Music Server vs. PC vs. Transport vs. ?

want a nice interface, use your iphone or ipod touch and get an itunes interface to control your music remotely. Sonos is a nice setup if you don't want to get your hands a little dirty in building a more complete setup. i use airport express unit for my remote systems and it is quite a bit cheaper than going an alternate route like the sonos. take the extra $$$ and buy an external dac for each airport express and get much better sound than any out of the box music server (of coarse it depends on the quality of the dac).

Gotta share this with you guys.

I went to the apple store today, showed up right when they opened. So first, I asked the guy if he understood home distributed audio. He said he was one of the most knowledgeable guys there. I tell him, "I want to have a computer hooked up to my DAC on my stereo, and then have a remote of some sort, either a macbook or anything with a screen at my listening chair. He tells me that it can't be done without spending a lot of money, but home audio guys can do it with something called a music server that would be simpler and cheaper!

I open up this thread in the store, and show him what was said. He then comes back and says that he can sell me the boxes, but there is a guy, and he gives me the guy's name and website who sets this up, he does exactly this same type of thing, it is very difficult, but this guy used to work there, and he's the T&A. SO we look up the website that he was given, there is none that we can find. One of the other salespeople call this guru, and after a half hour, they say his cell phone isn't on, but that they will leave a message. The salesman reiterates that there are lots of things that have to change in the computer, the hard drive turns off, and then you have to re-awaken it, and that is tough to do remotely, ad nauseum.

Now here I am with only really one question unanswered, does it require a separate computer at the listener chair, or can I have a wireless keyboard and display, ready to drop an estimated 5 grand if needed....and I am told it's way to complicated and difficult for me to do.


And I leave with nothing other than the ipod gift certificates I purchased for my daughters.........

Seems to me my absolute worse case would have been a macpro next to the rack, an airport express, and then a small notebook at the listening chair....Am I missing something?

Yep, it seems very few know about the computer/stereo connection, least of all the Apple store dregs who act like they're enlightened, but are really no more enlightened, and possibly less so, than the guys working in the local Walmart electronics section. I had the same experience...they looked at me like I was crazy! LOL

Anyway, you've decided on Apple...I think that's wise. Based on the opinion of most folks it seems the Mini or Imac will offer superior sound to the laptops. Mini = cheaper, but you'll have to spring for a display (temporarily), keyboard, and mouse, and external HD. With the Imac, you'll get all of that + a much bigger HD and a beautiful display if you opt for the 24" version. You'll have to decide what you want the thing on or near your rack. Both Mini and Imac come with a small IR remote, which works really very well in controlling the also included Front Row multimedia software application, which allows the user to access all of their music, movies, or photos from a distance. When you go back to Apple, have them demonstrate Front Row for you with the Apple remote.

Don't worry about whole house audio (Apple Express, etc.) at this point, just be sure you have internet access for the main computer. I'd suggest buying the Apple base station as your router if you don't have a wired internet access solution at your stereo rack. The router works flawlessly with Apple computers.

Let's say you don't want a computer display on or hovering near your rack, then you'll have chosen the Mini. Once you're done ripping and ready to listen, you'll need to buy a laptop running Nettunes (probably overkill) or an Itouch running remote buddy software that's available on the web. Or, there's one other remote option but I don't remember the name of the company.

And, for even more info relevant to what you're about to undertake don't be afraid to scroll down past your own post a bit, and see that there's at least 6 previous discussions that are relevant to Apple systems on the first page alone.

Sammie-

"it seems the Mini or Imac will offer superior sound to the laptops."

Why?

"Both Mini and Imac come with a small IR remote"

The Macbook and Macbook Pro also come with the same remote and Front Row.

Chris-

Yes, you're missing something, you need something to get the digital signal from a Mac into your DAC.

You can use a Toslink cable or a USB or Firewire to SPDIF converter to connect any Mac to your DAC, but the SD Transporter will give you wireless access from any Mac, and it's clock input can be linked to your DAC.

If you have high speed Internet, the SD Transporter will also give you access to Internet radio.

Kana--I haven't tried a mini or Imac. I am using a Macbook for now. But, in every post I've read, folks who have tried both always prefer the desktop to the laptop. I'm not sure why...one guy speculated it was power supply differences. Who knows?
For me the Macbook running on battery -or with PC connected- sounds excellent!
I'd love to get my hand on a mini or an Imac and give it a try...will you lend one to me?