There's a posting about a review of the Rio Receiver at Slashdot. Apparently, it's the poor man's Turtle Beach Audiotron. There are also some links it the comments to some other similar devices. Plus the requisite comments that you can do the same thing with a cheap 486 and a SoundBlaster 16.

I don't think I really like either one of them because the displays are too small (at least they look too small in the pictures I haven't been able to see one in person)

now if you can make a cheap 486 that looks like a home stereo you would have something

It's easy to put a cheap 486 into an enclosure that will make it fit with your stereo. The problem is that the system will no longer be "cheap." It's going to cost you a LOT more to make anything with a 486 to perform the functions of the Rio Receiver. Whomever wrote that as a suggestion on Slashdot obviously doesn't value their time very much either - you're going to have to write custom software one way or the other (or at the least, kludge someone else's).

The one cool thing I could see being added to these receiver type units is TV output with visualizations and info display. The possibilities with this are very cool. And I have the perfect suggestion for a single chip solution. Or multi-chip solutions as well.

Bruno

After reading the review the guy did, I have to say that he sounds like a candidate for a riocar! Geek; audiophile; over 500 CDs; over 70 CDs in his car. HEEELLLLOOOOO! this guy SO needs a Riocar!

He does include a quick idea of the protocols used between the host and the receiver

In reply to:

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It's easy to put a cheap 486 into an enclosure that will make it fit with your stereo. The problem is that the system will no longer be "cheap." It's going to cost you a LOT more to make anything with a 486 to perform the functions of the Rio Receiver. Whomever wrote that as a suggestion on Slashdot obviously doesn't value their time very much either - you're going to have to write custom software one way or the other (or at the least, kludge someone else's).

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that's what I always think when I hear people making in car mp3 players out of old computers

I should have put one of these at the end

I really don't want to give slashdot too much attention BUT... All the 'you can build it for less' wingers forget that you can have more than one reciever sitting on the network as evidenced by the setup done for Ministry Of Sound at Ibiza. Every receiver could have it's own output, all put together quite easily. try doing that with your 486 audio kludge.

After reading the review the guy did, I have to say that he sounds like a candidate for a riocar!

Already sent him the e-mail.

I liked this particularly fine posting:

I made a device with similar functionality... (Score:1)
by haggar on Sunday November 25, @10:23PM (#2611869)
(User #72771 Info)
It's called shielded stereo cable, and it runs from my PCs soundcard, to the hi-fi system's amplifier.

Really, folks, what's the point of this box, except that it's cool to have something shiny with debian in it? I mean, who gives a [censored] when you just don't need it. The calbe costs me 5 bucks, preassembled 10-meter, 3.5 mm stereo plug to RCA. It's actually cheaper than a CAT 5 cable of the same lenght!!! And the PC has a much better "interface" to control my playing list, than this tiny little box.

If you have money to spend on little amenities, that's OK, but this is simply nonsensical.

Just how far from "getting it" can you be !

You made the assumption that he has a car ?

Exactly !

If you do not mind having a PC in your living room, and you don't mind having to get up and use a PC keyboard / mouse / screen to change playists, and you don't mind having limited sound quality, then I am sure a PC is a fine solution.

Ok, so I tried it, it was nice to have Video out of Laptop to TV screen for visuals and selecting music, using a wireless remote for Laptop. But still the Dell Reciever that replaced it is better IMHO.

Although a bigger screen on the Receiver ( or Video out ) would be nice, and also handling of a large database of music plus ordering music could be better.

BTW, whats wrong with rioreceiver.comms.net for this thread ?

Since he in his post was talking about how he was thinking about how to affix a third Case Logic sun visor CD keeper, despite only having two sun visors, I think it's a pretty safe bet that he has a car.

/Michael

BTW, whats wrong with rioreceiver.comms.net for this thread ?

Didn't know it existed....

Damn fine point.

Guess I did wonder what that RioReceiver BBS link at the top of the Empeg BBS was for too

Uhhh ... oops. Well, I don't have one anyway. I can't be expected to know everything! [Insert lame excuse here]