Comment SlimDevices / Squeezecenter (Score 1) 438
You might want to check out Slim Devices (acquired by Logitech now) - http://www.logitechsqueezebox.com/how-it-works/overview.html.
I'm usually not a big fan of all-in-one solutions from vendors like Logitech - but this is a no-brainer. If you have a NAS, you can hook it up, and control it from any web-enabled device (computer, android phone, iphone, netbook, maemo,
The software is free, and available for Linux and Windows (no Mac I think?) - and it scans your library you point it to, indexes pretty neatly, and sports a good search, shows new music added
Also - same system streams internet radio, and there are a lot of plugins and small apps available (alarm, multiroom vs. synced audio stream,
In my setup, I hooked 5 players up over cable in the rack closet, which are connected over audio cable to separate amplifiers. Speakers in the ceilings are connected to those amplifiers.
My rooms stay clean and uncluttered, and I control the whole thing through my HTC Hero phone, and the misses through her Iphone. The navigation and lookup on all devices (webinterface, phone apps, duet controller, Nokia 770) is pretty quick - given that I run an MP3 library of around 60Gb.
To pass the wife test - you can try and set up one of the products they have, and expand later on.
Total cost, without amps or speakers - 5 rooms, 5 different streams --- 5 players, 1 Duet controller - around 750Euros (around 1000$, approx).
However - if you'd only need one room to be connected to the NAS over wireless - you'd be set with about 400$, I guess (Duet controller + player).
When clients or friends are curious about the setup - I just give them the Duet controller or the Maemo tablet, put them in one of the rooms that are kitted out - and let them have a go at it. Even the n00bs or the laymen understand it without any info, and are quickly listening to their own stuff
Just my 2 cents
