Best way to play music through house - third wave or probably later here

[iloverhubarb]

I have an HTC phone, contract to run for another year. I have just worked out how to sync it, and now listen to music and radio podcasts thro headphones on the phone. Have one PC upstairs (with tinny speakers) where we download to itunes.

Now I want to listen to all this digital audio downstairs. Looks like my options are:

• buy docking station for android phone, about £60. Nothing like the range for iphone, q expensive, especially if I move away from android next year.
• buy the ipad I have been thinking of getting for ages now, and get a docking station for the ipad instead, sync the itunes from PC to the ipad separately.
• buy an audio connector (can I?), plug phone into the old style hi fi amp, and broadcast thro good hi fi speakers.
• go wireless??? Sonos speakers? Then can use app on HTC to play whatever's on there? But this is about £300/400.

So why do I think I want an ipad then? I have about £400 to spend in total. I would like some kind tablet/laptop downstairs/holidays where we can link into emails, play music, listen to podcasts, watch films. Think the ipad speakers OK for podcasts, but not music.

Can anyone help me decide. Is it obvious? (I am not even going to ask how I can use HTC to play music in the car - maybe I am - how would I do that?!)

Thanks if you have stayed with me so far! Help much appreciated. Sure this is all so obvious..

I think you should be able to just hook the phone up to your old hifi amp, I'm sure I've seen this done (although I couldn't tell you what the cable is called if my life depended on it). Do you have a local electronics store of some sort? I'd just go in and explain what you want to do, they should be able to sell you the correct cable. Will be the quickest and cheapest solution.

If you want the Ipad anyway, though, that could also work :o

thanks Naoko. Will try seeking out the relevant cable tomorrow, no doubt the cheapest option. (but Yes re Ipad!)

Also bumping for more wise mnetters. Title doesn't help does it...