WDTV Live minus the TV...direct to tablet

[HarshaDS]

Hi Gents,

I've managed to get my WDTV Live feeding my ripped FLAC files to my amp and speakers through a DAC. My problem now is that the WDTV is outputting its GUI/interface through my 60" Plasma. Nice as it is initially this seems to be a bit of overkill in my opinion. I'm too incompetent to work out how to get the HDMI output from the WDTV box onto a tablet (most probably an Android tablet...as they are cheap). I would appreciate your help in my quest to de-TV the WDTV. I have a WiFi router which streams Pandora and Spotify to the WDTV, so I'm now trying to work out how to get the signal of the HDMI output onto the WiFi network so I can use a tablet as a GUI and touch sensitive remote control. Any help or advice gratefully received.

H.

[Tim]

That's a tricky one, I have a WDTV Live and a Tablet, but cannot think how you would do that TBH - I would be interested to know if it's possible?

I would ask this question on AVForums as its likely folk there will have a better idea.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/

[HarshaDS]

Hi Tim,

I've posted on there already and got the standard and logical response of get a Sonos or Squeezebox touch. Sadly I'm a bloody minded old cuss that needs to know its impossible before I accept the fact and do as I was told by far wiser people than I. So I shall try to find a viable solution and if I stumble across anything I shall let you know.

Thanks
Harsha

[Tim]

Well its not going to be 'impossible' as its a digital signal at the end of the day, the question is has anyone written software or designed hardware to be able to do the conversion? As far as my knowledge goes, I have not heard of this being achieved before or heard of anyone trying to achieve it. I think you have posed yourself a tough one here :scratch:

I would try contacting WD Tech Support as well, could be worth a shot?

As a side note, are you perfectly happy with the sound your WDTV Live is giving you and would it be worth exploring another avenue which gives you control via a Tablet? The only reason I suggest this, is having tried what you are doing with my WDTV Live, I was not content with the sound quality, having said that digital is my main source, so it has to be good. If yours is supplementary then it could well be good enough as I know people here use it and are more than happy with the SQ, but sonically it does have limitations which can be improved upon by the other systems which have been suggested? The WDTV Live does play digital music files very competently, but it is primarily a video playback device so has limitations when it comes to digital audio playback and sound quality.

If you do crack it let us know though, as I would be interested to try it myself.

[bobbasrah]

I agree with you Tim that the player capability and resources will be an issue, and not sure that such a interface is a practical proposition.
Having started off with the Tvix solution and it's own remote control, it was simple yet extremely effective for it's size. FLAC capability was the justification for it's purchase, and it served me well, and continues to delight my daughter.
Compared to the HTPC which can be infinitely manipulated with access to considerably greater resources and interfaces, it is limited to the firmware installed and dedicated hardware.

[Stratmangler]

The WDTV announces its presence on the network as a DLNA server, does it not?
Would something like a Twonky media app do the job?

[HarshaDS]

Hi Tim,

At the moment I'm looking into getting possibly an HDMI transmitter which exists in my world of photography and film. The Teradek Cube is basically what I need....but cheaper...a lot cheaper. At a certain point I'm sure these will all be consumer grade products that we take for granted but at the moment sadly they are not. I'm running the WDTV merely as a front end and attaching a USB HDD with my FLAC music collection (ripped at 24/96), I feed a DAC (currently a Beresford normally a Music Hall dac15.2) optically. The DAC feeds a PrimaLuna Dialogue 2 which coming out of Zu speakers and sounds very good to my ears. The easiest solution that I'm eying sideways (I don't want to admit defeat on this idea yet) is the Sonos Connect, but that would mean having to wirelessly transmit from either a computer or a NAS which I'm not too fond of as an idea.

Stratmangler sir,
I thought there was only me that was a grumpy-old so-and-so. I shall investigate the DLNA server route you have suggested, I've already ordered an Android tablet for this purpose and when it arrives I shall go and play with it and my Twonky :rfl: app.

I shall keep you informed gentlemen....expect to see me in a while with my tail between my legs and an off the shelf solution which will probably be the case....but you never know.

Harsha