ipod

[uklad]

Am after buying an ipod dock thing, and want to run speakers to one in two bedrooms and one in bathroom and maybe a few more. Is there anything i need to know, is there limits are if it is even possable? [/u]

 

[fattony]

make sure the ipod dock has some kind of amplifier, I looked into this myself I have the cables in the ceiling ready for when I buy the speakers but never found any kind of dock which had an amplifier.

I intended to use one of these:

http://www.cyberselect.co.uk/product/1453

and a standard ipod dock, just found the amp expensive so never actually got round to do it yet

 

[Steve]

isnt there some kind of PC based software that can do this shizzle yet? Surely it'd be easier than faffing with an ipod etc.

Surely a speaker "switcher" box (Argos used to sell them, cant see them as being popular though), plugged into the speaker output of the PC, and itunes on the PC would do the job.

 

[electronicsuk]

isnt there some kind of PC based software that can do this shizzle yet? Surely it'd be easier than faffing with an ipod etc.

Surely a speaker "switcher" box (Argos used to sell them, cant see them as being popular though), plugged into the speaker output of the PC, and itunes on the PC would do the job.

Yes. Sonos and Squeezebox both provide hardware/software solutions, Sonos being the better of the two but Squeezebox being significantly cheaper. They aren't 'iPod docks', but I'm not sure why you would want that feature anyway - just store all your music on a network attached hard drive.

A software-only solution would be something like MusicLobby component of the Cinemar home automation suite. However, you would need multiple sound cards to cover a number of rooms, and you'd still need amplifiers too.

 

[DCC]

Am after buying an ipod dock thing, and want to run speakers to one in two bedrooms and one in bathroom and maybe a few more. Is there anything i need to know, is there limits are if it is even possable? [/u]

How much money have you got to spend on this? there are some nice multiroom solutions but obviously, they cost a bit. As electronicsuk says Squeezebox and Sonos are two of the bigger names, however there are lots of ways to achieve this, what you do depends on how computer literate you are, how patient you are, how much money you have and what sort of results you want.

Beware of leaping out and buying a dock and some speakers though as you'll probably not be able to run multiple speakers from a docking station and they may not be up to the job of running long cable runs.

I would suggest this thread would be better off in the audio visual section but really if you are serious about wanting to do this I'd go off and look at some more specialist sites like avforums (pop that into google and you'll find it) and do a bit of research before deciding how to proceed.

 

[Steve]

Longer speaker runs may need 100 volt speakers.

 

[electronicsuk]

Longer speaker runs may need 100 volt speakers.

Really, don't do this inside a house. It will sound terrible. 100v is great for outdoor PA applications where long cable runs are unavoidable, but the transformers used in obtaining these voltages both inside the amp and the speaker are extremely limiting in terms of frequency response. Anything outside of 100Hz-15Khz is likely to disappear, and that's being generous.

 

[Steve]

Longer speaker runs may need 100 volt speakers.

Really, don't do this inside a house. It will sound terrible. 100v is great for outdoor PA applications where long cable runs are unavoidable, but the transformers used in obtaining these voltages both inside the amp and the speaker are extremely limiting in terms of frequency response. Anything outside of 100Hz-15Khz is likely to disappear, and that's being generous.

I was aware there would be some trade-off, but wasnt aware of the limitations. We have 100 volt speakers at work and they go LOUD (Believe me, I've exercised the volume knob a few times when the shops been shut) Ruddy heavy though.

 

[electronicsuk]

I was aware there would be some trade-off, but wasnt aware of the limitations. We have 100 volt speakers at work and they go LOUD (Believe me, I've exercised the volume knob a few times when the shops been shut) Ruddy heavy though.

I've read on t'net that more modern transformer designs are capable of much more respectable performance than older systems, but haven't heard any such systems in action so can't confirm or deny it. I expect, in any case, you will pay a price premium for anything capable of good quality reproduction of music at volume.

Still, I'll stick to headphones - lightweight, loud, portable, work in every room, and cheap

 

[uklad]

Thanks for all the advice guys, but its not worth all that messing about i thought it would be a bit more simple

 

[ban-all-sheds]

make sure the ipod dock has some kind of amplifier, I looked into this myself I have the cables in the ceiling ready for when I buy the speakers but never found any kind of dock which had an amplifier.

Of course they have amplifiers!

That's the whole point.

Yes, there are some high-end docks which enable you to use your iPod as a component input to a real hifi system, and don't have power amps or speakers, but nearly all of them do.

They may not be capable of driving multiroom speakers, but to say they don't have amplifiers is ridiculous.

 

[fattony]

dont believe this one does:

http://www.richersounds.com/product/ipod-mp3-accessories/onkyo/dsa3/onky-dsa3-blk

But this one does:

http://www.richersounds.com/product/ipod-mp3-accessories/cambridge-audio/id50/camb-id50-dock-blk

and read the 2nd line

'most iPod docks don't actually enhance the sound quality'

 

[Deleted member 54734]

Don't know if its of any help but I use one of these.

Plug it into an ipod, computer or anything with a 3.5mm jack and tune any radio within range to the correct freq.

Might save you running cables around the house and buying extra speakers?

I use mine plugged into my PC and listen to my music on the radio in the garage, front room or the shower

 

[ban-all-sheds]

dont believe this one does:

http://www.richersounds.com/product/ipod-mp3-accessories/onkyo/dsa3/onky-dsa3-blk[/QUOTE]
OK so there are some C&N docks designed to let you use your iPod as a source, not just high-end ones.

But this one does:

http://www.richersounds.com/product...mbridge-audio/id50/camb-id50-dock-blk[/QUOTE]
No, that one doesn't either - what made you think it did?

I think you have been looking in the wrong places, and at the wrong products.

Try looking for these.

Given your name, maybe you'd like these: http://www.whathifi.com/Reviews/Hi-Fi-Reviews/Dock-systems-Reviews/Rule-Brand-Fatman!313/

and read the 2nd line

'most iPod docks don't actually enhance the sound quality'

Why should they? How can they?

If you store music on your iPod (or any MP3 player) on the nasty-sh*te-quality setting then it's going to sound nasty and sh*te no matter what you put it through.

Never forget - GIGO.