a killler home theatre set-up but am very unhappy with the iPod connection to my receiver.

Currently I have a Pioneer Elite VSX94TXH receiver, a Pioneer PRO150FD plasma television, and of course thumpin' speakers to drive the music, sports and movie sounds. A Universal MX-350 controls the entire set-up with all components and wireless located in a single closet. It really is a fantastic system, and I highly recommend it.

The issue I have with the iPod is that I have nearly an 8,000 song digital library (it continues to grow), and with the Universal MX-350 remote, it is painstaking to scroll through songs because the library is so large. There is no auto scroll feature that I am aware of (or was not shown post-installation) so I am pretty much forced to listen to music by shuffling the songs and get what I get from the shuffle. Scrolling from A-Z would take forever.

My idea, and what I am looking for guidance on, is to hook my Dell 8500 PC into the receiver, and with my iPhone, use the new remote application to control my iTunes, therefore alleviating the iPod from the system completely (my music library is housed on a seperate hard drive hooked to my PC).

My PC does have the Media Center pre-loaded in the software, and in the past it has been used in conjunction with a satellite receiver to watch TV right on my computer screen. Is it fair to assume that there is an audio/video output on the PC that I can connect to the receiver by running the appropriate wiring under my crawl space?

I have looked most recently at the SONOS system as a possible resolution to this issue, but when looking at costs, hooking the PC into the receiver appears to be a much more cost efficient alternative.

Does anyone have any experience with this, and would anyone have any suggestions that might move me along in this process.

Thanks.

 

[highfigh]

I have a killler home theatre set-up but am very unhappy with the iPod connection to my receiver.

Currently I have a Pioneer Elite VSX94TXH receiver, a Pioneer PRO150FD plasma television, and of course thumpin' speakers to drive the music, sports and movie sounds. A Universal MX-350 controls the entire set-up with all components and wireless located in a single closet. It really is a fantastic system, and I highly recommend it.

The issue I have with the iPod is that I have nearly an 8,000 song digital library (it continues to grow), and with the Universal MX-350 remote, it is painstaking to scroll through songs because the library is so large. There is no auto scroll feature that I am aware of (or was not shown post-installation) so I am pretty much forced to listen to music by shuffling the songs and get what I get from the shuffle. Scrolling from A-Z would take forever.

My idea, and what I am looking for guidance on, is to hook my Dell 8500 PC into the receiver, and with my iPhone, use the new remote application to control my iTunes, therefore alleviating the iPod from the system completely (my music library is housed on a seperate hard drive hooked to my PC).

My PC does have the Media Center pre-loaded in the software, and in the past it has been used in conjunction with a satellite receiver to watch TV right on my computer screen. Is it fair to assume that there is an audio/video output on the PC that I can connect to the receiver by running the appropriate wiring under my crawl space?

I have looked most recently at the SONOS system as a possible resolution to this issue, but when looking at costs, hooking the PC into the receiver appears to be a much more cost efficient alternative.

Does anyone have any experience with this, and would anyone have any suggestions that might move me along in this process.

Thanks.

Look at the DLO Music Station. The iPod fits into a dock that plugs into the receiver and its remote synchs to the iPod, so you can go through your Artists, Genres, Playlists, etc.

 

[rob29715]

Look at the DLO Music Station. The iPod fits into a dock that plugs into the receiver and its remote synchs to the iPod, so you can go through your Artists, Genres, Playlists, etc.

Do you know if the DLO Music Station will also send the album art on the iPod through the receiver that I can display on my plasma?

 

[Gimpy Ric]

Do you know if the DLO Music Station will also send the album art on the iPod through the receiver that I can display on my plasma?

No, but Apple TV will I think. Mine is HDMI, so I guess it will. My TV just got a new bulb, and Apple TV just got an software upgrade I haven't been able to explore yet. I'm disabled and can't use remotes .

 

[highfigh]

Do you know if the DLO Music Station will also send the album art on the iPod through the receiver that I can display on my plasma?

I don't think it does that but I could be wrong.

Here's a link:

http://www.dedicatedaudio.com/inc/sdetail/14643

 

[rob29715]

Hey guys just picked up one off eBay for $91 with shipping included. At that price I will give it a shot and will get back to you with the results.

Thanks a bunch for the input.

 

[highfigh]

Hey guys just picked up one off eBay for $91 with shipping included. At that price I will give it a shot and will get back to you with the results.

Thanks a bunch for the input.

Where? That's less than dealer cost.

So much for manufacturers supporting the local dealers.

 

[ErinH]

as long as you don't mind controlling your PC directly, this is the easiest solution and works just fine. it's what I've done...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829118107

cable:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10229&cs_id=1022902&p_id=1558&seq=1&format=2

^12ft cable. if you need longer/shorter, they have it.

~$35 shipped.

 

[rob29715]

Where? That's less than dealer cost.

So much for manufacturers supporting the local dealers.

I got it off eBay.

 

[highfigh]

I got it off eBay.

FYI- if it ever locks up, look on the bottom for a little hole. Use a paper clip in that hole to reset it. Only heard of one that needed it, but it's nice to know.It also works through steel house siding and in an old Chicago apartment with clay tile walls, plumbing, lath/plaster from 4 rooms away.

 

[skizzerflake]

Is it fair to assume that there is an audio/video output on the PC that I can connect to the receiver by running the appropriate wiring under my crawl space?

I have looked most recently at the SONOS system as a possible resolution to this issue, but when looking at costs, hooking the PC into the receiver appears to be a much more cost efficient alternative.

Does anyone have any experience with this, and would anyone have any suggestions that might move me along in this process.

Thanks.

Simple...just get a cable that has a stereo mini jack on one end and two RCA jacks on the other (Radio Shack). You will probably also need an extension cable for one end or the other. Plug one end into the headphone/speaker output on the PC and the other into a regular stereo input on the receiver and adjust the level controls on the PC to a reasonable level. I've done it many times.