Streaming music from an Android and iPhone to a box that just outputs digital

[quadpatch]

Hey Guys,

I'm not sure if I am posting this on the right place or if it's been asked before. I've had a quick look, but I don't quite know what I'm looking for.

OK, I'm looking for a device that will accept audio streamed wirelessly from an Android phone (and preferably an iPhone as well). All I need then is for the unit to send a digital audio stream out (to a DAC) via coax or optical. I don't need a built in DAC (because I already have a good one), RCA outputs or even a screen (or do I?). I know this functionality is often built into speaker systems, but does anyone know if I can get this kind of device on it's own and what they're called?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give

 

[Overdose]

An Apple AEX will do the streaming from the iPhone, a jailbroken ATV might be needed for the Android phone, unless an Android device can run iTunes.

A Sonos ZP90, or whatever it's called nowadays, will work for both phones.

 

[quadpatch]

Thanks for the reply Overdose,

I assume by AEX you mean 'Airport Express'? Is that the base station? Because I can't see a digital output on there. I primarily want this for Android so I don't think apple products are going to cut it. I don't think that android devices will run iTunes and I wouldn't want to if I could! Ideally I would want to be able to play FLAC and ALAC out of the Android anyway, which currently works with Power Amp. Jail breaking an Apple TV sounds like a horrible faff.

The Sonos ZP90 seems like total overkill for what I want, it has it's own DAC and so many wasted features, that's a huge price for what I want it to do!

 

[Overdose]

Yes AEX is the airport express base station. I wouldn't get too hung up on iTunes, it's really not that bad, although I don't know what iTunes 11 looks like on a mobile device. Jailbroken ATV can be bought if you were that way inclined, but both have an optical output via the headphone/speaker out socket using a dual purpose 3.5mm jack optical connector, either adapter or integrated into a cable.

Link

 

[bigboss]

Something like this? (don't ask where can you buy it from):

https://play.google.com/store/devices/details/Nexus_Q?id=nexus_q&hl=en

 

[bigboss]

Even Sonos will suit you, after its recent update:

http://www.whathifi.com/forum/network-players/sonos-the-biggest-competitor-to-airplay-devices

Android version is rumoured to be coming in 2013.

 

[quadpatch]

So far it seems like a jailbroken Apple TV might be my best bet, but that will need some research. Anyone know of anything else around this price, more for android, something that will work with Spotify? The Sonos is just too much money for not enough features that I actually need.

 

[bigboss]

Bear in mind that the latest Apple TV 3 cannot be jail broken as yet, which is why used Apple TV 2 is being sold at around £200.

 

[bigboss]

This might interest you:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bubblesoft.android.airbubble&hl=en

http://weblog.rogueamoeba.com/2012/02/18/sending-any-audio-to-android-devices-via-airplay-with-airfoil/

You should be able to use AirPort Express with it. Even Boxee Box supports AirPlay.

 

[daveh75]

AEX is poorly/not supported by many of the Airplay apps for Android.

You'd be better off with an ATV if going down that route

 

[quadpatch]

This might interest you: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bubblesoft.android.airbubble&hl=en http://weblog.rogueamoeba.com/2012/02/18/sending-any-audio-to-android-devices-via-airplay-with-airfoil/ You should be able to use AirPort Express with it. Even Boxee Box supports AirPlay.

Thanks for all the info and links bigboss! Much appreciated

Both of those links seem to be about sending audio to an android device rather than from one, or am I missing something? I had a quick go with a bunch of airplay stuff for android and this can send some things to my Xbox or PS3 (although nothing seems to work with Spotify that I can find yet). The thing is I don't want to have to switch a console and the TV on just to stream music to my amp and a Boxee Box is a similar story I think.

Thanks to all who replied but it looks like my quest is reaching a bit of a dead-end