Hiya. Long story, but I wondered if the £50 android streaming tv boxes would do the job of my old squeezebox?
They have LAN and digital out.
I'm thinking of connecting a nas to one then digital out into an external dac, I would use a smartphone app as the interface although I'm not sure which one just yet. I would of course need a tv to set it up initially but after that it will be all smartphone controlled.
Has anybody else considered this approach?
Thanks
Nathan
They have LAN and digital out.
I'm thinking of connecting a nas to one then digital out into an external dac, I would use a smartphone app as the interface although I'm not sure which one just yet. I would of course need a tv to set it up initially but after that it will be all smartphone controlled.
Has anybody else considered this approach?
Thanks
Nathan
They all use Xbmc and as that already has a great android remote app I'll just buy one and let you know if it works. I'll need to buy a nas at some point too but this usb hdd i have here will do as an acid test. Watch this space.
I know you can hear me.
I know you can hear me.
Seems like it's been tried already (with very good results).
AudiogoN Forums: SB Touch...buh bye. Hello Android Media Box...
I ordered it today and it will take a little while to arrive at this time of year of course.
Like the poster on that thread I'm surprised it's not been evaluated further really.
For comparison, as there's a lot of hoopla about Raspberry Pi's (I had one a year ago and found it too slow to tolerate). A Raspberry Pi is £30 in the UK, plus a box, and then setup (and it's really slow like I say), this however is dual core (even quad core versions are available), with TOSLINK out (or a 3.5mm jack if chosen) support out of the box for all likely media files (music as well as movie files), customisable interface, in a nice box, with all peripherals already recognised (no package/driver installs), with a remote (not needed for music I suppose), a reliable smartphone app (over 1m downloads), a reliable OS (Xmbc is of course very popular and well regarded) and it's £49 (delivered).
The proof of course will be how it performs when it arrives, but I've high hopes I must say.
AudiogoN Forums: SB Touch...buh bye. Hello Android Media Box...
I ordered it today and it will take a little while to arrive at this time of year of course.
Like the poster on that thread I'm surprised it's not been evaluated further really.
For comparison, as there's a lot of hoopla about Raspberry Pi's (I had one a year ago and found it too slow to tolerate). A Raspberry Pi is £30 in the UK, plus a box, and then setup (and it's really slow like I say), this however is dual core (even quad core versions are available), with TOSLINK out (or a 3.5mm jack if chosen) support out of the box for all likely media files (music as well as movie files), customisable interface, in a nice box, with all peripherals already recognised (no package/driver installs), with a remote (not needed for music I suppose), a reliable smartphone app (over 1m downloads), a reliable OS (Xmbc is of course very popular and well regarded) and it's £49 (delivered).
The proof of course will be how it performs when it arrives, but I've high hopes I must say.
I did this sort of -- I got a Western Digital Live TV streamer box (used on Ebay) just because it has optical out. I don't think it is Android powered, but it will play from an attached USB or Flash, as well as from a shared volume (MP3 etc.) and some streaming services (Pandora). Sound quality is acceptable but then I am content with Behringer and Bose so judge for yourself 🙂
I have used a Rockchip RK3066 and SoundBlaster USB with reasonable success after reading the following: Simple, low cost, HiFi network music streaming device
I am also very interested in your results. The idea of controlling it via my phone is very appealing.
What video output is it? HDMI 1080p?
What video output is it? HDMI 1080p?
I think I"m going to get one of the Android TV boxes off eBay that comes with XBMC installed. Should do the trick.
Years ago I tried XBMC on a real X-box, back when you had to hack them. Didn't really work for me, so I went PC based, then Squeeze Box, then back to PC. The Android looks promising.
Years ago I tried XBMC on a real X-box, back when you had to hack them. Didn't really work for me, so I went PC based, then Squeeze Box, then back to PC. The Android looks promising.
It hasn't arrived yet but as a trial run for the remote I installed XBMC on my laptop and the XBMC Remote app onto my smartphone and followed the very easy setup shown here:
How to setup Official XBMC Remote android app - YouTube
Basically, all the info you need is in the XBMC - Settings - Network menu. Set your username to XBMC with no password and tick Wifi-Only, HTTP port 80.
The guy in the video has more options when browsing his source files than I do but you may enjoy better luck. In the end I went for this app:
XBMC Music Pump (see your app store) and so far it controls everything without the need for the laptop/tv screen being on but other apps may do it better.
Using the smartphone volume to control the system volume etc is handy. XBMC is superb I must say. Like a PS3 menu for speed and functionality but with less menus.
Hang on there's also an app called Yatse that people are harping on about so I gave it a try and that's good too. Spoilt for choice. I'll prob involve VLC at some point for the sake of it.
So far so good. Will see what happens when it arrives. I know this is nothing new but it seems to be a sensible way to go IF you have storage already AND a DAC.
How to setup Official XBMC Remote android app - YouTube
Basically, all the info you need is in the XBMC - Settings - Network menu. Set your username to XBMC with no password and tick Wifi-Only, HTTP port 80.
The guy in the video has more options when browsing his source files than I do but you may enjoy better luck. In the end I went for this app:
XBMC Music Pump (see your app store) and so far it controls everything without the need for the laptop/tv screen being on but other apps may do it better.
Using the smartphone volume to control the system volume etc is handy. XBMC is superb I must say. Like a PS3 menu for speed and functionality but with less menus.
Hang on there's also an app called Yatse that people are harping on about so I gave it a try and that's good too. Spoilt for choice. I'll prob involve VLC at some point for the sake of it.
So far so good. Will see what happens when it arrives. I know this is nothing new but it seems to be a sensible way to go IF you have storage already AND a DAC.
If you have an old smartphone, here's my approach to emulate Chromecast:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digi...ell-phone-into-google-play-wifi-streamer.html
Will watch this space for a more elegant solution though!
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digi...ell-phone-into-google-play-wifi-streamer.html
Will watch this space for a more elegant solution though!
Cool. I installed XBMC on my music server (Win XP) but it failed to start. Said it could not build the GUI. 
Must be because I run the computer headless, just controlled by remote desktop. Will have to try it with monitor and keyboard attached.
Hope that an Android box can run headless.
Must be because I run the computer headless, just controlled by remote desktop. Will have to try it with monitor and keyboard attached.Hope that an Android box can run headless.
I haven't forgotten about this, I left the unit at my folks over Christmas, I can't get a picture on this monitor so I'll get a replacement (the monitor is DVA but I'm using a DVA-HDMI adaptor).
It seems that Daphile or Audiophile Linux would be the perfect OS to install onto the Android (ARM) device but neither support ARM devices.
I can't help thinking someone is missing a trick with that.
I'll update when I've troubleshooted the display issue I'm having. Just my "set your clock by it" rotten luck.
Best.
It seems that Daphile or Audiophile Linux would be the perfect OS to install onto the Android (ARM) device but neither support ARM devices.
I can't help thinking someone is missing a trick with that.
I'll update when I've troubleshooted the display issue I'm having. Just my "set your clock by it" rotten luck.
Best.
Nathan, hope you can get it up and running.
I have an Android TV box streaming here now. It's running XBMC f(Frodo) for Android (Jelly Bean). Works OK, but a little clumsy IMO. As I'm used to JRiver Media Server, I suppose I'm spoiled.
Anyhow, I have the box running headless with a USB hard drive attached. XBMC didn't take too long to build its database from my 95000+ tracks. Maybe 45 minutes. It tool the squeezebox touch about 4 hours to do the same build. Then it would crash a lot. 🙁
The on screen interface for XBMC is nice. It's nicely response, too. But I'm using the web interface. To be honest, the stock web interface sucks, but there is an add on called AWXI that you can download and install right from XBMC. A vastly improved interface.
I have not been able to directly share the attached USB HD with the rest of the network, but I can easily FTP to it. For the moment, that will work for adding files, tho I'd rather be able to see it directly and work on the files from JRiver. Looks like a project to be done later.
XBMC does accept DLNA push, so I can stream to it from JRiver very easily. Of course doing so means having the music files somewhere other than on the Android box, as they aren't yet directly visible. Maybe a NAS would be a good place.
Anyhow, the Android TV with XBMC box works pretty well as a tiny, low power, silent media player and/or server. It's not as slick a better players like JRiver, but does the job for not much money. And it's better than the small XP computer I was using, as at least the Android box isn't a power hog and will go to sleep if I leave it alone. The hand held remote works very well, too. I'm using it for volume, pause and stop.
I have an Android TV box streaming here now. It's running XBMC f(Frodo) for Android (Jelly Bean). Works OK, but a little clumsy IMO. As I'm used to JRiver Media Server, I suppose I'm spoiled.
Anyhow, I have the box running headless with a USB hard drive attached. XBMC didn't take too long to build its database from my 95000+ tracks. Maybe 45 minutes. It tool the squeezebox touch about 4 hours to do the same build. Then it would crash a lot. 🙁
The on screen interface for XBMC is nice. It's nicely response, too. But I'm using the web interface. To be honest, the stock web interface sucks, but there is an add on called AWXI that you can download and install right from XBMC. A vastly improved interface.
I have not been able to directly share the attached USB HD with the rest of the network, but I can easily FTP to it. For the moment, that will work for adding files, tho I'd rather be able to see it directly and work on the files from JRiver. Looks like a project to be done later.
XBMC does accept DLNA push, so I can stream to it from JRiver very easily. Of course doing so means having the music files somewhere other than on the Android box, as they aren't yet directly visible. Maybe a NAS would be a good place.
Anyhow, the Android TV with XBMC box works pretty well as a tiny, low power, silent media player and/or server. It's not as slick a better players like JRiver, but does the job for not much money. And it's better than the small XP computer I was using, as at least the Android box isn't a power hog and will go to sleep if I leave it alone. The hand held remote works very well, too. I'm using it for volume, pause and stop.
Have you considered just using the VLC app for Android?
I use VLC for 100% of my media playback now, everywhere. It just worked out that way.
VLC booted foobar, I could never get foobar to work the way it did the first time I installed it. Very unstable.
Windows Media player with codecs was too over barring, I mean it would lock the mouse cursor to that particular monitor if it was set to full screen. You feel like Windows always wants to know what your listening to or watching, yet execution of things like the onscreen TV guide for your local provider never seemed to work properly.
VLC finally dethroned apple as my primary MP3 player. The only caveat for my here is that it requires me to have a cell phone on my body while listening to headphones. I would prefer a device like the iPod that is just a player with no radio, but for now the cellphone solution allows me to easily play my FLACs in the field.
As an added bonus, VLC is much, much, MUCH easier for me to use then iTunes.
iTunes changes too much and is way too complicated as far as file management goes.
Now I just stick my stuff into folders the way I like, VLC reads them from there.
I can't get all nerdy and say what has better sounding 1s and 0s but I can say that VLC is never the weak link in any of my audio or video applications.
I use VLC for 100% of my media playback now, everywhere. It just worked out that way.
VLC booted foobar, I could never get foobar to work the way it did the first time I installed it. Very unstable.
Windows Media player with codecs was too over barring, I mean it would lock the mouse cursor to that particular monitor if it was set to full screen. You feel like Windows always wants to know what your listening to or watching, yet execution of things like the onscreen TV guide for your local provider never seemed to work properly.
VLC finally dethroned apple as my primary MP3 player. The only caveat for my here is that it requires me to have a cell phone on my body while listening to headphones. I would prefer a device like the iPod that is just a player with no radio, but for now the cellphone solution allows me to easily play my FLACs in the field.
As an added bonus, VLC is much, much, MUCH easier for me to use then iTunes.
iTunes changes too much and is way too complicated as far as file management goes.
Now I just stick my stuff into folders the way I like, VLC reads them from there.
I can't get all nerdy and say what has better sounding 1s and 0s but I can say that VLC is never the weak link in any of my audio or video applications.
No, I had not thought of that at all! Interesting idea. Had not even occurred to me there might be an Android version of VLC. I use it frequently on Windoze and Mac.
How is it for file management and tagging?
How is it for file management and tagging?
I just organize folders in windows, then copy them over to the android device.
I myself don't know much in regards to ID3 tagging etc, but everything shows up in the manor I expect so I haven't had to concern myself with this.
Just drag and drop really.
I create my playlists by simply making a folder in windows, then playback that folder using VLC and the shuffle button.
Right now on my phone I have 4 main folders, which get updated fairly regularly.
-Audiobooks
-Comedy
-Howard Stern
-Mixed tape
The location on the phone or tablet to copy these to should be something like sdcard/music etc.
I myself don't know much in regards to ID3 tagging etc, but everything shows up in the manor I expect so I haven't had to concern myself with this.
Just drag and drop really.
I create my playlists by simply making a folder in windows, then playback that folder using VLC and the shuffle button.
Right now on my phone I have 4 main folders, which get updated fairly regularly.
-Audiobooks
-Comedy
-Howard Stern
-Mixed tape
The location on the phone or tablet to copy these to should be something like sdcard/music etc.
I should clarify that my playlist is not by definition a "playlist" in the technical sense.
My "playlists" are folders containing the actual files I want to hear.
VLC does have playlists, at least on the full windows version, but I have not looked into how to save them. I can thank foobar for my lack of my caring in this department.
I have made a few playlists up at work, but since I don't save them it forgets it when you close the program. I just haven't bothered to learn yet, but I would assume it works OK.
This is why it is easier for me to make up my own folders and copy things to it.
lol I had the VLC app on my phone for a while before I realized just how powerful it was for me. It is what I always wanted in an MP3 player.
My "playlists" are folders containing the actual files I want to hear.
VLC does have playlists, at least on the full windows version, but I have not looked into how to save them. I can thank foobar for my lack of my caring in this department.
I have made a few playlists up at work, but since I don't save them it forgets it when you close the program. I just haven't bothered to learn yet, but I would assume it works OK.
This is why it is easier for me to make up my own folders and copy things to it.
lol I had the VLC app on my phone for a while before I realized just how powerful it was for me. It is what I always wanted in an MP3 player.
That's not a bad way to go. But once I got used to JRiver, I've been spoiled. It really is the best I've found for organizing music (and video, if you use it) and it has some very powerful built in audio functions.
I'm warning to XBMC, it's OK. May work with VLC some more to see how well it works for my needs. The nice thing is that XBMC, VLC and now even JRiver can run on a lot of different platforms. Windoze, Mac, Linux, Andriod. We're spoiled for choice! 🙂
I'm warning to XBMC, it's OK. May work with VLC some more to see how well it works for my needs. The nice thing is that XBMC, VLC and now even JRiver can run on a lot of different platforms. Windoze, Mac, Linux, Andriod. We're spoiled for choice! 🙂
- Status
- Not open for further replies.