Internet radio music to classic stereo receiver - how?

stever88

stever88

New Member
Hi All & Happy New Year!

I am trying send music to a stereo receiver and ideally would like to get an Internet Radio with a Bluetooth Broadcast capability to send a signal to a BT receiver that would plug into the RCA jacks on the Receiver.

Does anyone know of an internet radio that broadcasts a BT signal? I have googled for two days with no results. Can I just get a small BT transmitter and plug into the headphone jack on a radio and then a dongle of some type to plug into the receiver. I don't know what to get. Thanks for reading. - Steve
 
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You can buy an Airport Express and connect it your aux input, which will permit you to enjoy iTunes Library, as well as many local and international broadcast stations wirelessly from your stereo receiver.
 
Use an old cellphone or tablet on your wifi network. Get a 3.5mm to 2 RCA jacks cable and plug it in to the AUX on the receiver. Download something like IHeart app to run the internet radio station you want. So much easier than bluetooth.

In both pics below you see my front system with Samsung phone with the same setup I described above. I run Spotify Premium and also internet radio. A decent cable is about $10.


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Yeah, you could simply stream right out of a phone or computer. Plenty of internet radio stations and no need to buy a service.

I think they also do make actual internet radio servers that plug into the router as well.
 
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I use an adapter cable and just plug my Mc book Pro directly in to an auxiliary input. WQRX HD is my favorite with 5 different choices of programming. I like their Classical channel and the new Standards Channels. I have airport Express and Apple TV for iTunes and iTV. I can send signal from my iPhone 10x via my headphone adapter cable to the Stereo system pre-amp or to the airport express or to the Apple TV to drive the HT system.
 
I don't use dedicated devices to play internet radio stations, I use an iPad Mini2. I use it to run Pandora, Spotify, and a variety of radio stations that broadcast over the internet (as well as their local markets on FM). In the past, I simply ran a headphone out (mini stereo plug) to RCA ins and used the Aux input on my integrated. However, I realized I could use the DAC built into my Marantz CD6004 via a USB cable. So now, I run a lightning out from the iPad to a USB that's plugged into the CD player. I suspect I get better sound (but don't really notice it if I do) but also get the advantage of keeping the iPad charged. One could accomplish the same setup with a standalone DAC but, personally, I wouldn't bother. Just use a mini stereo to RCA cable and call it good.

You can sort of see the cable running from the iPad to the CD's USB input in this photo:
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I tried one of the standalone Grace I-radio components for my Mom's system. It was very flaky and I switched it to laptop and a mini jack to read wire.

She's back rocking the operas.
 
Simplest thing is the Y-cable. Use it, like others have said, with an old phone or iPad/other tablet that's hooked to your wi-fi. Also can just plug it into your computer's line out or headphone jack. I have my STR-GX6ESII receiver set up to do both. Two Y-cables, one of which is pretty much permanently connected to the Mac Pro that's also on the desk, the other for when/if I want to use my phone to stream or listen to music that's stored on it. I can also use that cable, connected to a walkman for when/if I ever want to play a tape, since I no longer have a cassette deck connected.
 
twiiii said:
I use an adapter cable and just plug my Mc book Pro directly in to an auxiliary input. WQRX HD is my favorite with 5 different choices of programming. I like their Classical channel and the new Standards Channels. I have airport Express and Apple TV for iTunes and iTV. I can send signal from my iPhone 10x via my headphone adapter cable to the Stereo system pre-amp or to the airport express or to the Apple TV to drive the HT system.
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Correction:

It's WQXR from the Big Apple. This is using my laptop as the source.

The Tunein PC application (which I'm using) is nicely laid out with plenty of information. The direct link to WQXR also has a tidy interface. I see no sign of an HD option in either.

Searching for WQRX results in a country music station.

A word to the wise. Don't forget to turn on the headphone amplifier. Doh!:oops:
 
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Cable works just fine but I like a BT or wifi connection so I can use my phone as a remote to adjust volume, skip tracks, search songs, etc without getting up. But if you intend to listen to one internet station then its not a big advantage except for adjusting volume. Also by having my phone in hand with a BT or wifi connection I can use my phone for internet, texts, calls without leaving my chair. Otherwise, you need a long RCA cable.
 
Bill S said:
Cable works just fine but I like a BT or wifi connection so I can use my phone as a remote to adjust volume, skip tracks, search songs, etc without getting up. But if you intend to listen to one internet station then its not a big advantage except for adjusting volume. Also by having my phone in hand with a BT or wifi connection I can use my phone for internet, texts, calls without leaving my chair. Otherwise, you need a long RCA cable.
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Running Spotify on your network means controlling the device hooked to the receiver with other devices on the network, no getting up required.
 
Bodyblue said:
Running Spotify on your network means controlling the device hooked to the receiver with other devices on the network, no getting up required.
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Not sure I follow. You're running a music app on your phone (Spotify or I Heart). Your phone is connected to your wifi network and audio passes from your phone to your receiver using a cable. If you're sitting 20' across the room, how do you adjust volume or toggle to Spotify without getting up and over to your phone?? 20' RCA to mini stereo cord?
 
Bill S said:
Not sure I follow. You're running a music app on your phone (Spotify or I Heart). Your phone is connected to your wifi network and audio passes from your phone to your receiver using a cable. If you're sitting 20' across the room, how do you adjust volume or toggle to Spotify without getting up and over to your phone?? 20' RCA to mini stereo cord?
Click to expand...

You open the Spotify app on the device in your hand and you can control the Spotify app connected to the receiver. That allows you to change songs and it will lower the volume in the app, not the receiver. You can also change to what device is playing Spotify. I have three systems, all with Spotify and devices connected. The app sees ALL of the devices on the network including the TV and Playstations. It cant do everything but it does more than I thought it could.


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Bodyblue said:
You open the Spotify app on the device in your hand and you can control the Spotify app connected to the receiver. That allows you to change songs and it will lower the volume in the app, not the receiver. You can also change to what device is playing Spotify. I have three systems, all with Spotify and devices connected. The app sees ALL of the devices on the network including the TV and Playstations. It cant do everything but it does more than I thought it could.


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OK. Got it. I didn't catch that you were using 2 devices simultaneously.
 
Hi!

To All kind enough to Reply to my request for suggestions - Thank You. I have had some distractions that are keeping me diverted for a while, but thanks again for your willingness to share your thoughts.

Be Safe,
Steve
 
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