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Try a specialty stereo shop, and I can almost guarantee they'll have a plethora of options for you, as you've been able to read here.
Another option I haven't seen listed but "can" work: an FM transmitter. Plugged in on our headphone jack, it can broadcast your sound on an FM frequency that your receiver can then tune in. Pro: Cheap and easy to set up. Con: Rarely works very well, with finicky reception.
Why every single hometheatre amplifier doesn't have a wifi card built in and a simple web-based admin screen, as easy to use (and cheap to engineer) as any wifi router has had for 10 years now, is absolutely beyond me. Instead, no wireless connectivity, unfathomable remotes and cryptic blinking lights and buttons.
utter stupidity.
It's like the question about why the auto industry has yet to clue in to the existence of the ipod (helo where have you guys been this decade?) and far too many of them can't figure out to put in a $0.50 aux-in jack on your car stereo. but i digress/rant
t.
for your problem, I have often looked at complicated and expensive solutions (and best buy actually does sell a wireless "rocket fish" rear speaker kit for home theatres) while I have found that a "really long wire" from computer to stereo in another room actually works really well, really reliably (no wireless interference or dropped signals), and costs about $12 at active surplus on queen st..
http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/
But stay tuned, a new version is coming out on January 6th...
(and don't worry, it works with windoze too)
Or you could drop $250 on a high capacity MP3 player (say, a Zune 120 GB) and get a docking unit with outputs to your stereo. Problem solved, and you can have your music with you when you travel.
Ultimately, the high performance (high cost) route to go is to ditch the stereo system entirely and have a home theatre PC running the show. Lots of disc space, PVR, DivX, internet connectivity, throw a Blu Ray drive in there and a decent vid card and you're good to go.
I can build you one if you want to buy the parts.
The other options:
- Get a "dual/multi room" capable receiver with iPod capability (you'll need two sets of speakers with this)(you may already have both of these). The iPod "enabled" receivers are common (so they will read the tracks on the player, and display in screen). OR burn your MP3s to CDs, then use in your conventional CD player (must be able to read MP3s - if you don't have this, you can grab one for $99, or less)
- Use an "RF Universal Remote" (from Monster or Logitech). These are a little pricey ($300+), but well worth it (you can basically command your components from anywhere in the house - even through walls and between floors), and you can control multiple components. With this you can command your songs, use FFD, RWD, etc., and all the volume, and other features (all functions of your full stereo system).
COSTS:
- RF Remote, your existing stereo, and burning MP3s to CDroms (basically the cost of the remote). Well worth it - you can hit ONE BUTTON to watch movies, one button for "music", one button for TV, etc. (maybe $400, all told, plus blank CDs)
- Airport Express (you don't need a MAC - my home network has 1 Linux machine, 2 Win PCs, 1 Win notebook, and one MacBook) - Roughly $99. It also works as a router, and if you get the $199 one, it has more ports AND can also act as a Printer server, to network any USB printer. With the Airport option it would still be advisable to get the RF remote - so you can control you music from any room in the house.
- Another option: A wireless system called "X10" which you can use on your existing home electrical wiring. X10, with the appropriate remote can actually control anything in your home (including drapes, TVs, lighting, etc.). You can program is all from your computer. Units individually priced from around $20, and up (per module). You need to purchase a remote, and the modules. The advantage of this is completely wireless, cheap, fancy (awe your friends), and you can control your stereo from anywhere. Still would want an iPod capable receiver. I use X10 in the homes I've built - for home theater systems (It is cost effective, AND portable). Google it, if you're interested.
I suspect we are about two years away from a batch of little boxes which will wirelessly hook up to the family server - with its 5 TB - and let you run anything anywhere.
http://blogs.onenw.org/jon/archives/2006/11/15/...