.... for using as a home MP3 component - any one got one of these (or a similar portable Jukebox) and using it like this? Any good?

*Tumbleweed blows across forum*

;-)

Hi Ollie,

You've posted your question in the forum at a very quiet time. People are away from their computers (mostly office use) over Christmas and New Year.

Hopefully you'll get more of a response in the New Year.

Jeremy

Yeap hopefully - I was only messing!

Did you have a good Christmas? Did you stay in Kew or go away somewhere?

Stayed in Kew thanks.

Was going away to Egypt on holiday, however I broke my thumb falling off my bike a few weeks ago, so that put paid to that (it was a diving / kitesurfing holiday so no hope).

Happy New Year.

J

Thats a bugger

Happy new year to you too.

Hi Ollie

I've got a Karma and like it a lot - in many ways it gives the iPod a run for its money, although I find the navigation isn't quite as intuitive. I haven't tried it as part of a home system to be honest - I use my computer for that, but you're right, the Ethernet port and twin line out sockets make connections easy - shame Apple hasn't cottoned on to this yet.

Cheers Dave

Hi Olli, you can use the Rio Karma as part of a home system. However, it can't be controlled with a handset so you have to get up all the time when you'd like to skip a track or select a new playlist.

If you want to connect a digital music player to your amplifier I'd go for a streaming device. They can connect to your PC (Ethernet or wireless), playback music files (sometimes even movies and pictures) stored on your PC's hard disc. They can also be controlled with a remote and even display the actual song title on a display you can read from your sofa. In my opinion, they are a better solution for this special purpose than the portable MP3 players. Check out some of the devices in this category. There will also be a feature about this on AVreview soon.

Cheers Alex, I've been looking at those too, the only thing is you have to have a Windows PC on all the time whereas I'm planning on setting up a basic Linux Box with big HDD's to store all my media.

One solution I've been thinking of is to build a really small/smart looking and quiet/cheap linux box to run as a steaming device. But thought that the Rio could kill 2 birds with one stone (as in its a Ipod type thing too) but having to get up all the time could be a bit annoying (no more so that changing a CD but I guess thats not the point of getting all this music working through the hifi).

what is AV software provision like for Linus systems these days? It's been a while since I've used it. Did you have any luck with your project? Would be great to hear from you!

I have most of my MP3's sitting on my Linux box now, and I've managed to hide an audio cable to go all the way over to the A/V area of the lounge. Now I just need a decent web based playing system (I'm sure they exist) or some kind of output to TV & remote control.

Currently I'm using VNC to login to the desktop and control XMMS (Linux version of Winamp) which works quite well.

Will let you know more when I've got a bit further!

Cool - hope you find what your looking for. That's the trouble with custom projects, they take a bit of a while to get them how you want them! How long is the audio cable you've used? Did you notice any signal loss?

Yeap the cable is about 5 metres long (I really need to sort it out as its 3 joined together - yuck) signal loss - most def!! A better sound card has helped matters hugely and I think a decent quality cable would help too. But for now it works and proves the concept.