Help! TV/Music/Streaming/Radio System

[jesse_the_k]

We've been using a hodge-podge of modern and "classic" technology to watch TV (with line 21 and HD captions) from DVD and over-the-air, listen to AM/FM radio and to audio streamed locally from our computers ("Airplay").

The podge just collapsed, and I think it's time to get a new working system. MyGuy is less convinced.

Is it time to recreate the cobbled set-up (replacing a 15 yr-old-receiver?)

Is there some Hot New Tech just around the corner so we should do without for six months?

Both of our hearing is going, so super high-fidelity is irrelevant. Two speakers have served us fine for 30 years, and I don't know where we'd put three more.

Why can't one buy a DVD player which both supports streaming output and a WiFi hub?

What I'm really asking for:

Anyone reading interested in guiding me through this decision, or pointing me to a helpful user-run forum where these issues are discussed?

Comments

[branchandroot]

A new HD smart TV will come with Wi-Fi, and most of them can receive streams from your computers, as long as the file being streamed is in a format it can interpret. Check for that before you buy!

An older receiver is probably still fine. Even newer HD tvs still do usually have a set of RCA jacks to connect old-style. Unless, of course, that's the component that died! But, to be honest, if you want decent sound, you still need a receiver and speakers separate from the TV, because TV speakers just don't cut it, not even high-end ones.

If the speakers themselves died, I'd say get a new set of Bose shelf speakers, like the Bose 301s (http://www.bose.com/controller?url=/shop_online/speakers/stereo_speakers/301_speakers/index.jsp). You don't need the five-cube sets to get good sound; you just need good speakers period.

If you're using Airplay I assume you have an Apple TV cranked into this. A newer smart TV may or may not be able to replace that. I'd be inclined to leave it in place, just as back-up. If the new TV can't interpret some movie or music file, you can still mirror to the TV over Airplay and just play it with computer software.

The smart TVs are attempting to be the all-in-one hub, but to be honest they're not quite there yet. It's still at the stage where every brand has their own proprietary network of "apps" to do streaming and connecting with, which is never a good sign, and they don't talk to radio signals at all. They certainly aren't able to act as a media hub and /store/ all your media files yet. So, bottom line, I think we're still at the hodge-podge stage.

Also: if you do get a new HD tv, you'll also need a new dvd player, one that can "upscale" or "upconvert" your dvds to be pretty on the high-resolution screen. Otherwise they look rough and pixilated. The tech race never ends!

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks for this explicit info. I will digest and request in a day or two!

[emceeaich]

When my old bookshelf system (which was fine for an apartment) died, a friend suggested his set up:

2 studio monitors (I have KRK Rocket 5's)
A simple mixer board (Berenger Xenix)
Patch cables from the mixer to the speakers (1/4" jacks)
Stereo mini to two 1/4" jacks for computer to the mixer
A/V switch box to select between computer, DVD, TV

The studio monitors are powered, so you don't need an amp.

[jesse_the_k]

Huh, that's a radical approach! I reckon I should point myself at Frys or Crutchfield for a setup like this?

I guess I could add an HD Radio in to the mixer as well. (Sadly, analog AM and FM do not play well with local wifi network & life within 1 mile of a four radio towers: vicious interference).

[emceeaich]

I bought all this off of AMZ, but Fry's, Cruchfield or Guitar Center will work as well.

I'd like to see if I can swap out the mixer board (which is not doing that much) for a direct connect to the A/V switch.

[dragonfly]

I will pass along something I learned recently wrt sound on my new flat screen HD TV. The speakers are good, but apparently movies (and even some tv) are sound-designed to include sensurround, like in a theater. Which is all well and good, but when that sound track gets "flattened" into just the TV speakers, the center mic--the one that picked up speech--gets overwhelmed by all the side and soundtrack input. Thus, you get what we have, quiet dialogue so I turn the volume up, followed by WAAAY too loud music or, say, busy street sounds and I turn the volume down.

The solution, I'm told is to get more speakers and run them through a receiver. Hmph.

HMPH! indeed!

[jesse_the_k]

So it's not our ears, or our brains, but the mix! Wow, that is useful (and annoying).