connecting a laptop to the Marantz M-CR603

[daveyjay]

Hello all,

I've posted a couple of questions on the forum regards connecting my laptop to my M-CR603, but haven't had any replies. maybe I'm asking really dumb questions, or perhaps y'all think there is so much info on these pages re the Marantz, that I ought to be able to find out the answers myself. Anyway, one last try...

I've seen on a Youtube vid that it's possible to connect a laptop/pc to the Marantz using an ethernet cable and in doing so be able to play Spotify through the unit. My instincts tell me that this isn't possible (please bear in mind that my knowledge of all things computer based is extremely limited). I'm thinking that the only way to hardwire a pc/laptop to the Marantz is via a Toslink cable, but for that there would have to be an optical out on the computer, and I ain't got one. I'm looking at ways of not having to do things wirelessly, you understand.

I know, to an awful lot of you out there, this all sounds like really basic stuff, but I ain't got a clue, I'm afraid.

Any help very gratefully received.

 

[Anonymous]

I believe this is possible, I have not got a cr603 myself but I seem to rememeber reading a post which stated that the marantz would pick the laptop up as a music streamer.

EDIT - http://www.whathifi.com/forum/hi-fi/marantz-m-cr603-1

 

[daveyjay]

I've got the laptop connected up to the Marantz, but can't see that any of the input options allow me to stream???

 

[daveyjay]

Just seen your edit, Yaya2. Aren't they talking about wireless connections, though?

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry just re-read your post, the ethernet cable goes into the marantz from your router and the connection is wireless form your laptop.

The only way to do what you want is via a cable http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-5m-3-5mm-Jack-2-x-RCA-Phono-Audio-Cable-Gold-Lead-Jack-Male-2RCA-Male-/130607026591?pt=UK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item1e68c9119f or a DAC (Digital to analogue convertor)

 

[daveyjay]

So, hardwire the router to the marantz via ethernet, and whatever you 'stream' into your laptop plays on the Marantz - i don't think it works like that, does it?

Heeeeeelp, I'm lost...

 

[John Duncan]

Don't try and wire it. Get airfoil for fifteen bucks and stream to the Marantz as an airplay receiver.

 

[daveyjay]

Hello John,

Sorry, still don't understand. If I did this, I wouldn't need Airplay, is that right?

 

[daveyjay]

No, no, sorry, just re read your post, John. You say use the Marantz as an Airplay receiver - so I'd need the Airplay upgrade on the unit, then?

 

[John Duncan]

Yes. I forget though whether it's a paid upgrade or not, or whether later units just had it anyway. Let me check.

 

[John Duncan]

Hmm, the website is unclear on the subject...

EDIT - this seems to suggest it's free:

https://airplay.marantz-upgrade.eu/en/ugrade-mzs2/

 

[daveyjay]

If it does have Airplay already I'd be a very happy chappy. Can't see that it does, though.

 

[John Duncan]

See edit above.

 

[John Duncan]

See edit above.

 

[chebby]

It is still free but is not 'shipped' with the box.

You need to follow the instructions from here...

https://airplay.marantz-upgrade.eu/en/mzupgrade-s1a/

... don't rush it. Ensure you have all the required info and that your M-CR603 is already connected to your wireless router with an ethernet cable before starting.

Once everything is completed, the only outward sign that it has now got AirPlay is the word 'upgrade' showing briefly on power up. ('Upgrade' - in this case - doesn't indicate it needs upgrading, but that it has been upgraded.)

Now you can press 'music server' and once it has initialised, you can use AirPlay devices (including iTunes on non-Apple PCs and laptops so long as they have wireless communication with your home wireless network.)

 

[daveyjay]

Hey Chebby. Yeh, just upgraded for free - went as smooth as silk. I'm now one happy chap - been putting off upgrading since I bought the unit, three weeks ago (didn't want to spend the 40 quid unnecessarily). Streaming i-tunes as I write...

So, do I need Airfoil to stream Spotify.

Thnaks for your help so far, guys...

 

[John Duncan]

Yes. $25 from here:

http://www.rogueamoeba.com/airfoil/

Apologies, I said $15 earlier. But buy it, it's genius

 

[daveyjay]

thanks John, I'll check it out...

 

[chebby]

Hey Chebby. Yeh, just upgraded for free - went as smooth as silk. I'm now one happy chap - been putting off upgrading since I bought the unit, three weeks ago (didn't want to spend the 40 quid unnecessarily). Streaming i-tunes as I write...

So, do I need Airfoil to stream Spotify.

Thanks for your help so far, guys...

Glad it all worked well.

I defer to JD on all matters concerning Spotify. (I don't use it.)

 

[John Duncan]

Just FYI, Airfoil is not just for Spotify, but anything playing on your PC.

 

[daveyjay]

I gotcha, John, nice one.

 

[Anonymous]

And you don't need a wire connected your laptop and marantz was there any particular reason you wanted to avoid a wireless connection originally?

 

[daveyjay]

Hi Yaya2. Yeh, I wanted to hardwire everything in order to avoid dropouts - we've got four laptops, an ipod and an iphone all operating at the same time in our house - you're all going to tell me that this shouldn't make any difference, aren't you. Thing is, when streaming Spotify through the iphone (attached to Logitech dock), it drops out on a regular basis, and I assumed that this was to do with the wireless connection, so didn't want the same problems spoiling my fun with the Marantz.

UPDATE

After my early success with Airplay - download went perfectly. Got itunes streaming to the Marantz at the first attempt. And with Airfoil - downloaded trial version. Got Spotify to stream to the Marantz, again, at the first attempt.

Now I've got problems - Using the music server option, the screen on the Marantz says '(Empty)'. I've unplugged everything and plugged it all back in again, but nothing. When it did seem to pick something up, late last night, before I got really frustrated with the whole thing and gave up, it had my step daughter's computer name scrolling across the screen. When I look at the network settings on my laptop, all the other computers in the house are shown , but not the Marantz (it was there before). Airfoil doesn't show the Marantz as an option, either (again, it did before).

Flippin' nightmare...

 

[chebby]

It will show 'empty' until you select it (the Marantz) from the list of AirPlay devices on your laptop/iPhone/iPad/PC or whatever.

It sits there and waits to be 'picked'. You can't pick an AirPlay device from the Marantz.

Don't know about Airfoil Sorry.

Try D&M technical support if you are in a real pickle...

02890 279830

 

[daveyjay]

Mmh, thanks Chebby. I've tried to select the Marantz from the Airfoil drop down list, but it's not available anymore (it was there the first time I used it, but not since). Can't see were the Airplay devices list is on the laptop (sorry if this sounds a bit dunch).

Reckon I might be calling that number...