How do I setup a sound system in my wife's office?

RedCoop -- Mon, 11/03/2008 - 19:08

I'm a newbie to this forum and I hope this is in the right place (if not, mods please move).

My wife is a psychologist and is in the process of moving in to a new office suite. She would like to have some classical music playing in the waiting room for her patients but for it not to be audible in any of the offices.

I do not know much about AV systems or setup, so my thought was to get something like an MP3 player/dock or use the PC which will be in the business office hooked to some speakers in the waiting room.

My wife is not looking for something very complex but it has to be capable of playing music for about 10 hours a day, probably on random play.

Does anyone have any advice on where I can start looking or what kind of setup would work for this?

Any help would be appreciated.

Tom Martin -- Mon, 11/03/2008 - 20:21

One thought is to use Sirius or XM. They have various classical channels. You could get a one box satellite system or you can use Sirius or XM via a PC. Take a look here:

http://shop.sirius.com/edealinv/servlet/ExecMacro?nurl=control/Merchandi...

A second approach is to load an iPod with your favorite music, assuming you have a big library of classical material. This, on random play as you suggest, will work well, though over time the receptionist may get tired of the playlist.

CEO and Editorial Director, Nextscreen LLC

Steven Stone -- Tue, 11/04/2008 - 10:52

If you have a computer with an internet connection in her office it could stream Pandora or Last FM to sound system.

Both allow for custom random plays. Both are free subscriptions.

I use both regularly and you can develop a very good custom playlist in no time with either. Both beat Sirius/XM.

Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications

Diana (not verified) -- Wed, 04/01/2009 - 20:36

I am doing the same as this guy's wife. (I am a psychologist opening a practice.) I understand Pandora is prohibited for waiting room use. This is what I want to do, too (run Pandora through a computer). Is there anything like Pandora which can be used in a waiting room?

Tom Martin -- Tue, 11/04/2008 - 12:32

Streaming is a good option, provided you are happy with the connection requirements from the PC to the speakers.

Steven -- have you tried building a classical channel on Pandora or LastFM? I haven't, so I can't comment on how well that works. For more popular music types this approach works well.

CEO and Editorial Director, Nextscreen LLC

RedCoop -- Tue, 11/04/2008 - 13:34

Thanks for the replies.

Is there any advantage to be gained between using a PC (either streaming or just playing MP3s) or an MP3 player?

What extra equipment would I need to get this set up? I assume speakers, maybe some kind of dock for the MP3 player if I go that route, an amplifier maybe?

Can anyone recommend something which would work for this kind of setup?

Steven Stone -- Tue, 11/04/2008 - 15:24

FIrst Tom's question:

No, I haven't tried Pandora or LAst.FM.COM for classical.

I'll try that tonight...

As to RedCoop's question:

Yes, you will need some sort of source-selector/amp/speaker combo to produce music.

Another option is the Logitech Boom radio. It can stream internet radio in a one-box solution.

Here's a link to info:

http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-audio-receivers-dars/logitech-squeezebox...

Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications

Tom Martin -- Tue, 11/04/2008 - 18:38

For streaming and digital files from a player (with an iPod, which btw probably offers the highest quality) here is a very good hardware solution:

http://magazine.playbackmag.net/playback/200810/

It has the speakers, amp and dock for the player plus USB in for the PC. The configuration may not work physically for your wife's office, of course (3 piece systems are ideal for desktop). There are one box versions of this sort of thing as well.

Or, you could get an amp with USB input and install inwall or on wall speakers.

CEO and Editorial Director, Nextscreen LLC

Steven Stone -- Wed, 11/05/2008 - 12:03

I tried to make some classical stations with Pandora last night.

It works, but only with big search titles like "Mozart," "Beethovan," and "Bach."

Gilbert and Sullivan is not possible, nor are more refined searches for Piano sonatas, etc.

Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications

Henryhk -- Mon, 11/10/2008 - 06:59

Why not something like the new Wadia IPOD dock connected to say the Aura Note (DAC, CD, integrated amp all in one and stylish as hell) plus any small speakers that sound pretty good and are fairly efficient, say the Zu Druid Credenza?