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[glabelle]

Problem: I'd like to control the JRiver media server from a laptop, running as a client. Then play the audio through a Denon AVR via wifi, direct from the server.

1) I can connect the Denon (AVR-6400H) to the server and play audio, but the Denon interface for searching sucks.
2) I can connect through Roku and play audio, but its interface is even worse.

I want to be able to use a laptop so that the interface looks just like JRiver on the server with all the nice features. One article mentioned using "play to" in JR, but I can't find it. I was able to play audio using this setup, but I'm sure it was not right. I can drag a song over to my AVR in "Playing Now" on the left panel, but the album display goes away and I have to then select "player" to stop the song. Looking for a way to use the JRiver client, but simply se the AVR as an output. Please advise. Thanks!

[Alex_W]

not an expert, but have done this successfully a couple of times (and unsuccessfully -- many times!)   

it would be helpful to know your setup, and a bit more info on what exactly you're trying to achieve.

[glabelle]

Setup. PC Windows 11 running JR 32. Database is on this computer. It is the DLNA media server.

          Denon AVR which can connect to a DLNA server. It does and it works.

          Laptop Toshiba Windows 10 running JR as a client.

          I want the client laptop, running JR, to select the songs and the AVR to play them.

          Bottom line, how do I get the AVR to be the "speakers"?

[Alex_W]

so: in MC config on win 11 PC, Media Network -->Advanced -- check "Server" (and nothing else);
on laptop, same place check "Controller", and load your library from the server (left side panel, Playing Now | Playing from);
you don't need to do anything on your AVR (other than make sure it is on the same subnet as the rest of your gear)

on your controller (laptop) you should see your AVR in the left side panel under Playing Now.

select your albums, right-click --> play to --> Denon AVR.

[JimH]

The wiki has a topic on DLNA that might also help.

[glabelle]

Alex, I cannot find that sequence of keys.

Do you mean (TAB) Tools - Options - Media Network - Advanced? On my PC all 3 were checked. DLNA Server, Renderer and Controller.

So -
Uncheck Renderer and Controller.
Then on the laptop, only check Controller.

?  Thanks.

[Alex_W]

yes, I think you got that right.

[JimH]

You can safely check all 3.

[glabelle]

For some reason, configured as you say, the audio seems to be getting to the AVR, but it says it can't play it because it cannot decode the stream!? Doesn't matter what file type it is (MP3, .WAV, etc.) same result.

So far the best solution seems to be using JRemote for this task. However, I was playing it one night, and it just went dead. Dropped network? Crash? Rebooted everything and it worked. Not as robust as I'd like.

BTW, I have 2 albums with the same name, but different performers. "All the Great Love Songs". They both show properly on the JR server system, in JRemote - one is missing!?

So I'm now thinking a more direct, less complex, connection is needed. I can play from the same database on a hard drive, directly on the AVR, but again, the interface is sucky. I may try hooking the JR server directly to the AVR via HDMI or a fiber optic cable. I would control JR through a remote desktop program which I've used and is reliable.

[Alex_W]

one thing to check is the settings of your DLNA server (on your Win 11 MC machine, Tools --> Options --> MediaNetwork | ...Add or configure DLNA servers; make sure you start with "Original format" type of a DLNA server, and select Audio > Mode = "Original"), maybe it is trying to do something weird...

I have a Denon X8500HA connected via Ethernet, and I can play to it -- but lack of gapless playback and multi-channel support make me use a different setup. And HEOS UI is a joke.

Hope this helps.