AudiogoN Forums: Apple TV vs. Mini vs, Sonos

Apple TV vs. Mini vs, Sonos

I've been reading these forums for a couple weeks trying to figure out the best way to organize a large CD collection (2000 CD's) and to access it wirelessly on two systems. Having a friendly interface for the other family members is important.

At first I was leaning toward a Sonos solution with a NAS attached. Then, I replaced my old IMac with a new one and really like the Front Row feature. I also have an Apple Wi-Fi using Airpport Extreme (the older 801b/g version). Having Front Row available to manage my iTunes library via the video seems like a better solution than Sonos.

He're my questions:

I read that Apple TV won't support web radio. I usually tune in a channel and open it with ITunes, drag it to a Playlist and name it. Whenever I want to listen to it, it's in a playlist. Front Row accesses these easily on the new IMac. I assume they work the same way with Apple TV. Also works for stations accessed through Live365.com, which gives you 10,000 stations to choose from.

I'm not clear why Apple TV has the built in hard drive. Does your ITunes content have to be on the Apple TV drive or can you access your library stored at another location wirelessly, such as a NAS, via Front Row and the Apple TV?

It seems to me that the simplest solution is to use a NAS to store my collection and add an Apple TV to each system, accessing the library via Wi-Fi and connecting the audio via Toslink to a DAC and the video via composite video. Is there a flaw in my thinking? Is there an advantage to using a mini? There's no place in either installation for another screen.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Bbopman (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

01-12-08

Responses (1-52 of 52)

Click title to read one, or click date to read all below it.

01-12-08 I use a modified squeezebox 2 to outboard dac. this device h ... Larryrx7

01-13-08 Trying top get up on this myself but was going suggest squee ... Chazzbo

01-12-08 Check out the other threads on this site about using macs as ... Rbstehno

01-13-08 Apple tv doesn't support airtunes, you would use the apple e ... 4est

01-13-08 On tuesday, a new version of appletv will be announced at ma ... Thymanst

01-13-08 Use an ipod touch to control a laptop with itunes driving ou ... Audioengr

01-13-08 Thanks for all the replies. i'm a little confused. 4est say ... Bbopman

01-14-08 You can use front row with your apple tv. if all you want is ... Rbstehno

01-14-08 I've never tried to stream a internet radio station - just m ... Thymanst

01-14-08 With regard to apple tv - one reason i went with sonos (trie ... Johnmcelfresh

01-14-08 You don't need a display with a mac mini and airport express ... Rbstehno

01-14-08 the sonos is an amplifier also{zp 100}. i use a sonos syste ... Streetdaddy

01-19-08 Thanks for the responses. has anyone thought about the new ... Bbopman

01-23-08 I wouldn't use time capsule for whole house repository unles ... Rbstehno

06-03-08 Another option for apple tv display is to use a small lcd mo ... Ejliu

06-05-08 I tried a mac mini, and i'm thinking of playing with apple t ... Johnmcelfresh

06-06-08 I can do the same thing with my ipod touch. i can be anywher ... Rbstehno

06-06-08 Thanks to all who replied. i ended up going the apple tv ro ... Bbopman

06-06-08 Get remote buddy for the touch from a company iospirit. it a ... Rbstehno

06-06-08 Thanks rbstehno. a point of clarification. will remote bud ... Bbopman

06-11-08 I don't think so. the apple tv is not a computer (unless you ... Rbstehno

06-11-08 Thanks rbstehno. maybe i am confused about remote buddy. m ... Bbopman

06-11-08 All you have to do is hookup the airport express next to you ... Rbstehno

06-11-08 Thanks rbstehno. i appreciate your reply. i have learned a ... Bbopman

06-26-08 Is there any sonic advantage to appletv v. squeezebox/duet i ... Jkscherk

06-26-08 Any of these devices will connect to an external dac but i w ... Rbstehno

06-26-08 I love my apple tv. i haven't thought about cleaning up the ... Macdadtexas

06-27-08 There are many: audio alchemy dti, monarchy audio dip, genes ... Rbstehno

06-27-08 I have an apple tv loaded with 3000 lossless songs going int ... Jimlb

06-28-08 Most of the jitter reduction products are using 90's digital ... Drbe

07-01-08 Drbe, i wouldn't call all jitter devices outside of the pace ... Rbstehno

07-01-08 Rbstehno - drbe is quite correct that the clocks used in the ... Audioengr

07-01-08 I took a look at the pace car webpage, and maybe i'm dumb (v ... Cubbie5150

07-01-08 Cubbie5150 - to answer your question, the airport express an ... Audioengr

07-24-08 Has anyone seriously compared appletv's digital vs analog ou ... Richard_lin

07-27-08 Ps audio's latest newsletter has quite a good discussion of ... Drubin

07-28-08 Drubin i create smaller subsets called playlist. then i can ... Rbstehno

07-28-08 Let me pose this question to the group: i want my itunes wo ... Drubin

07-28-08 I have my imac in one room connected wirelessly to an airpor ... Bbopman

07-28-08 Bpopman, what is the relationship between the music files on ... Drubin

07-28-08 Drubin: i am not sure i understand your question, but here ... Bbopman

07-28-08 Ps: i have a question for the group as well: has anyone tr ... Bbopman

07-28-08 Bbopman -- thank you, you did answer my question. so you us ... Drubin

07-28-08 I like using the apple tv for a number of reasons. in my ma ... Bbopman

07-28-08 Bbopman, are you tuning in to pandora on your itouch and the ... Mr_bill

07-28-08: Bbopman
That's the way it's working. I downloaded the Pandora software application from the iTunes store. I already had a Pandora account set up, so the Touch instantly accessed the account. I tune in the station I want to listen to, stick the Touch in the dock and its good to go. I had been struggling thinking I needed to go with Squeezebox or Sonos in order to get Pandora, which I love. Maybe not the best fidelity, but it's probably no worse that a stock Squeezebox or Sonos.

If anyone else has any ideas about how to do this, I would be very interested. I've thought about an Airport Express. If I understand it, it streams whatever is playing on your computer, so I guess one could use the Touch to access the main computer and direct the stream to an AE. Any other ideas?

Thanks
Bbopman (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

07-28-08: Mr_bill
I'd love to know if you can tune in an Itouch to Pandora and then place it in a Wadia iTransport and pass the digital signal to an external dac. Anyone know if this would work or could give this a try?
Mr_bill (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

07-29-08: Ejliu
For AppleTV,

If you don't have a TV in the room, another option is hook up a small 19" LCD monitor with DVI input. Just need a short HDMI-> DVI cable.

For external storage, it's possible to hook up a larger drive directly to AppleTV but it will require some hacking. I think it's actually better to have that noisy drive elsewhere in the house. A 1TB drive is only $150-$200. Put 2-4 in a cheap PC acting as RAID server running itune and you are all set. Yes AppleTV also works with PC based Itune.

160 GB -> ~400 CDs. 2 TB for ~$600 -> ~5000 CDs. Should be big enough for most people.

So figure about $250 for Apple TV and another $600 for an older PC w/ RAID connections. Add a monitor for $150. There is a music server for 5000 CDs for less than $1000.
Ejliu (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

08-17-08: Bbopman
Just a quick FYI. There is a very good article on using the Apple TV as a music server in the July, 2008 newsletter found on the PS Audio web site. I hope this is helpful to those getting started. It pretty much sums up what has been discussed in this thread.
Bbopman (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

11-04-08: Frederick21
For those that have Sonos, there's now a controller app for iTouch / iPhone. Simply simple and killer. I'll be sitting in my living room listening to my music while you continue to discuss airport / mini setups!
Frederick21 (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

12-05-08: Realsound
Just wanted to let everyone know that my Apple TV will stream itunes radio very easily - and it sounds pretty good if I select a high bitstream radio station. To stream itunes radio, just create a playlist folder for itunes radio, then just click on a radio station and drag it into your playlist folder in itunes, (or just click and drag a radio station under the Playlist section).
Then go into the Apple TV settings > general > reset settings (not factory restore). Once it's reset go into Music > My Music > Playlists , and the Apple TV menu will show your itunes radio playlist folder containing your preselected radio stations.
Also, I can shut down my imac computer and the music still continues playing !
Realsound (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

12-05-08: Gsherwood53
Cannot discuss Apple TV or Mini, but I have the Sonos System (for 2 weeks) and love it.

I have a Cullen modded SONOS ZP90 and Bridge driving a Northstar DAC into my 2-ch audio system. I use iTunes on my HP PC to rip and organize CD tracks (all in ALAC), and an Apple iTouch or my PC as controllers for the SONOS music server. I use a ReadyNV+ NAS for track storage.

The advantage of the Cullen mod is that it produces an audiophile-quality digital bit stream from the ZP90 where the stock unit does not have a high quality clock.

The output is as good or better that my MF A5 or Marantz SA11S1 CDP's. The convenience is terrific.
Gsherwood53 (Threads | Answers | This Thread)