Wireless Music from iTunes

[Zwieback]

I have been eyeing a Sonos system for my house for a long time (see http://www.sonos.com). What an amazing wireless music setup - just one problem - seriously expensive - one really needs to spend between R15,000 and R50,000 to get the full effect.

Then I stumbled upon Air Tunes by Apple (OK, I may be a little behind the times, and you all know about it). For those who are interested in creating a wireless music setup for a reasonable price (OK, it's still not cheap) read on...

You have iTunes on your Mac or PC. This will be the source of your music (iTunes app must be open).
Now you need to purchase an AirPort Express Base Station (AEBS) with AirTunes (R1,070)
The AEBS is suitable to connect a printer to, be your wireless network, AND plug a set of speakers into (or connected to an amp). You will need one AEBS for each set of speakers.
Next, the pricey bit, you need to purchase an iPod Touch (from R2,700). Next you download Apple's application, "Remote". The iPod Touch is now used as a remote to choose songs in your library, adjust volume, switch speakers on or off. You can also use an iPhone for this.
So all in all, speakers in say 3 rooms of your house will set you back R1,070 x 3 for AEBS + R2,700 for iPod Touch = R5,910 + your speakers.

It's really cool. See Apple's site for more:

http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/features/airtunes.html

 

[BobJones]

Watch the video tutorial here.
The iPhone/iPod touch is not required to make the setup work.
Remember that you get the same music source distributed to multi-rooms.
You should think about adding AppleTV to one room.
Check out Airfoil and Audio Hi-jack. You might find them useful.

 

[GreGorGy]

Using Salling Clicker, you can remotely control your Mac (including iTunes) with many bluetooth phones - the iPod Touch may be superfluous.

 

[Synaesthesia]

I love that iTunes can stream music from one PC/Mac to another.

You can have any PC's/Macs connected on a Wi-fi network with iTunes installed - just turn on sharing in preferences and you can play each others music.

You can even stream to an iPod Touch or iPhone with the right app I think!

 

[Antybubbs]

Its really cool, i have set it up in my friends house, 3 airport expresses on a wi-fi network, he can walk throughout the house and turn room speakers on and off.

 

[SlinkyMike]

Its really cool, i have set it up in my friends house, 3 airport expresses on a wi-fi network, he can walk throughout the house and turn room speakers on and off.

Does the airport express at your friends place work with any old wifi access point?

I bought on and could not, for the life of me get it working on my Siemens router so I returned it, rather miffed.