The options I mentioned I can do for $50 over the price of an AT minus the convenience of bluetooth. 75' is nothin for line level. Your computer IS entertainment. I have set up 2 AT and I thought they were a bitch.
How about a computer? Why use more than you need? Anything that is going to be competetive in the mass market has to adhere to industry standards so proprietary formats aren't an issue anyway. As far as music goes, if you are enterataining you won't be sitting in front of a PC so use a PC. I have found the easiest and best way is to avoid as many tweener devices as possible. You have to run cat5 for operation so instead, run a line level directly from the PC. The interface and options are much better and the sound is excellent.
Running an optical cable 2 ft. to a reciever is only costing you money.
If you have a laptop, set up a auto-switching line level device such as the SIMA SVS-4D. It will give you multiple access points through out the house for any device such as a portable mp3 player or PDA.
If you want to be able to sit in your living room with your receiver while you entertain, send a video feed to the TV from the PC and buy a bluetooth setup with a auto/remote access switch(Retail $199.00) from the PC across the house for on screen music, video, picture or internet access. It would be a bit more than the Audiotron with a truck load more options.
Maybe I was a little hard on the Audiotron, I'm sure it has it's place. But I was sold on the reviews from the site like many others. Since I bought a $10.00 cable and hooked up my PC directly, the Audiotron, it's frustrating interface and it's lack of playback options on the main unit have been collecting dust.
DONT BUY AN AUDIOTRON!!!! I install custom home systems and there is a much better way to get mp3s around the house. If it's coming from a pc, keep it on the the pc. the audiotron has a crappy and clunky interface. I have one for whoever wants it.
Slashdot Mirror
The options I mentioned I can do for $50 over the price of an AT minus the convenience of bluetooth. 75' is nothin for line level. Your computer IS entertainment. I have set up 2 AT and I thought they were a bitch.
How about a computer? Why use more than you need? Anything that is going to be competetive in the mass market has to adhere to industry standards so proprietary formats aren't an issue anyway. As far as music goes, if you are enterataining you won't be sitting in front of a PC so use a PC. I have found the easiest and best way is to avoid as many tweener devices as possible. You have to run cat5 for operation so instead, run a line level directly from the PC. The interface and options are much better and the sound is excellent. Running an optical cable 2 ft. to a reciever is only costing you money. If you have a laptop, set up a auto-switching line level device such as the SIMA SVS-4D. It will give you multiple access points through out the house for any device such as a portable mp3 player or PDA. If you want to be able to sit in your living room with your receiver while you entertain, send a video feed to the TV from the PC and buy a bluetooth setup with a auto/remote access switch(Retail $199.00) from the PC across the house for on screen music, video, picture or internet access. It would be a bit more than the Audiotron with a truck load more options. Maybe I was a little hard on the Audiotron, I'm sure it has it's place. But I was sold on the reviews from the site like many others. Since I bought a $10.00 cable and hooked up my PC directly, the Audiotron, it's frustrating interface and it's lack of playback options on the main unit have been collecting dust.
DONT BUY AN AUDIOTRON!!!! I install custom home systems and there is a much better way to get mp3s around the house. If it's coming from a pc, keep it on the the pc. the audiotron has a crappy and clunky interface. I have one for whoever wants it.