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The OFFICAL Apple TV thread

I have purchase an Apple TV recently and have looked around the net to find quite a few others have and are trying to integrate this into a decent stereo setup. The purpose of this thread is not to debate the merits of Apple TV but to help users (myself included) find ways of improving sound from their streaming device. I would like to start the discussion myself by asking a few questions:

Has anybody found any third party software which can play iTunes files (WAV, IAFF,) to an Airport express?

If so what do you use?

2. What Toslink do you use on your Apple TV? What is the length?

3. Have you considered or used an after market power cable? If so what were the results?
lush
ssglx
203 posts
 
I use a 160 gb ATV connected to a V-dac with a 2m Wireworld Supernova 6. 25' HDMI cable connects to my PC screen in the same room. Just using the small apple remote.
It sounds good and is super-convinient. A little more refined and resolving than my Audio Refinement CDP, but not as musically satisfying.
nieuwen
60 posts
 
I am also a happy Apple TV user. I have both the new and prior versions. I use the Wireworld Supernova 5 toslink which has glass rather than plastic fibres. I now use just the Apple TV V2 into the Naim Supernait which has a built in DAC. About 2 months after getting the ATV I got a Mac Mini which is used exclusively as a music server with iTunes and Pure Music. As good as the Apple TV is, the mac mini is a clear step up in sound quality. IMHO.
kbarkamian
647 posts
 
Nieuwen,

Is the Mac Mini a step up with software like Amarra/Pure Music, or without it?
nieuwen
60 posts
 
Both. I first used the mac mini for about a month, on it's own with just iTunes. In my view the mini presents music with a softer more analogue quality than the Apple TV. When I added in Pure Music you get deeper into the music, in other words more revealing. I tried the free 15 day demo and bought it within the week.
I like the Apple TV but the Mac Mini is superior. Have you found the computeraudiphile website? It is a great resource.
kbarkamian
647 posts
 
Thanks Nieuwen. I've skimmed the computer 'phile site, but haven't dug too deep. Maybe when funds recover and everything else is settled, I'm really enjoying the ATV1 and Rega DAC combo, so there's no sense of urgency to change it. There's always better.
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