Any good tips? Dedicated device to use Emby with my Denon transceiver?

[nlrobert 3]

I'm looking for a device, like an Android TV, tablet or phone as a dedicated media-streamer to my Denon transceiver. I'm now using the Denon HEOS-app to play music from Emby as DLNA-server, but prefer the Emby client.

• Powered with a power supply (not battery).
• Connect to transceiver by TOSLINK or HDMI (not Bluetooth, don't want to lose quality).
• Wi-Fi is okay, because it's just audio (FLAC) that I'm streaming.
• Using a remote-control or touch (no mouse).
• Should work instantly. I want to keep it powered on, if necessary. No casting, paring, connecting, etc. 
• A small display (like max 7 inch, I don't want or have a TV there).
• Has to look nice on a shelf in a cupboard. Just like the Denon does.

I think my best option is a Android TV device, but most don't have TOSLINK anymore. They have HDMI, but that is already used by the display. 
 

Thank you for your ideas

Edited Tuesday at 01:46 PM by nlrobert
Added: don't want to lose quality

[MediaIntelNUC 12]

Hi nlrobert!

I would love to help out, but your info on what you have to work with and what you need/want is a bit lacking brother:)

Does your Denon Transeiver have HDMI ARC?

Will the "device" work as an Emby client or server or both?

Im guessing that its a client app used for music?

If that is the case i would reccomend a Raspberry PI solution with HiFi-hat for toslink if that is what you desire and the 7" screen attached and if you need to have a physical remote the PI has support for HDMI ARC, but that is if your Denon supports it wich would also mean that you could get your audio that way aswell.

But that is if my guessing above is correct..

 

 

 

[nlrobert 3]

Hi @MediaIntelNUC

Thank you helping me out. I'm just looking for a client. Server is running fine, but I want a dedicated control (Emby Client) to play music. 

Yes, the Denon (DRA-800h) supports HDMI passthrough and ARC). So, I suppose Toslink can be replaced by HDMI.

And I either should have a

• Hardware device like an Android TV and connect it's HDMI-out to the transceiver, and the HDMI-out of the transceiver to a small monitor
• Or a Raspberry Pi with a display connected by a flat cable and the HDMI to the receiver for audio.

Why would you recommend a Raspberry Pi, while I can buy a Android TV device like a Xiaomi TV Box for $ 70? In my experience (but this has been a while) remote controls for the Raspberry Pi never work as good. Also, I know that the Android TV app works great, but I don't know about the Linux (Raspberry Pi) client?

[MediaIntelNUC 12]

Hi @nlrobert

 

First thing, what is your Emby server installed on?

If you are only going to use the solution for music playback, then the good news is that it doesnt require as much bandwith as Video but if you know what you have to work with, then its easier to figure out what you need.

Its a matter of Codec support and bandwith, but simply put, you need a "end-solution" hooked up to receiver that can handle the Audio your server is sending to it.

I checked out your receiver and thats kind of a powerhouse and i agree on your Bluetooth sentiment, if you have High-End audio (FLAC etc..) on your server and playback with bluetooth would be like making Usain Bolt run in flip-flops.

The need for 7" screen is for controling the Emby-server means you would need it to control audiolibrary?

If so, i would initially reccomend getting a Android tablet with the Codec support you need for Audio, and a USB-C to HDMI to the receiver.

Tablets as Emby clients works pretty well in my experience, server not so much..

Your receiver has support for Airplay 2 wich is Apple black-magic and the solutions i have tested for Android isnt great and cable is always better than wireless but maybe thats beacause im old school:)

A decent tablet could be in your 70 bucks price range but with that route you would get a "plug-and" play solution, just make sure that you get pass-throuh from it to your receiver or that it has the codec support you need.

I would reccomend the Emby Universal app beacause you can admin both app library and playback asswel as server from it for convenience and if u dont mind tinkering you can adjust some relevant settings in the developer-options when it comes to Audio.

That is, to me, the easiest solution based on the info at hand.

Like the saying goes: Bad Audio kills good music:)

 

 

 

[nlrobert 3]

1 hour ago, MediaIntelNUC said:

First thing, what is your Emby server installed on?

Hi @MediaIntelNUC

Thanks again.  I run Emby server on a Synology NAS and we have a Android TV device (from our internet / tv-provider) at our TV. I have installed the Emby-client on that too, and I use it mostly for home-video's, photo's and sometimes for movies. That all works fine. I can also use it for music, but we have the Denon transceiver not near the TV. I know about surround sound and we had that in the past, but some years ago, I switched back to just stereo for music, and placed the transceiver in another corner of the room. Also, this Android-TV device has the an annoying feature that it will power off when I turn the TV off and there is no setting in either the TV or the Android TV to disable this. So, let's leave the TV as it is.

Yes, it's just for playing audio (FLAC). I use DLNA now (with the Denon Heos app on my phone), but I don't like that so much. It requires all members of the family to have this app on their phone and I always liked to walk to the stereo, push some buttons, or put a CD on. When I bought the transceiver, one requirement was that I could put the radio on in the morning, with just the buttons on the device (no app) . I work in IT, by the way, but at home, I like it old-skool. I also don't want to troubleshoot Raspberry's too much, at home.

Your suggestion for a tablet (or phone), I think is great. With a Pi it's too much d.i.y. I have tested the Emby Raspberry Pi image (below Download on this site) on a Pi4 yesterday-evening, and that worked immediately, but I had no audio through the Denon (video worked). I'm sure I could get that to work too, but then I still need a small display and working with a remote is not as nice as touch (on a tablet or phone).

So, now I think the tablet option is best. I would need a USB-C hub that can charge the tablet while outputting HDMI, right? And then I can look for a small stand to place it upright.