Use old i-pad like squeezebox touch or music display

[PaperBoy007]

Here goes, I have an iPad 4, as well as several first gen iPads. I currently stream from my iPhone X to an AirPort express, then optical cable to my DAC then via RCA cables to my stereo.
Here's the question/s: I've always thought the idea of a Squeezebox touch was a good one, however, I think I would prefer to use one of the old iPads as a means to display the "What's Playing" on my stereo. Is their a way to go from my iPhone playing Apple Music to my iPad to the Airport Express/DAC, etc.?
I basically want to control the iPad from my phone or MacBook so the iPad shows what's playing. Is this nuts or overly complicated?
I don't really want to use screen mirroring because I may want to do something else on the phone or computer while the musics playing.

 

[linuxfan]

Is there a way to go from my iPhone playing Apple Music to my iPad to the Airport Express/DAC

I don't believe Apple Music/AirPlay allows you to pass-through additional devices.
If your music server was LMS/Squeezeserver or Music Player Daemon you could simply run a second controller client on the iPad, but the only thing similar in the Apple world is iTunes Remote, which only works in conjunction with a Mac, not an iPhone.

 

[PaperBoy007]

Thanks

 

[beekeo]

I struggled for awhile to find a way to control the iPad connected to the stereo from my iPhone but gave up.

I don’t have volume control anyhow, so it’s not terrible for me to get up to adjust the foobar track/playlist that the ipad is streaming from my PC.

BUT if I am streaming Spotify, I can control that from iphone or the desktop app.