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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
ejliu
109 posts
 
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.
bbopman OP
53 posts
 
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.
frederick21's avatar
frederick21
49 posts
 
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!
realsound
4 posts
 
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 !
gsherwood53
23 posts
 
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.
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