INTERACT FORUM

Devices => PC's and Other Hardware => Topic started by: Bioman on August 17, 2019, 07:34:04 am

Title: Looking for Ease of Use
Post by: Bioman on August 17, 2019, 07:34:04 am
Looking for advice.  My system is run off a laptop; the DAC/Pre is USB (Benchmark 3).  I have a large library of Music (around 1.8 TB of files) that won’t fit on Laptop HD, so I use an External HD; and of course, I am using JRiver as my media player. 

I have a separate AV system for the TV room; the laptop-based system is for dedicated stereo listening. 

All of this results in a laptop that has too many cables coming off it to be anything other than semi-stationary and at a distance from my listening position.  This means a lot of up and down as I jump through the music library which is a real PITA. 

I have seen instances where people use Tablets which seem to be very portable, but no idea if JRiver could run on a tablet or how it could access my music library or even work with my current setup.  I have briefly looked at JRiver Android but that does not seem to be a solution either.  Any thoughts?
Title: Re: Looking for Ease of Use
Post by: JimH on August 17, 2019, 07:50:52 am
Put the laptop (or any computer) near the DAC and use any of JRiver's remotes.

https://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Remotes
Title: Re: Looking for Ease of Use
Post by: Bioman on August 17, 2019, 08:38:19 am
Would not be able to see the laptop screen to read albums or tracks at any distance if your referring to a handheld remote.  But the software shown in the links looks intriguing as I have a Kindle Fire, I might be able to download software to it?  Is this possible to control JRiver running on my laptop system from a Notepad?
Title: Re: Looking for Ease of Use
Post by: JimH on August 17, 2019, 08:42:58 am
Kindle isn't probably possible.  Any Android or iOS tablet or phone would work.  Panel would work.
Title: Re: Looking for Ease of Use
Post by: BryanC on August 17, 2019, 09:33:41 am
Would not be able to see the laptop screen to read albums or tracks at any distance if your referring to a handheld remote.  But the software shown in the links looks intriguing as I have a Kindle Fire, I might be able to download software to it?  Is this possible to control JRiver running on my laptop system from a Notepad?

Yes, using the Gizmo (free) or JRemote (paid) apps, or the Panel interface via a web browser.

You can also do this from your smartphone.
Title: Re: Looking for Ease of Use
Post by: tij on August 17, 2019, 01:02:37 pm
Would not be able to see the laptop screen to read albums or tracks at any distance if your referring to a handheld remote.  But the software shown in the links looks intriguing as I have a Kindle Fire, I might be able to download software to it?  Is this possible to control JRiver running on my laptop system from a Notepad?
Basically you browse your library on handheld … select what to play then "render/cast" your selection to your laptop that sits near your DAC … so in fact you don't need to see whats on laptop screen

Can also build headless NUC (headless meaning without monitor keyboard or mouse) or maybe even Raspberry Pi … not much processing power is needed to play back music (unless you do DSD to PCM stuff) … then put Pi/NUC next to your DAC and connect USB to it … not much cabling
Title: Re: Looking for Ease of Use
Post by: tij on August 17, 2019, 01:13:55 pm
just googled your DAC … darn its expensive one lol … but noticed it has also optical input

if you using iOS handhelds (iPad, iPhones) … can buy AirportExpress … connect its optical to DAC … then use iOS devices to AirPlay to AirportExpress via JRremote

this solution is limited to RedBook 44.1/16 as that's what AirPlay support max

just an alternative solution