Hello audio lovers!
I have 2 really good speakers connected to my Apple TV through an audio receiver from Marantz. I love the speakers, I love the sound, but the receiver frequently causes issues. As far as I know the receiver itself does not have any accessibility features and last time I tried the app it was a horrible experience. Consequently, if something stops working I need a sighted person to help sort things out *sigh*
I am soon moving apartment so I am thinking about how I want the speaker system set up. One option is to sell and replace the stereo speakers, another option is to buy a more accessible receiver.
My question is therefore if anyone here know of a surround or 2.1 channel receiver with either built-in accessibility or a fairly friendly VoiceOver app??
Note: I am aware of that Homepods and Sonos work really well :) But would be a shame to sell these speakers.
Comments
Yamaha RS 220
I purchased one of these Yamaha receiver/amplifiers. It has good sound and features for a budget unit. In terms of accessibility, the unit has "real" buttons and knobs. Now you will not be able to access the screen but I am able to select the input, the output, adjust volume, etc. I only really use it with a phonograph or use bluetooth to stream music. Not sure how it will sound with video. Not sure it has any surround sound or video processing capabilities.
https://www.whathifi.com/us/reviews/yamaha-r-s202d
You're quite right to hang…
You're quite right to hang on to good speakers... The brains get bigger, speaker tech, despite all the marketing, hasn't changed much in the last 50 years.
I know it might be a little expensive, but the Sonos app is very accessible. They do a 5.1 amp, I believe or, if you want to keep your amp, I think you can get th connect, which is just a receiver without an amp built in. The advantage to Sonos, or disadvantage, depending on how you look at it, is adding to the system is really easy with other speakers in other rooms. It also can connect to all your music providers like Sonos, Apple Music, and can play lossless.... It's a rabbit hole, beware, Alice.
Look at that, I totally…
Look at that, I totally missed that Sonos had an amp. Sounds tempting to investigate.
Otherwise
There's always our tried and true ancient solution used by blind audiophiles since the 1950's -- analog. Any receiver, amp, player or controller that's 100% analog is only a matter of memorizing which button, knob or switch is which. I have a 7.1.4 surround home theatre with 6 components plus apps. Sometimes I use the apps, but really all I every use is the TV, blu-ray player or controller remote control or my iPhone for sound casting. I did take notes on each of my components when I installed the home theatre, and I refer to them from time to time when I need to change settings. My notes simply recite which button, knob or switch is which.
My latest set up
I'm using a little Surface Go, running Itunes, and remote controlling it with my phone or watch. I connect a nice DAC to it, and then out to my powered speaker system. If I don't want to use the remote app, I use a blue tooth earpiece to hear JAWS on the Surface, use the separate blue tooth keyboard as my remote. Most accessible and best
I understand keeping your trusty old speakers, and only went powered speakers when I blew a driver, and then lost an amp channel.
sounding rig I've had in a while.
and