House Music, with a question for our genius readers

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Friday, August 18. 2017

House Music, with a question for our genius readers

In how many ways can we live, today, like kings of olden times? For one, we don't need a court orchestra to keep our ears stimulated, altho that would be pleasant for sure.

My house radio music has always been WQXR (live streamed or sometimes regular radio), but on the Cape I discovered Chatham's Cape Classical 107.5. They are at least as enjoyable as WQXR and they also live stream. OK, I do CDs also, but only radio introduces me to music I haven't heard before.

My perennial question to my readers is this: How do I get live-streamed music to go through my fancy speakers? Or is streamed music of such lousy quality that it doesn't matter?

What about a Bluetooth audio receiver? I don't know how those work.

I eagerly await suggestions.

Posted by Bird Dog in Music, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 13:03 | Comments (11) | Trackbacks (0)

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I have hundreds of CDs, nearly all purchased in box sets at $1-$2/CD. As such, I see no need to use the radio.

When I made the conclusion that I preferred my own selection of CDs to what the local classical music station played, I stopped listening to it. It played everybody whereas I preferred hearing the greats. Call it Bach versus Bocherini. Ditto for other types of music played on other radio stations.

I would also add that another publicly supported radio station in the area used to have a unique, idiosyncratic lineup of local DJs. Over the years the local DJs have been replaced by canned national programs. I once was willing to financially support the station. I no longer am willing to do so.

#1 Gringo on 2017-08-18 13:21 (Reply)

Depending upon your amplification unit line in, you simply need a cable with stereo 1/8" plug at both ends:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NO73IN2/ref=asc_df_B00NO73IN25128365/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B00NO73IN2&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167122786755&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6726105482420110553&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9006800&hvtargid=pla-284071178341

or 1/8"plug to dual RCA connectors:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-6-3-5mm-mini-to-rca-stereo-audio-cable-black/4408001.p?skuId=4408001&ref=212&loc=1&ksid=35f92105-371e-4c77-b1b5-434c5f7b1c70&ksprof_id=16&ksaffcode=pg252604&ksdevice=c&lsft=ref:212,loc:2&gclid=CjwKCAjwoNrMBRB4EiwA_ODYvxWbUm6DjDDpf0qCSYF8Mgy3G6fmj1FNdJ-idM10KLi6v3cRpwnZsRoCGlwQAvD_BwE

Or just use a blue tooth streaming speaker/unit. The live feed should be of quality enough to amplify.

Then like the kings of ancient times, you'll be "The King of Swing"

#2 Dave on 2017-08-18 13:23 (Reply)

Does this mean we get to bring the B & O out of the storage and listen to good sound and great music?

#3 Apple Pie on 2017-08-18 14:01 (Reply)

Wow. Those were beautiful.

#3.1 OldFert on 2017-08-20 20:53 (Reply)

I told Alexa to play wqxr and she did it! Get an echo dot and hook it to your stereo with RCA cable.

#4 KF on 2017-08-18 14:03 (Reply)

get a simple MPOW Streambot 2-in-1 Bluetooth Transmitter and Receiver device for $15 and plug it into the AUX jack - should work. Connect to your phone and you're off to the races.

#5 steve on 2017-08-18 16:42 (Reply)

You'll need an amplifier. The PC only has enough power for headphones. It should be at least 200 watts per channel RMS, not MAX. If it's underpowered, the audio will suffer 'clipping' and the speakers will distort if you turn the volume up very much. Wattage is NOT a place to scrimp on bucks.

https://www.amazon.com/Pyle-PTA1000-1000W-Professional-Amplifier/dp/B0010K6TXQ/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1503088296&sr=8-8&keywords=amplifier

To connect the PC to that particular unit, which uses mono 1/4" jacks for input, you'll need one of these bad boys:

https://www.amazon.com/GLS-Audio-Y-Cable-Splitter-Cord/dp/B0062QPERU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1503088677&sr=8-3&keywords=stereo+splitter+1%2F8%22

As for quality, it should be okay. You can judge it by using headphones in the PC. If it sounds good in the headphones, it'll sound good over the room speakers -- again, assuming the amp has enough power.

So, about a hundred bucks and you're good to go.

#6 Dr. Mercury (Link) on 2017-08-18 16:47 (Reply)

Also, when it comes to hooking up the speakers, just use regular 'lamp cord', like the kind of wire a regular table lamp uses. You definitely don't need anything special like 'monster cable' for just a regular home speaker system. You should be able to buy it by the foot from a typical hardware store and possibly Home Depot.

#6.1 Dr. Mercury (Link) on 2017-08-19 12:05 (Reply)

Sonos, the wireless speaker manufacturer, makes a gadget called the "Connect", which allows for wireless streaming to existing audio gear.

I've played with one and it works fine and sounds great.

Not cheap at around $400.

http://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/connect.html

#7 El Polacko on 2017-08-18 16:57 (Reply)

I use Apple TVs. I live in a small 4-room cottage. I have an Apple TV attached to a medium-sized television and a stereo in the living room, an old iMac with external speakers in the kitchen, and another Apple TV attached to a small TV in my bedroom.
I can use AirPlay to play audio from any device to either or both of the Apple TVs. Generally, I play music from the kitchen computer to both the stereo in the living room and the TV in the bedroom. When I move around the house, I don't miss a measure of the music. My daughter's room is not connected, she has a Bluetooth speaker but generally uses headphones.

#8 Bruce Anderson on 2017-08-19 08:02 (Reply)

Keep it simple

1. Connect a cable from the output of your digital source device to the input of your 'fancy' AV receiver or stereo receiver or fancier preamp.

OR

2. Buy the inexpensive bluetooth receiver mentioned above.
This allows you to wirelessly send your digital source device to the bluetooth reciever, which then connects via a cable from you the bluetooth receiver to an input of your 'fancy' AV receiver or stereo receiver or fancier preamp.

#9 Ed Avalos on 2017-08-19 13:31 (Reply)

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Friday, August 18. 2017

House Music, with a question for our genius readers