Apple TV the way to go? Also, DAC suggestions needed!

[admin_exported]

Hi everyone,
I need your advice!

I currently have a Sony laptop running Vista which I use for audio (itunes) as well as internet/email and general use. I like to use the internet whilst sitting on the couch watching Sky on the lounge TV (on mute) AND listening to music/internet radio from my itunes through my hifi. I currently use a 4m interconnect from the analog audio out of the laptop to a Trends TA 10.1 integrated amp connected to Roth Oli1 speakers (which isn't ideal as the interconnect trails accross the lounge floor).

I want to get into Apple as I have used a Mac recently and have been blown away by the ease of use. Also, I am getting the iphone in a few weeks on Vodafone.

My current thinking is to continue to use the Sony laptop but to buy a DAC and an Apple TV and connect them via optical. It is important to me to be able to use a laptop whilst sitting on the couch...I have contemplated getting a mac mini and connecting it to the TV and using a wireless keyboard from the couch, but this would be no good as when I am browsing the net I won't be able to have Sky on, like i do at present with the laptop.

It would be better, would it not, to get an Apple TV since I can continue to browse the net from the Sony laptop from the couch, whilst watching Sky (on mute) on the lounge TV, and playing music from the Apple TV (which doesn't need to be connected to a TV...I can use it remotely using my Sony laptop/iphone). Also, the Apple TV has optical out whereas the Sony laptop doesn't - I would much prefer to connect to a DAC via optical than USB...I have listened to both and feel optical sounds better.

Another approach I have thought of is to get an Airport Express and stream directly to a DAC/Trends/Roths using the optical out. Clearly, this is the cheapest option. However, I am concerned about sound quality/dropout and would prefer a wired connection between hardrive and DAC, hence the Apple TV. Maybe I should get an AE in the first instance and if I dont like it sell on ebay for a small loss?

I welcome any suggestions you may have on this set up, particularly any recommendations for a DAC, as this will definitely improve my sound compared to using the analogue out on the laptop. If money were no object I would get a Macbook, sync the content to a Mac Mini or Apple TV and run the optical out to AVI ADM 9.1s. However, unfortunately money is an object

One final thing about the Apple TV...if I have 50gb of iTunes synced to the Apple TV from my laptop, but my iphone is only 16gb, am I still able to access all the content on the Apple TV via the iPhone? Hope this makes sense.
Grace

 

[John Duncan]

I'll get to this eventually, just dealing with poorly wife and children...

 

[John Duncan]

lordgrace:One final thing about the Apple TV...if I have 50gb of iTunes synced to the Apple TV from my laptop, but my iphone is only 16gb, am I still able to access all the content on the Apple TV via the iPhone?

Yes, the storage of the iPhone isn't used, it just acts as a remote control.

As for the other points - yes, Apple TV does sound like a good fit for your requirements, since it cuts out the necessity for wireless, though seems a shame not to plug it into the telly, since it has a gorgeous user interface and has so much more going for it than just audio. If you're determined not to, you might as well just buy an Airport Express (you can always use wired ethernet)?

As for DACs, I use a Cambridge Audio DACMagic with my @TV (and with an Airport Express before that) with excellent results, though a Beresford or Musical Fidelity V-Dac would be just as good, I suspect.

 

[EarsEarsEars]

Quick question on this - can I use an itunes music library on a NAS drive with the Apple TV? Or would I need to hack the apple TV to directly use the USB port for an external drive?

Ta!

EDIT: While I'm at it, can an Apple TV stream internet radio, either by itself or with thrid party assistance?

 

[Anonymous]

John, many thanks for the advice. It is true I have no interest in the 'visual' part of the ATV, however if I connect to an AE as you suggest via wired ethernet I will have a wire going from my laptop across the lounge to the AE which is something I want to avoid...unless I am misinterpreting something?

Regards

Grace

 

[John Duncan]

It depends on where your router is, lordgrace - the AE can plug into it via its network port, which can make setup easier, though it's still theoretically part of your 'wireless' network, so not sure what advantages it would bring. I primarily bought the @TV to negate any issues with wireless networking in the first place - I had a party and AE was playing up and stuttering quite often, which is quite embarrassing for a streaming evangelist like myself

.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi John,

Yes, the dropout is a real concern and several people on the apple website comment on this. Eeek, I've just realised that the ATV is only 16/44.1! I might have to delve deeper into the wallet and get a mac mini which can handle 24 bit.

 

[AlmaataKZ]

I am also looking at Apple TV + DAC setup.

Can Apple TV be connected to an external DAC via its USB port? e.g. with a DAC that does not have an optical or coax digitla in but only a USB one, like Chordette Gem?