I have 1 PC: want to transmit it's sound output all over the house

[Fat-Johnny]

I have 1 PC in my basement rec room, and I have set up a MP3 jukebox using software called "Virtual Music Jukebox" (www.virtualmusicjukebox.com).  Currently, I play MP3's here, and output the sound from my soundcard into a stereo about 10 feet away using the traditional 1/8" mini-to-RCA cable.  What I want to achieve is to keep this ability, but also to wirelessly transmit the same thing to two other stereos in my house (living room and garage).  The reason for this is for parties if I am in the rec room, and walk to the living room, and then outside, I want to hear the same song!!  I dont need to control the MP3's , tracklist, or anything from anywhere else.

I have tried several ways to do this, and all have come up short:
1) el cheapo 2.4gHz A/V transmitter from X10  (something like http://www.x10.com/products/x10_ak11a.htm).  CONS:  The sound quality and range were never that good.  Plus, it went nuts whenever I used the microwave or the 2.4gHz cordless phone rang.  And I just added a 802.11b network in the house, so I know that wont help the situation.

2) Pretty expensive FM transmitter called "PCI Max"  (www.pcs-electronics.com)  This seemed like a great solution.  I hooked it up with a small antenna, and the range is great.  The problem is that the sound is just not that good (think of a weak FM station).  Sounds kinda flat.  To get better sound, they told me to hook up a larger (read: HUGE) antenna in my attic or roof.  No thanks.

3) RCA Lyra wireless (RD900W) at http://www.rca.com/content/viewdetail/1,2811,EI700411,00.html?  This works GREAT!!  Basically, it is a transmitter that hooks up to your PC via USB.  Think of it as an external soundcard.  I hooked it up, transmitted to my garage stereo, and it sounds great and even has a full 4 bars of signal strength.   CONS:  Since it is basically an "external soundcard", I have to choose between my regular soundcard and this Lyra USB "soundcard".  I can only output to one soundcard at a time (Win XP Pro).  SO, either I can output to soundcard to stereo in basement, OR I can output to USB to transmit to garage.......just not both at the same time.  RCA says that this Lyra WILL work with multiple receivers, so all I have to do is buy two more receivers (for a total of three....one in basement, living room, and garage).  Problem is, RCA DOES NOT SELL THE RECEIVERS SEPERATELY!!!  This means I will have to go buy two more Lyra kits at $99 a pop in addition to the one ($99) I already have.  I sure do wish they sold the receivers seperately.

SO.....thats where I am at.   Any suggestions on how to transmit my music so I can listen to the same song, in sync, on three stereos, at the same time....all from ONE PC??  Like I said, I dont even need to control the PC from anywhere else.  I just want to transmit the audio!

Thanks for listening,
Fat Johnny

[BobA]

Apparently the technology is just around the corner.

http://news.com.com/2100-1041-5084024.html?tag=cd_hed

BobA

[SirPoonga]

I'd assume you'd have a receiver that can output to all those speakers?
I'd just get a high end receiver, one with optical input.  On the computer get a SB Live minimum with optical out.  Could get audigy if you really need the audiophile sound, but then you wouldn't use mp3

Then get good shielded Monster cable and run that throught he house.  Be careful to try and stay away from electric lines as that will cause interference.

To go wireless, I'm not sure there is equipment affordable to the home user.



Here's what I plan on doing.
http://mp3elf.net/
I don't have a house, yet.  But if I did I'd do this.  I'd get make a server and hook that up to the MP3elf.  The werver will store store the songs of course and will most likely be hid into a closet.  The elf I'd make a nice case for and it's be in a public area like a living room or mounted into a wall.  The elf is fairly configurable.  Now, the choice would be hook it up the home theater receiver or a different one also hidden in the closet.  From there run good quality Monster cable throughout the house.

At least that is my plan.  My other plan is to take an old 40s vacuum tube radio.  Gut it out.  I found a model that has a slide out turntable once.  If I can get that, that would be perfect.  I'd put a small scomputer inside and a touchscreen menu in the slide out draw.  Make my own software or use someone elses.  Have that pull music off a PC somewhere else.  I don't know if I'd store the music inside of it.
Something like this
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2197879024&category=38034
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2197972227&category=38034

[JukeboxStuff]

This does exactly what you want..
www.commandcubes.com

It supports an unlimited number of zones on the same PC or dynamically routed to any PC in the house.  It even has a home portal where you can build your own front in to turn lights on and off with x10.

[AlanS17]

Looks like Command Cubes assumes that you have a PC attached to every stereo, though.

[JukeboxStuff]

Actually you don't have to..

You can have 1 PC 1 stearo.. or any combination.

For example you could have 1 PC 4 sounds cards.. do it all on  the  1 PC.  or have 1 PC 2 sound cards and have the controls on different PC's.  Or you can have 1 PC 2 sound cards and have a 2nd PC with 1 sound card and have the music go there as well.  There's no limited to the number of combinations you can do.  I personally have 1 PC with 3 sound cards and that's hooked to my main touch screen monitor controling 3 zones. I also have a "Remote PC in the bedroom" which just has the client software installed" It's not connected to a stearo.  I can control the audio on PC1 from PC2 from my bedroom.  So I really only have 1 PC with sound cards.  Does taht make any sense?

It's kind of confusing but once you set it up, you'll get it.  Basically you can have any combination of sound cards and PCs. You can have everything go one computer hooked up to the stearo or route it to different computers. You can even have "remote computers' via the Intnernet. so I could connect to my home library from work via the Internet and listen to it at work if I wanted to to.  or play music in my bedroom at home from my work PC.  (Don't know why you would do that but you have full control to what "zone" or PC the audio goes to).

[JukeboxStuff]

There's 3 parts to ..

Server.. AUdio/Video Zones.. and "Clients"

You still 1 server.. and then you can install the zones and clients on the same or different computers.  

I have on my setup.. 1 server.. and 3 audio zones installed in my PC which has my 3 sound cards in it.    All you need is one PC but in mycase I also ahve setup a 2nd PC which just has a "Zone" and "Client" installed.  Lastly I have a 3rd PC in my bedroom with just a "Client".

To Recap in my case.. I have..

PC1 - Server, Client, Zone A, Zone B, Zone C (Each assigned to a sound card)

PC2 - Client, Zone D

PC3 - Client Only

I can go to any "Client PC" and access any zone from A-D on my Command Cubes network.  If choose Zone D the audio comes out of PC 2, IF I choose Zone A it comes out of Sound Card 1 on PC 1, If I choose B it comes out of sound card 2 on PC 1 .. If I choose C it comes out of sond card C on PC 1.

Even though PC3 does not have a sound card I can still access the zones and use it just as a "controler" so the audio comes out the other PC even though I'm controling with PC3.

[pcs]

Regarding your solution with PCI MAX, this card has been
upgraded to PCI MAX 2004 in the mean time and is also
about to be introduced in the latest 2005 flavour.

Advanced version with RDS will also be introduced.

Other benefits are:
- Connector for external power supply
- Fixed noise problem
- Fixed poor bass response
- Fixed ringing
- Limiter is now integrated, no more overmodulation

You can expect from 100-500m of range, up to 1mile with
"huge" external antenna and external power supply.

2005 is still not listed, but if you order now they'll send you
the 2005 (to be introduced in about one week @ same price).

http://www.pcs-electronics.com/en/products.php?sub=pc_fm_trans

PCS