Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Playing iTunes through my Denon 4308...best way??

Ok next task I have is playing my iTunes folder off my computer to my Denon. The Denon is wifi like my computer but since it cant play .AAC files it doesnt see them when I connect the receiver and computer. Now I can use my iPhone as a remote control for iTUnes on my computer from anywhere in my house. So it would be cool if I could play iTunes through the denon. It would be a bonus to be able to have the iTunes cover flow on my TV (pani plasma but no computer ports I dont think) that is also hooked to my Denon.

So any ideas???

I just got the Denon...replaced a OLD onkyo that was about 10 years old.

I looked at the airport express from apple just now. That seems it would work for the music...will it work on a PC I dont have a Mac?

I believe you would want to use an Ipod dock, it would allow for the iPhone to run both audio and video into the receiver and would show the covers (I think) this way. I wish I had my 3808 back so I could try my wives iTouch with it to see if this works.

The other way would be to use the audio and video out from the computer and run it into the avr and just control it with the iPhone.

The airport express DOES work on a PC (using the dual band one now), however it sounds like you already have a wireless router and that won't solve the same issue of your Denon not liking that format.

You could use a dock like jakewash suggested, but then you'd be missing the stuff you shared on your base computer.

Your easiest solution is probably the Apple TV box, if you want shared music (and video) from your base iTunes on your HT: http://www.apple.com/appletv/whatson/music.html

The other option might be going with a home theater pc or mac setup. On the PC you could play your shared iTunes as well and on a mac you could use the Front Row software to play stuff just like Apple TV does.

I dont want to use my phone as a ipod...I have over 100gigs of music it wont all fit and I never know what I feel like listening to so I like to have access to it all. I will have to look on the back of my computer to see what kind of connections they have...I never noticed...its a old PC. I ran conduit in the wall behind the computer so I could run what ever wires I need. I wish I could do wireless vid feed with that airport express ting.

Its not misic videos im talking about...I just want really what is on the screen of the computer if that makes a difference.

so the airport express just sends the .acc files to the reciever...the reciever still needs to be able to play that file?

Not sure how that works, I use my PS3 to pull my audio files wirelessly from my computer.

Ok, so you don't already have a wireless router? If not, then sure an Airport Express (or Airport Extreme) will help you transport your data, but then if you're trying to play the content in another room, you'll see need something for it to play back on.

The easiest solution for sharing mainly your music to your home theater (given most of your songs are in iTunes) is still the Apple TV.

If you're looking to run your PC to your HT directly, you might want to start looking into new graphics and/or sound cards which can deliver the signals you need via hdmi/dvi and optical audio jacks. Also, depending on the lengths, you may need higher grade cables to prevent a signal drop off. (someone else here probably knows more about where hdmi lengths might start to give you problems or other solutions.)

I also use Tversity to stream music/video from my PC to my PS3, but I don't think that works with AAC files from iTunes.

I have a PS3 too. It can handle iTunes files?

Your receiver probably won't play the AAC files, since it seems normally the requirement is having iTunes installed (or an iPod) which is probably not possible on the receiver. I have an Onkyo with a similar streaming music feature, but it won't play iTunes AAC files directly.

The Airport Express (or Extreme) are simply routers. They help you share your internet connection to your wireless devices and help you network your stuff together. You still need something to access/play that data back from the network.

I don't use them right now, but I'm pretty sure the PS3 will play AAC files. You have to turn that function on in the setup, just like WMA files, but I think it will work.