Computer wireless music joy - Axiom Message Boards

Got a very cool product that may save others a ton of hassel and expense. One of those miracle products that take about 10 minutes to get right and then you don't have to think about it.

RCA Lyra Wireless is awesome. The same input into the receiver works for my MP3 player (Creative Labs 6 gig Zen Mirco). Only thing you have to do is change your audio driver selection in the Control panel ... Sound and Audio devices and under Audio select the Lyra when you want your computer music to go right to your receiver.

I have Rapsody music and aol music radio with all the XM stations.

In short I have limitless music possibilities right at my finger tips via my computer and didn't have to do any wiring what so ever.

Here is what it does and yes I cut and pasted their splash about it, but it was all true for me.

Listen to digital music files on your stereo with this RCA Lyra wireless transmitter. Featuring full dynamic and frequency ranges, it transmits crystal clear digital sound from your computer to your stereo from up to 100 feet away using a noiseless radio frequency transmission. You can listen to MP3 files, playlists and Internet radio through your stereo while controlling both the system and your stereo with the included universal remote control and software. Includes USB cable and signal strength indicators for easy setup. PC system requirements: Pentium 300 MHz processor or higher; Windows 98SE, Me, 2000 or XP; 96MB RAM; 50MB free hard disk space; CD-ROM drive; available USB port. Imported.

Lyra Wireless info and reviews

Check this gadget out....http://www.z500series.com/ It pushes just about any Video / Audio format you would want over using Wireless/10BaseT from you PC with Component or HDMI to your AV Amp. Only thing missing on my wish list (and holding me back) is 1080p support.
Nathan

LINK

Took a look at their forums and there are definately some mixed reviews on that unit. For what I wanted this little unit was perfect. Use it every day.

My computer is upstairs, reciver and Axioms downstairs...Are you saying this thing basically plugs into the computer via usb and allows me to stream onto my Axiom setup? For only $100? That would be great!Am I following you correctly here? Thanks for your reply

I have a favorite free website that only allows streaming you can't download from it hence no stored files or cd burning capable...Will this work via the wireless? If so great, I will definitely get this!

Izub
One end hooks up to the puter via USB cable. The other end to your Integrated or receiver via an open input with a mini jack to dual RCA cable. For example aux 1. Sounds like the range would handle your situation to your upstairs room. The few reviews I read were positive. I have no first hand experience with this unit.

Thanks Ken for posting this. It has definitely peaked my curiosity. I have been wishing I could get my pandora stations streaming to my main system. This might be the answer.
oz

I just ordered it on Buy.com for 34.99 plus 7.97 shipping (US$) Only bummer is it's on back order

Geez, at that price I'm not suprized it's back ordered! Let me know if you actually get it.
oz

Well you had to give them your credit card so it's paid for...The site seems reputable enough..If I don't get it inside of a few weeks I guess I'll try somewhere else...I'll keep you posted

In reply to:
My computer is upstairs, reciver and Axioms downstairs...Are you saying this thing basically plugs into the computer via usb and allows me to stream onto my Axiom setup? For only $100? That would be great!Am I following you correctly here? Thanks for your reply

That is exactly what I'm saying. It also has 4 different frequencies it can use so if something interfers with one particular signal you still got 3 others to try.

It's a no brainer. Takes 10minutes to set up and poof, anything you can listen to on your computer is now available on your beautiful axiom set up. I really can't tell the difference between cd player and this set up except perhaps a need a few extra dbs for volume.

I got mine at QVC site for $79. With shipping it was $90 something. That low $39 price is at a few different sites and all back ordered. I checked on one of those sites again and it has been out of stock since I ordered mine in late December. I hope you get that price, but I have my doubts.

You'd be surprised at the quality differences between what most people encode their mp3's at vs. CD quality.

What bitrate do you encode your music at?

I have 6gig on my MP3 player so I can afford to covert CDs at 320 kbps. Most people use 128 I believe.

No expert on the subject though. I just used the highest available quality setting. Wether I'm getting that much better quality using the 320 Vs 128 I'm not qualified to say really.

<shrugs> sounds darn good to me.

Just having the ability to get almost any music to play on my system without buying it is a huge plus for me. For example in the "What are you listening to tonight" thread there was recent talk about Coldplay's live DVD Austrialia concert and the X & Y album.

I just opened rapsody, called up coldplay and was able to listen to both prior to possible purchase. While you might be able to argue the quality is not CD, the Lyra wireless set up allows me to decide about most (not all unfortunately) music purchases by listening on my system to an extremely close example of the CD/DVD.

In this way both Rhapsody and my Lyra wireless pay for themselves in the long run.

Sunday 7:45 pst just got an email from Buy.com They have received more Lyras in their warehouse.Selling for $34.99 US + shipping. Mine just shipped for 42.96 USD total(I'm in Seattle) I'll keep you posted after I receive it. kemrt23, I will not be able to thank you enough if this works as great as everyone says! Thanks a lot!

That is a truely amazing price for this thing.

Thank you thank you thank you!

I was on the Buy.com site this weekend, and thought about pulling the trigger, but held off because I was afraid it would be back-ordered forever.

I've now got one ordered (and confirmed)! So thanks for providing that update.

Rich

No problem...Kc23 gets all the credit...I am tracking it seems their warehouse is in Oklahoma I guess to seattle by UPS ground I will have it by Thursday afternoon Will keep you posted!

My Lyra wireless was delivered yesterday. I set it up when I got home and put on Pandora and sure enough the music came on my main system in the living room. It was no longer coming out of the speakers in the computer room. I guess you can only choose one source, the sound card or the Lyra wireless. After awhile I wanted to switch back to the computer room set up. I got the music to be sent to those speakers by changing back to the sound card in control panel (WinXP). Now I want to change back to the main system and it will not change. I have not installed the remote control software because I think it would be useless for my intended use.
Since this is a usb unit can't we just switch back in forth in the windows control panel or do we have to use the musicmatch software?
Also, if anyone is using the musicmatch in Win XP are you finding it very slow? It seems to slow my computer down to a crawl.
I should also state that the music in the musicmatch library plays out fine to the main system but the streaming internet plays through the computer speakers.
Any help would be appreciated
oz

This sounds great, but without a display, how do you know what you're playing? I guess that's why it costs a lot less than the Squeezebox or the Roku.

I don't use musicmatch so I can't help you with that. As I always do when I buy any hardware for my computer, first thing I did was go to the Lyra RCA site and downloaded all the latest software and installed it.

That might help a lot with any issues that come up.

PS I also found the remote unnecessary. Haven't used it myself.

In reply to:
As I always do when I buy any hardware for my computer, first thing I did was go to the Lyra RCA site and downloaded all the latest software and installed it.
In reply to:

Ken
I did the same and the links led to a page where the only download was for the Remote. Any other links or searches led to musicmatch. Theyuy seem to be really pushing the musicmatch software. There seems to be nothing for just the Lyra Wireless itself. What am I missing? Is it a part of the remote sofware download? If you could provide a link or any more detailed info I would greatly appreciate it.
oz

This is great! One question...All sound is coming through my stereo setup...If I want the computer sound only do i have to go back in and disable Lyra? or is there a by-pass? Thanks

In reply to:
My Lyra wireless was delivered yesterday. I set it up when I got home and put on Pandora and sure enough the music came on my main system in the living room. It was no longer coming out of the speakers in the computer room. I guess you can only choose one source, the sound card or the Lyra wireless. After awhile I wanted to switch back to the computer room set up. I got the music to be sent to those speakers by changing back to the sound card in control panel (WinXP). Now I want to change back to the main system and it will not change. I have not installed the remote control software because I think it would be useless for my intended use.
Since this is a usb unit can't we just switch back in forth in the windows control panel or do we have to use the musicmatch software?
Also, if anyone is using the musicmatch in Win XP are you finding it very slow? It seems to slow my computer down to a crawl.
I should also state that the music in the musicmatch library plays out fine to the main system but the streaming internet plays through the computer speakers.
Any help would be appreciated
oz

Wow, did I have a brain fart. That's what I get for trying to answer a post after several 12hr night shifts in a row. In my pea brain I was thinking of all the software upgrades I needed to do for my MP3 player NOT my Lyra RCA Wireless.

Answers to your questions:
You should be able to switch back and forth from your Main Axiom speaker system and your computer speakers by simply using the "Control Panel"/"Sounds and Audio Devices"/"Audio"/"Sound Playback Audio device" then pick what ever drives your computer speakers.

Yes, you can only use your computer speakers or your Axiom system not both at the same time.

Not familiar with musicmatch because I use Raphsody. One thing I know I have to do when I switch from Main to computer is reload raphsody. So if you are changing back and forth you might try closing musicmatch and then changing axioms/computer speakers and reload musicmatch.

As far the musicmatch being slow, not sure. When playing with my mp3 player and musicmatch I found that the auto sync settings were slowing down things because it would check if everything on my computer was also on my mp3 player.

I don't use musicmatch for my mp3 player anymore I use windows media player which seems to run a lot smoother.

Hope some of this is helpful.

In reply to:
This is great! One question...All sound is coming through my stereo setup...If I want the computer sound only do i have to go back in and disable Lyra? or is there a by-pass? Thanks

You go back into the control planel/Sounds and Audio Devices/Audio to change back and forth from your computer to your axioms.

KC, I too have Rhapsody and have used it for the past 2 or 3 years and love it. I then bought my axioms (22's and 350 for Living room and M3's for another room about 2 months ago. Rhapsody became unbearable to listen too through my laptop. I tried the computer soundcard, a creative soundcard and almost gave up and I was severely missing my rhapsody. Anyway, I came across this xitel product. It's not wireless, but it too is a USB device, plug and play, no cd to install. 2 seconds to install and it causes the stream to bypass the soundcarad and it decods the signal before sending it to the receiver. 50 bucks. It comes w/ a 30 foot cable. Not completely ideal, but I usually just park my laptop next to my receiver anyway when i'm listening. If I need to, I can at least run the line into the next room if needed.

Anyway, I've been listening to Rhpsody non-stop and I am STOKED. They have a higher end version with digital cable options, but for my situation, I have to use analog for my zone 2 (primary music listenting area) so I could go withthe lesser model.

Anyway, that's another option if you want to use cables and end up bypassing you're computers soundcard for enhanced streaming music experience.

Rick, I don't have a problem with using a cable from my computer to a receiver, so I've also used the Xitel Hi-Fi Link(paid about $40)for about three years. When I'm at the computer I'm commonly using this excellent site to enjoy streaming music from all over the world.

Ken
Thanks for your reply. The key was in shutting down whatever streaming music I'm listening to and then re launching it. I was going batty trying to figure this out. Now at least I don't have to use that dreaded music match. Unfortunately, I didn't know before upgrading MM to the latest edition. Anyway it's good to have the latest MM because my daughter needs to use it for her ghetto pod.
Everthing is working very nicely now. I think I'll have to check out this Rhapsody that you and others have mentioned.
oz

Be forewarned:

Rhapsody = CRACK