Miserly wireless for audiophiles

The idea of wirelessly streaming the music collection on the computer to the stereo system usually comes after one (or both) of these realizations: "Gee, this album I just downloaded would really sound much better coming through my impressively large and expensive speakers in the living room," or "This apartment is too small for huge piles of cracked CD jewel boxes."

Large or small, there are plenty of options for broadcasting that Green Day playlist or Internet radio feed around the house. So many, in fact, that it can get confusing as to what you actually need. But here's the good news: New, cheaper products make it easier and more affordable to live the stream dream. The systems listed here are less than $500 and with some, you don't even need a Wi-Fi network, just some music you want to play.

Have Wi-Fi and stereo?

Adding a device called a media bridge or media receiver to your existing Wi-Fi network is one of the oldest and most common methods of bringing your stereo system online so your computer can use it. No matter which one you buy, the same principle is at work: Two small devices (one connected to your computer, one connected to an input on your stereo) work together to transfer music from your PC's sound card to your existing amplifier and speakers.

This method has pros and cons. On the positive side, it is a relatively inexpensive solution -- $100 or less. On the negative side, it involves fiddling to get the device on a password-protected wireless network or creating a network from scratch.

For people with a significant investment in music from the iTunes Store, Apple's AirPort Express mobile base station ($99) is a common solution. The Airport Express can join an existing wireless network or even serve as a wireless router itself. It works with Windows and Mac OS X systems and has an audio-out jack on the bottom. Once connected to your audio system (or to a set of powered speakers), the AirPort Express streams the computer's iTunes library from computer to stereo.

You do have to return to the computer to change the playlist -- not the most convenient thing to do when hosting a party. But with an iPhone or iPod Touch and Apple's free Remote program from the iTunes App Store, you can control playback coming from a Mac with a tap of the touchscreen from anywhere in the house.

Windows users have an even lower-budget option. The Linksys WMB54G Wireless-G Music Bridge can be found for as little as $34 at Amazon. The Music Bridge, like the AirPort Express, connects to the stereo with standard AV cables. It jacks into the home network wirelessly, or with an Ethernet cable.

No network or stereo?

If setting up a network or messing with it doesn't appeal, consider a Wi-Fi-free option. A digital receiver system like Creative's $100 Xmod Wireless works with Windows and uses its own direct wireless connection to stream audio between the Xmod transmitter (connected to the USB port on your PC) and the X-Fi receiver (connected to an audio-input connection on your stereo system). The Xmod Wireless, which includes technology to help enhance the sound of streamed music, comes with a pair of remotes to control the operation at either end.

If you'd rather play music off your iPod instead of your PC -- not only taking a Wi-Fi network out of the equation, but also a computer -- Creative has another version called the Xdock Wireless ($200). That system uses an iPod instead of the computer as the music source, which is handy for people who have multiple computers but keep the definitive music collection on the iPod.

Creative's products assume that you have a stereo to connect to. But say you don't. Sony has also jumped into the streaming business with its S-Air Play Music System. This $400 package eliminates the need for an existing wireless network, a computer (its source is the iPod) and even an audio system.

In addition to sharing an iPod's music around the house, the S-Air Play system plays AM and FM radio. The remote speakers act independently, which means that the one in the kitchen can be broadcasting the basketball game on AM radio, while the unit in the bedroom is playing the latest Jonas Brothers track. The system ships with a base unit that docks the iPod and transmits the audio signal, three remote controls and two S-Air speakers.

For Wi-Fi radio fans

Sometimes you want someone else to drive. That's the promise of Internet radio: something more than another rehash of the music files you've had for years. Now, fortunately, there are devices that look and feel like stereo components, but wirelessly connect to your home network to pull these stations and music services (like Rhapsody, Pandora, etc.) into your living room.

The Squeezebox Boom from Logitech ($300) is one of the newest products to emerge in this category. The Boom looks like a smallish bookshelf stereo system -- two onboard speakers, a control panel and a display. Since the Boom uses Wi-Fi to link to your computer, you use your PC to configure the device, but day-to-day operation happens via the Boom's control panel. All your online music sources are grouped together on a website called SqueezeNetwork that you need to set up a free account to use (www.squeezenetwork.com).