Apple TV vs Mac Mini

Posted by: bigfella on 08 December 2009

Currently I have c.60Gb of a variety of 128/192/320 and ALAC files covering >600 albums, stored on a NAS, syncing with 2 Apple TVs, one connected via Toslink to my SuperNait, the other to the main TV in the lounge.
I have been gradually replacing the original low res rips with ALACs, but have also been ripping DVD-A discs using DVD-AExplorer to 96/24 .wav files (or in the case of Harvest 192/24 .wav files).
Although the 96/24 files load onto the AppleTV ok, my understanding is they are downsampled to 44.1/16 before playing. The 192/24 files won't load at all, despite playing in iTunes on my MacBookPro. As far as I am aware this a hardware limitation of the AppleTV.
Would a MacMini deliver the playback I desire via the SuperNait dac? If I was to use the Mini in this way without a monitor or keyboard via Frontrow, can I easily use the unit to rip CDs using a Touch as remote?

Regards

John

Posted on: 08 December 2009 by winkyincanada

The mini can indeed be run "headless" and without keyboard or monitor. I use screen sharing and an iPod touch. Output is via toslink optical to my SN. Works great.

The touch doesn't actually help with controlling ripping, but once you have it setup, it should just be a case of inserting the disc and waiting for it to finish and eject.

Posted on: 09 December 2009 by AS332

John ,
It would be a lot easier using screen share on your MacBook Pro to see what is happening on the mini whilst you are ripping .
However , as Winky says , if you are happy that you have set up the options for ripping on iTunes you can download a free VNC app for the iTouch to see / control the mini's screen . A bit faffy but I use it to use BBC iPlayer and Spotify when my laptop has been nabbed by my Son .

Ed

Posted on: 09 December 2009 by 0rangutan

As suggested by AS332, running a Mac from an iPhone or iPod Touch is possible using any of the VNC apps available on the Apple App Store. If you are considering doing this on any kind of frequent basis, I would strongly recommend spending the extra money and buying the "Jaadu VNC" app. It may look expensive compared to the free ones, but it is very very fast and nice to use. Much more responsive and intuitive than the others that I tried.

John

Posted on: 09 December 2009 by bigfella

Great - so no real problems with control of the unit via the Touch, even for ripping CDs.
What about playback of high def files - I know the MIDI setup can be altered to output 96/24 files via optical out, but if left at this setting will it affect playback of 44.1/16 ALACs, or is it something that adjusts itself automatically depending on the file?
Also would you store files on the MacMini/attached hard drive or stream from a NAS unit? Leaving the NAS I have on all the time is very annoying due to the fan noise.

Regards

John

Posted on: 09 December 2009 by AS332

Hi John ,
I shouldn't effect playback of 44/16 , my Mini is set to the higher level so I don't forget .

I if you have the room on your Mini's hard drive then you could just store your library there and back it up to the NAS if noise is an issue .
My Mac Mini is left on all the time and I don't notice any noise from it at all .I keep my files on a NAS but it is hidden away upstairs in a spare room and I run CAT5e through the walls to the Mini .

Ed

Posted on: 09 December 2009 by garyi

JOhn, the point of a NAS is you store it out the way somewhere. May as well have a USB drive if you are going to park it next to a computer.

Posted on: 09 December 2009 by james n

John - you can use software such as Amarra mini or Pure Vinyl - as well as bypassing the iTunes audio engine they will also control the sample rate switching. Otherwise iTunes will resample the file to whatever AudioMidi is set to if its not the same as the source file - not good.

I run a mini, with all the music on a NAS in another room. Works well - no noise from the mini which sits in the hi-fi rack.

James

Posted on: 09 December 2009 by bigfella

quote:
Originally posted by garyi:
JOhn, the point of a NAS is you store it out the way somewhere. May as well have a USB drive if you are going to park it next to a computer.

My NAS is away from the hi-fi, attached to the wireless modem/router, which is in the room next door. It's intrusive to TV watching in that room. I don't have Cat5e wiring through the house so am limited I guess to modem locations, which means it will be intrusive wherever I put it - anyone know a NAS unit without a fan?

John

Posted on: 09 December 2009 by AS332

I can't think of any fan-less ones but this seems to be nice and quiet .

Posted on: 10 December 2009 by james n

You could always run a length of Ethernet cable outside the house. Ours is mostly wireless apart from an ethernet cable that runs around the outside wall from Study to Lounge to feed the hi-fi.

James

Posted on: 10 December 2009 by David Quigley

I am having a similar debate myself but have decided to go down the route of adding storage to the Apple TV . Seems like a fairly simple and reversible hack. Will add a Lacie drive and then have a more or less endless storage.

Posted on: 15 December 2009 by bigfella

Thanks for advice so far . . .
OK, so a Mac Mini sounds like an upgrade of sorts from my Apple TV - better digital out and ability to stream 96/24 hi def files.
And there are quieter NAS drives if I can find somewhere to put one.
I read on a Mac forum that the Mini runs better if the OS is on a seperate Firewire drive, if this is the case, is there any mileage in forgetting about the NAS altogether, and having the main iTunes library on the Mini, backing up to the FW drive which runs the OS (in other words cloning the entire Mini onto the external drive).
As a side issue I've found that rips of my Neil Young Harvest DVD-A at 192/24 can't be copied onto the Apple TV at all via iTunes. They do play via the MBPro digital out into the SuperNait, but are they output at 192/24 or downsampled to 96/24 . . ?

John

Posted on: 15 December 2009 by pcstockton

John,

Sure... why not? No reason for a NAS if you are going to use a PC/Mac.

AppleTV is probably limited to 16/44... just a guess though. Regarding the MBpro, check its specs.

-patrick

Posted on: 15 December 2009 by pcstockton

FYI, get an Seagate FreeAgent Extreme.... comes with Firewire cable even.

Posted on: 16 December 2009 by bigfella

quote:
Originally posted by pcstockton:
FYI, get an Seagate FreeAgent Extreme.... comes with Firewire cable even.

Looks like a Firewire 400 only, the new Mac Minis are Firewire 800. Shame Apple don't make an identical FW drive, silent in operation, which would complement it on a hi fi rack . . . !

John