So, total beginner here (although just retired from a long career in IT, so fairly technically savvy). And I have a total beginner question.
Here’s my use case: I want to set up a media server, then stream to both devices (iPhones/iPads/laptops) AND to a couple of home stereo / home theater systems, as well as possibly remote speakers. And, I want to control this from my iPhone.
I get using a Plex app on my phone to stream to that phone. But, how do I stream to a non-networked stereo? Go through an intermediate device like an old iPad or a computer placed beside the stereo? (Computer monitor in den == not happy significant other)
And, is it possible to use a Plex app to send music from the media server to the stereo/device, and/or to other dumb speakers in the house?
Essentially, I want to use the media server and delivery devices like those old house intercoms with an FM radio built in – push a button to play the radio in this room or that room or both those rooms.
Sorry for the complete cluelessness of the question, but I have done some digging in the documentation and haven’t come up with an answer that way. Thanks in advance for your help!
I believe using PMP on a small computer like a mac mini or Nvida Shield connected to Receiver via HDMI or even ARC HDMI via TV. If your AV receiver is Air play compliant then the app will control the receivers inputs and outputs. I also believe Sonos is PLEX friendly but expensive. If your receiver has a separate Zone then you could contect those speakers your talking about.
I have done it via ARC in the past, didn’t bother wiring up a separate zone.
Follow-up: you answered the “how to get Plex to stereo” part. I’m still wondering if it is possible to control where music is streamed in the house without going to that location and launching the Plex app. Is there such a thing as a remote control for the Plex app on the streaming end?
If you want the same music to play anywhere then the best route would be to setup one device as the “master” that you can “cast” to from your phone and then run conventional wiring (like you used to do) to each room. This would be the “old school” way of doing it.
You could do similar to above but “Multicast” the audio stream on your network, then use cheap devices connected in each room. Multicast would allow you to use anything like VLC on tablets, phones, computer to also play it as well.
More information would be of help. How often do you plan to use this? Is it the same music in every room like mentioned above or will you ever need to play different things in different rooms?
You can only “cast” from your phone to one device at a time so that is why I suggested the first couple ways.
Have you considered a home sound distribution system?
Does the system need to be easy to use for other family members?
Well, ideally, it would be nice to be able to stream different things to different locations.
Thinking through it some more, though, there’s really only one situation where I would want to control the streaming device remotely. Most of the time, I would be in the destination room, so could control the streaming app on a device in that room.
So, if there is a way to control the streaming app on device A (iPad connected to stereo) from device B (iPhone in my pocket) then that would be the answer. But, it’s not a deal-breaker.
The issue you have to think through with the iPhone is that it can only control one device at a time. In the Living room you can cast to it. Go to the bedroom and your iPhone is still casting to the Living Room so if you cast to the bedroom device the Living Room might just continue to play unless you stop it first.
Not hard but you need to be aware of how it works. Easy when you are used to it. Not so easy for some people who don’t grasp “technology” easy.
Do a few google searches for:
“Multi-room Audio”
“whole home audio setup”
Check out systems like Pyle, Sonos, HEOS and see if something like this might be a better fit. Depending on your needs/wants you may be able to just use some form of Alexa/Echo as well.
