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> This is why I suspect Dolby Atmos will never be put on a consumer format.

Onkyo, Denon, and Pioneer all suspect otherwise.

here are some:

Onkyo NetTune

Yamaha MusicCAST

The Onkyo system is easy and basic, with excellent audio quality. The Yamaha adds more flexability and is a tad more stylish. Both systems are quite fault tolerent and well-thought-out from and end user stand point. Of course there are more geeky solutions if ultimate flexibility is what you are looking for.

There's also Streamium from Philips.

http://www.net-tune.net

From the Onkyo FAQ:

While WAV, WMA, MP3 are supported formats, there are many variations of these. Please check that the bitrates used are compatible and if certain files will not play back, check the following: * The file must not be saved in a system folder, such as C:\Windows or C:\WINNT. * WMA file contains Digital Rights Management (DRM) which prevents reproduction on other devices. * The WAV file is not in RIFFWAVE format or is corrupt. Format Bitrate Sampling Frequency WAV(PCM) ---- 32k/44.1k/48kHz MP3 All 32k/44.1k/48kHz WMA 32/36/40/44/48/64/80/96/128/160/192bps 32k/44.1k/48kHz

Further, it uses DHCP to get an IP address. And needs ports 60096,60097. But that is of course all useless information until I actually find one of these machines.

If this were simply a piece of speciality hardware or a component from a pc-centric/mp3-enthusiast company, then it would be fairly trivial. But this is from onkyo. Onkyo is a manufacturer of fairly high-end consumer stereo equipment, with zero background in pcs. Its the equivalent of Bose or pioneer using linux on their recievers. Or sony or nintendo using linux on their consoles. Its an application of linux in a major piece of consumer electronics. Hence, its fairly major.

Sure Dimaond and Rio have similair products, but they got their start in computer based audio. This is the transition of linux to the mark at large. Id say thats news.

I've been seriously considering (ok, drooling over the possibilities of) upgrading my existing TX-DS838 Onkyo Receiver / Amp to a TX-NR900, which has the Netstream feature built-in. Anyone used one of their Netstream devices and care to comment?

Have a look at a similar offering from Onkyo here: Onkyo's Netstream

What you want is this from Onkyo

I'm a big dork and intensely research any potential electronics purchase. Instead of impulse-buying, I wait until the unit I want--usually the expensive one--goes on sale.

As an example, I bought a Harman/Kardon receiver a few years ago as the model line was being end-of-lifed. The normally $400+ receiver cost me $199 at Circuit City. The damn thing is a tank. It sounds great and weighs 25 lbs due to its massive transformer...about 10 more than the average Sony. I cracked it open out of curiosity and was surprised at how well-built it is compared to my previous crap JVC receiver.

I've actually had good luck with other Sony stuff, especially their computer monitors. I just don't like their receivers and low-end audio stuff. The upper-end and ES-level components are quite good.

Just pay a little extra and buy something good--it will last. Instead of, say, a Pioneer or JVC receiver, get a H/K, NAD, Denon or Onkyo. This isn't high-end audiophile gear by any means, but it is considerably better than Bose and most of the other mass-market crap at Best Buy.

And don't buy those all-in-one home theatres. If one component fails, you'll be stuck with a whole bunch of useless (still good) equipment.

...a lot like todays audio equipment. The crap will look like this and the better stuff like this. Expect all visible surfaces to be manufactured from brushed aluminium, chrome and glass. The quality of the product will be inverse to the number of blinking lights in the front.

I have to agree that the variable bit rate sounds better than the constant. However, through my equipment, mp3s have a distinct lower quality than cds. There is a noticable improvement when they are burned to audio though, so it is not a lack in the mp3 format, just in my mp3 playing hardware. I have a very difficult time telling the difference between a song from a pressed cd and one that I have ripped, encoded and then burned back to cd audio format.

I have a Rotel amp and pre. My source is a Harman Kardon FL8550 cd changer. My speakers are JBL S38 "bookshelf" speakers (they're bookshelf only if you have a BIG bookshelf.)

My soundblaster live value card can't compete with the FL8550's dual 20 bit Burr-Brown digital to analog converters. My next equipment purchase is going to be an Onkyo SE-U55 USB sound processor. Hopefully, that should let me use mp3s for more than casual listening.

One last thing: if you think computer addictions can be expensive, just try getting hooked on audiophile quality hardware! The interconnects I'm going to buy are over a $100 each for the bottom end of the line. But you can hear the difference.