An mp3 player for the living room?

mattb_3

Hello all.
I've been after such a thing for a while.
There are plenty of portable mp3 players out there and also a few networked players. I don't want either though.
I have a couple of basic requirements:
1. I want it to work stand alone
2. I want it to have a remote control with display.
3. I also want to be able to put my own IDE hard drive in it (preferably desktop sized as they're cheaper, not laptop sized).
That's all. You'd think it would be simple. But it's not. Has anyone got any ideas?
Thanks in advance.

NellyLock

You could use a dvd player. satisfies 1 and 2.

lipidicman

You could build a really cheap windows media edition machine. Small chasis case, Fanless motherboard and processor kit. Can be done for around £300 I believe.

mattb_3

Ok, an extra requirement which I should have added:

4. I don't want to build it myself.
Yes, I know someone who has done it. It can be done cheaply. It also sounds like a right pain to do, even if you know what you're doing (which I don't).

Yes, a DVD player would work, especially one that plays mp3's of DVDRs. But they only hold 4.7GB, plus I'd have to plug it into the telly. It might sound like a simple thing to have to do, but I don't want to have to stick the telly on to listen to mp3 music.

Toxteth_OGrady

This meets your specification.

:cool:

TOG

Woby_Tide

you wouldn't have to listen to it on a TV if you connected it to a seperate amp and/or speaker setup

mattb_3

Woby - I presume you're referring to the DVD option? If so, you need the telly to navigate to which album/song you want to listen to!

Toxteth - yes, it looks good. But from the few reviews I've read about the Freecom thing a while ago, people were saying it's awful at playing mp3s. Can't seem to find said reviews at the moment...

mattb_3

I now recall (although still can't find them) that the reviews stated that the little screen (1.2 inches) on the device is too small. Don't know whether the remote control has any screen on it. I'm sure it's fine for .avi playback as you'd need to plug it into the telly anyway. Distinct lack of reviews for this Freecom unit out there.

lipidicman

If you dont want to build a media center PC, you can buy them complete. OK these things aren't cheap, but they do do a lot. Great for watching downloaded films, playing mp3's, as a PVR (great with digital TV cards), games in the lounge etc etc. You can even buy some great mini LCDs to sit on top when you dont want the tv on (ie a 8" screen for selecting your mp3s).

mattb_3

Thanks for the post lipidicman.

No, I definitely don't want to build my own media center PC. Way too much stuff to understand that I don't at the moment.

I burn avi films to DVDR and watch them on my Yamada 6700. For me this is the cheapest and most convenient way to watch them.
I don't watch enough TV to warrent getting a PVR. I wouldn't have the time, especially with all those aforementioned DVDRs waiting to be watched...

I just want something really simple.

I've got a Sony 300 CD changer/jukebox which is really simple, but getting full up and old. It has a simple display on it and a remote with a display for selecting albums. That's all I want. It doesn't need to play videos or do anything except store and play mp3s on IDE hard discs.

The Freecom mediaplayer mentioned by Toxteth is the closest, but seems more geared to watching videos. e.g. there's no screen on the remote.

Is there a gap in the market for something like this? Or is it just me?

lipidicman

Yamaha do a HD jukebox. It has a CDRW drive and a 120Gb HD. However the Music is stored as uncompressed wavs, not mp3s. They also do a more expensive unit which can do mp3, but it is really designed as a network server for use with room panels.

My suggestion? An Ipod with a lead into your aux units: if you get a longish lead you even have your remote control. The quality is actually quite good.