Streaming device with HDMI output and Android app

[Myself]

I am looking for suggestions for a device I thought would be easy to find, but is not. I want a device I can connect to my receiver (Denon AVR X4800H) via HDMI that will stream music from my Serviio DLNA server and display the current song metadata on the screen. It also needs to have an Android app to control it as I am usually not in the room with the player. I have a Fire stick and Roku, which work sort of. However, the Android app for each is a generic remote that does not show any information about the source material. My Blu-ray player has an app that works great, but there is no phone app. I was unable to find a blu ray player with an Android app. My receiver has HEOS, which works. However, there is no way to send this to other zones via HDMI. Denon has confirmed this limitation. This is a whole house system spanning several rooms. I do not want to cast from my phone for numerous reasons. Any advice will be appreciated.

 

[staticV3]

Hi @Myself! Welcome to ASR.

I'd buy a Chromecast, then cast the tracks via a music player of your choice. For example, USB Audio Player Pro or Bubble UPnP.

 

[Myself]

Thanks for that suggestion. I think the Chromecast is similar to the Fire and Roku devices I already have. The question then becomes what details will be displayed on the phone app (and the TV displays) regarding the current song. I am skeptical, but may try it. I can always return it if it does not fill my needs. I am also investigating products by Dune HD and Zidoo. I submitted questions to each for clarification on a few points.

 

[staticV3]

The question then becomes what details will be displayed on the phone app (and the TV displays) regarding the current song.

Below is the Hi-Fi Cast App.

Phone:


TV:

 

[Barrelhouse Solly]

Raspberry Pi with software that will act as a DLNA renderer. Bubbleupnp DLNA controller on Android.

 

[Myself]

Thank you, again. The screen shots give the clarification I needed. I will give the Chromecast a try.

 

[Myself]

Looking more closely, it looks like this is still casting from another device, as opposed to the connected Chromecast itself streaming the music. I do not want to cast from anything. I need a device that will stream the music itself.

 

[staticV3]

Looking more closely, it looks like this is still casting from another device, as opposed to the connected Chromecast itself streaming the music. I do not want to cast from anything. I need a device that will stream the music itself.

If you open a streaming service like Spotify, YouTube Music, etc and cast to the Chromecast, then it will stream the music directly from the cloud, without going through your phone.

The phone just directs the Chromecast to the correct web address.

Same deal with DLNA and Hi-Fi Cast.

The phone is the user interface. It directs the Chromecast to the correct file on your server.

The actual audio data goes directly from your server to the Chromecast.

In addition, Hi-Fi Cast can stream music that's stored on the phone to the Chromecast.

 

[Myself]

I ordered a Chromecast HD to take for a test drive. Thank you very much!!

 

[Myself]

I'm hoping to elicit your help once more. I got the Chromecast connected. However, when searching for an app to install on the Chromecast using the search term "raspberry", several suggestions appear. none of these is called Raspberry. The phone shows numerous options. Can you specify exactly what the app for the Chromecast and the Android phone are called?
Update.... I realized the Bubbleupnp app works quite well. Actually, it plays through my Fire device so I may return the Chromecast. Thank you very much! So simple, but this was evading me.

 

[Nutul]

I'm hoping to elicit your help once more. I got the Chromecast connected. However, when searching for an app to install on the Chromecast using the search term "raspberry", several suggestions appear. none of these is called Raspberry. The phone shows numerous options. Can you specify exactly what the app for the Chromecast and the Android phone are called?

Raspberry has nothing to do, now, with your setup...
What @Barrelhouse Solly suggested was to use a "Raspberry Pi" (a small computer) running a DLNA-renderer. Like a Raspberry Pi 4B with a moOde Audio installation.
You can then control the DLNA renderer with BubbleUPnP, and see what moOde is playing via its web-interface in your browser (from whatever device, even the same phone where Bubbleupnp is running)

 

[Apesbrain]

Can you specify exactly what the app for the Chromecast and the Android phone are called?

BubbleUPnP for DLNA/Chromecast - Apps on Google Play

Cast all your music and videos to TV, DLNA, Chromecast, Hi-Fi, phone and more!

play.google.com

 

[staticV3]

Update.... I realized the Bubbleupnp app works quite well. Actually, it plays through my Fire device so I may return the Chromecast. Thank you very much! So simple, but this was evading me.

Give Hi-Fi Cast a try as well

 

[Myself]

I will try Hi-Fi Cast, as well. I am an old dude. Got my computer science degree in 1986. Sometimes this new-fangled stuff baffles me. I am so happy! Thanks to everyone who chimed in. I really appreciate it.