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[Zekeman]

Hello,

I have been using JRiver to play flac music for several years.  Works great.  I recently got a Lenovo T420 to use as my dedicated machine to hold all my music to be played while at home through my stereo systems, of which I have two.  My wireless router is an Apple Airport Extreme.

To date - if I want to play music on one stereo I physically bring the laptop near the system, connect it via usb into a DAC and off we go.

My question is - would it be possible to place the T420 at the place where the router resides, connect it (with a USB??), and then somehow add a device for each stereo system which would receive the signal - from the T420??? (this is what I am unsure of...) and which we would be able to control via our JRiver apps on our iPhones / pads?  If so, what would those devices be...?

Any advice is appreciated.

Thank you!

[Hilton]

Install JRiver MC24/25 on your T420 and make it a server, put all your media on the T420 or on an external HDD attached via USB to the T420.
Connect the T420 via ethernet or wifi anywhere in your house.. preferably Ethernet. (even at your router if that's what you want)

Then........... get either....

Apple AirPort Express or Apple TV
Get 2 x Apple AirPort Express Base Stations or Apple TVs and install one at each audio location and plugin via analogue 3.5mm output from Airport Express or optical out from Apple TV to DAC.
Use JRemote to stream via Airplay to either location via wifi
You wont be able to use your DAC unless using Apple TV at the amps

OR

Intel NUC
Get 2 x Intel Celeron NUCs and install windows 10 on a small SSD and install JRiver MC24/25 and plugin your DAC and use as a zone to playback (assuming the DAC has USB input? if not dont do this solution!)

OR

JRiver Id
Get 2 x JRiver Id from JRiver (a NUC with a custom Linux JRiver MC24 pre installed) plug in your DAC and use it as a zone to playback (again the DAC has USB input? if not dont do this solution!)

OR

Get 2 x Google Chromecast Audio's a couple optical cables with Toslink to 3.5mm Jack Adaptor plug that into Chromecast and other standard Optical cable into you DAC and use JRemote for Android to cast your audio to the chromecasts bit perfect upto 24bit/192K into your DAC via Toslink
You'll need to join the Chromecasts to your wifi network obviously.


Of the above

Chromecast Audio is cheapest and easiest but you'll need to find a couple cheap small Android tablets to use as JRemote remotes to cast to the Chromecasts.
Airport Express/Apple TV is next easiest but costs a fair bit more.
Windows 10 NUC is a little more complex
JRiver Id is easier from hardware perspective but you'll need a little support from the forums to get it setup. (not too hard but you'll have to learn something new no matter what solution you go for)


With Apple there is no simple plugin a chromecast dongle like solution for Apple Phones, however if you're prepared to go with Google chromecast Audio's and optical out into DAC that's what I'd pick to keep it simple and cost effective while being able to use your DAC. It will sound great! You just need to pickup a couple cheap Android tablets.


PS. On re-reading your post it seems you do have a USB DAC... If the DAC has an optical input you can use the Chromecast solution with Toslink Optical, otherwise analog 3.5mm jack from chromecast. (the Chromecast DAC isnt too bad but it's obviously not as good as a several hundred/thousand dollar DAC, but it's great as a wireless audio transport device with optical out! )

[Awesome Donkey]

The bad/unfortunate thing is Google just announced they're discontinuing the Chromecast Audio.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/01/google-kills-the-chromecast-audio/

[Hilton]

The bad/unfortunate thing is Google just announced they're discontinuing the Chromecast Audio.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/01/google-kills-the-chromecast-audio/

Thanks I better go stock up..