Macbook music to hi-fi system

[admin_exported]

Just looking for a bit of advice really. Ive read plenty of other threads but felt it would be beneficial to start my own in order to get specific input based on my needs!

So i have all my music on my black Macbook, and id like to start playing it wirelessly in my lounge. I already have a wireless broadband system in place, and all my music is stored in iTunes (not ripped to Lossless quality though). I really want a system in place that will allow me to play it all through decent speakers now (ive just moved to a new flat, so its been a case of one thing at a time - TV came first!).

My budget is likely to be around £400, and i listen manily to rock music. My initial thoughts have centred around using airport express on an amp to transmit wirelessly, and then having a set of bookshelf speakers. Im really not sure what equipment i should be looking at though that will suit my needs. A trip to Sevenoaks at lunch made me feel like i needed to up my budget severely as everything was pretty pricey in there! I liked the look of the B&W 685's for instance, but not the price tag!

To put this all in context, ive been used to using a lead running from my old pc to a pretty old but very chunky Aiwa hi-fi system, so while i understand the quality m,ight not be great coming from the computer, surely it will be superior to what i have been used given a decent amp and speaker combo, right? Or should i be looking at some sort of DAC magic system? Do these have amps integrated? Clearly i dont know much about these specifically, so would welcome some input!

So there it is. any kit reccomendations would be most welcome, or if anyone has suggested alterntaive solutions they can think of, that would be great.

As an aside, i would love to be able to run ALL the sound that comes from my laptop through a set of bookshelf speakers wirelessly, but im guessing this is currently not possible?

Thanks for looking

 

[John Duncan]

You're right to think that Airport Express is a good place to start. In order to make the most of your budget, are you open to second hand as well as new? If so, we can discuss various options.

Secondly, it is possible to run all sound from your Macbook using Airfoil, but there's latency involved (as there is with Airport Express, particularly if you have the audio coming out of the Macbook at the same time, just FYI), which will not suit if, for example, you're thinking of watching video and having the soundtrack coming out of the stereo?

 

[Anonymous]

I wouldnt rule out second hand completely i suppose, but i guess that would involve buying from Ebay, and that does fill me with a degree of trepication, given that it would be a used product. However, if it means getting better kit, and looks a good deal, then yeah, i guess i would go for it.

I read about Airfoil but wasnt sure it would actually capture all sound coming from the laptop. I would only be using it for non-itunes based files really (im having guitar lessons at the moment and the teacher is giving me some files to play along with, so this would be handy for those without having to put them through itunes).

 

[Anonymous]

Toughy in this budget. As said, if wireless is your thing the most cost effective solution is the AE.

Then maybe add some B&W 602 from ebay. Then add NAD 320BEE (from ebay) or NAD 325BEE (ebay or new).

You should have some pocket change left to buy some interconnects and speaker cable. Maybe even a second hand Beresford DAC which I would add in the future if not now.

 

[John Duncan]

Jwisbey:
I wouldnt rule out second hand completely i suppose, but i guess that would involve buying from Ebay, and that does fill me with a degree of trepication, given that it would be a used product. However, if it means getting better kit, and looks a good deal, then yeah, i guess i would go for it.

I read about Airfoil but wasnt sure it would actually capture all sound coming from the laptop. I would only be using it for non-itunes based files really (im having guitar lessons at the moment and the teacher is giving me some files to play along with, so this would be handy for those without having to put them through itunes).

Airfoil will capture audio from any running application, though I'd be surprised if any files your teacher gave you didn't default to play in iTunes anyway - you could certainly make it so if they didn't.

The reason I asked about second hand was that one option in this case is to get a s/h AV receiver, because they have a DAC built in and will make better use of the optical output of an Airport Express. You can get a Yamaha DSP-AX620 for between 50-100 quid, which leaves you a good chunk of your budget for a half-decent pair of speakers like the Dali Lektor 1 or 2.

If you don't like the idea of that, or indeed the aesthetics, since receivers are biiiig, you can consider some of the 150 quid NAD or Cambridge amps, together with 150 quid speakers like Wharfedale Diamond 9.1s. Factor in some good s/h stands as well.

Lastly, you can miss out the amp altogether and get some active speakers like the Audioengine A2 or A5. At the prices they go for, you could even add in a DAC as Octopo suggests, to get the best possible signal to them (the Airport Express sounds good, undoubtedly, but using its optical out into a DAC instead of the slightly noisy headphone/audio out is much better).

You pays yer money.......

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the advice so far.

With regards to the active speaker option, i was just looking at the AudioEngine A5's. Would they give me enough power to fill a pretty standard sized living room? Obviously with them being in such short supply its hard to find anywhere that can let me have a listen, so id be buying blind, but they do seem a good option, and maybe then i cold spend some money on a DAC unit (which one i have no idea!!),

 

[Anonymous]

Made a bit of progress yesterday. Got myself an Ariport Expess unit which i have set up to currently run through my surround sound system. About to install Airfoil shortly as well.

I also went to my local Richer Sounds yesterday and listened to a bit of kit, namel the NAD 325 BEE with the Wharfedale 9.1s and the Mordaunt Short 902is. Loved the look of the MS speakers, but i had a feeling the Wharfedales sounded ever so slightly punchier. They didnt have them in black though anyway, so i made no purchase. Id really like the MS's from an aesthetics point of view, but worried they wont sound as good in the long run. Wondering if there might be a better amp option for them though? Or should i just go with the Wharfedales?

I was temped to get the AudioEngine A5's at one point yesterday, but changed my mind at the last minute. Bit in limbo now!

 

[John Duncan]

Dali Lektor 1s are available in black, but are a bit dearer. I prefer the Diamonds to the Mordaunt Shorts, but that's by no means the consensus around here - you might find the MSs work better with a Cambridge amp, seeing as they're developed by the same people, but can't say I've heard that combo.

I do love the audioengines, but would always go the amp/speaker route if you can afford it. Unless you like the look of these.........

 

[Anonymous]

Cheers. Have you heard the Audioengines then? I think i know what you mean about seperates, as it would allow me to upgrade more easily in future.

Not really a fan of the looks on the Lektors to be honest, and i wouldnt really be able to justify getting something that i dont think would look good in the lounge no matter how good they sound!

I was under the impression that a Cambridge amp would be way too bright a pairing. Maybe i will do a little more research though...

 

[John Duncan]

Jwisbey:
Cheers. Have you heard the Audioengines then? I think i know what you mean about seperates, as it would allow me to upgrade more easily in future.

Not really a fan of the looks on the Lektors to be honest, and i wouldnt really be able to justify getting something that i dont think would look good in the lounge no matter how good they sound!

I was under the impression that a Cambridge amp would be way too bright a pairing. Maybe i will do a little more research though...

I've heard both the audioengines and they're great, yes, though there's no doubt you can get better if you spend more money on separates.

Re: the Lektors - have you actually seen them in the flesh? I thought the same as you from the pictures and then I saw a pair in real life and they're so cute

And yes, in theory I'd have thought so too, but I'll bet Cambridge themselves tune them together, so there must be something right about them. Worth a listen, I'd say (notwithstanding the fact that I prefer the Wharfedales).

 

[Anonymous]

Im back! Not really made much progress yet though. Still sort of deciding what to do.

Re-reading this thread, i noticed the suggestion about getting an AV amp instead to make use of DAC. This sounds interesting, as it would easily allow me to add some new surround sound speakers when the budget eventually permits. Would this option provide a decent alternative to going the seperate music amp route though? Im not having much time to get demos in at the moment so kind of basing some decisions on recommendation to at least narrow things down a touch.

 

[John Duncan]

Well the Yamaha suggestion above is at least something you could try for little outlay and could move on again for zero loss if you didn't get on with itfor whatever reason or wanted to upgrade. One of the advantages is that AV equipment moves on so quickly technologically (no HDMI or HD Sound Format decoding here, fella) that older amps which were once highly respected go for peanuts. I've tried the AE into that particular model with good quality stereo speakers and it sounded really, really good - the only downside is that it's pretty bloody huge...........

 

[Anonymous]

There are a couple of those Yamahas on Ebay. Any other AV amps it might be worth me looking out for?

 

[John Duncan]

Not that I have experience of, but others may chip in. The Yamaha was the award winner at the time.

 

[Anonymous]

Jwisbey:As an aside, i would love to be able to run ALL the sound that comes from my laptop through a set of bookshelf speakers wirelessly, but im guessing this is currently not possible?

Well it is possible. Until not long ago, I was using an active speaker system (2.1) that works wirelessly just using a USB dongle. I bought it on the web for about 80 squid delivered. Brand is Ozaki (IIRC). I still have it in my junk room. This is definitely NOT hi-fi, but loud/powerful enough to fill in a small room. In my view, ideal for a bedroom or kitchen system on a budget.

I too am looking at the ideal wireless solution (with storage) for my hifi amp this time. Apple TV I have to say is looking like the current winner. I'm just waiting to see if prices will start to shift down a bit as I'm in no hurry.

 

[Anonymous]

Erm, so i just won an ebay auction for a Nad c352 amp! Bit of a random thing i bid on this morning not thinking i would win, but i have done for £200. Im really hoping i havent messed up here. Is this an ok price? Very unlike me to do something like this!!! Gulp.

So i guess id best get cracking on getting some bloody speakers!