General Forum

Re: Apple TV and Beo

bayerische — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:56:25 GMT

Thanks Soundproof, I'll really be looking forward to that, cause the settings was something I was thinking about..

Re: Apple TV and Beo

soundproof — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:45:48 GMT

Seriously, I think you get full bit-transparency with the "cheap" ones. There shouldn't be any change or modification to the digital signal, just from a simple conversion. It's just that it seems so counterintuitive that one can get the necessary translation without spending a fortune. (Bel Canto sells DACs and soundcards that run into the thousands of pounds, for instance.)

I am confident you will notice a serious difference when you switch to all-digital, and I'm curious to hear of your experiences. I will put up some info in the Mac forum as to the best settings for the Audio MIDI app, iTunes Preferences, etc., to ensure you get the best possible output to your speakers.

Re: Apple TV and Beo

bayerische — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 09:48:35 GMT

I ordered one from ebay.co.uk, The only ones I found where those "cheap" looking ones, that was already linked too. But it hasn't arrived yet... I'm currently ripping music. In apple lossless.

Just tried the sound quickly via the miniplug, and it was pretty decent, but I guess nothing to make a judgment from.

Re: Apple TV and Beo

soundproof — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 09:44:23 GMT

maclife:
bayerische:

I got the Mac mini and sync cable, but still missing the toslink -> coaxial converter...

I’m using this one without any problems:

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/CO2.html

I've used the same one, before my present Cambridge Azur 840C solution. It's an excellent converter. Particularly the bi-directional version I specified above.

Re: Apple TV and Beo

maclife — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 09:31:55 GMT

bayerische:
I got the Mac mini and sync cable, but still missing the toslink -> coaxial converter...

I’m using this one without any problems:

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/CO2.html

There are other (more simple and technical often identical) models like already mentioned before. The only one I’ve never used is the DTO-3 from ada:

http://www.ada.net/products/bb/dto_3.php

Re: Apple TV and Beo

bayerische — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 09:09:50 GMT

I got the Mac mini and sync cable, but still missing the toslink -> coaxial converter...

Re: Apple TV and Beo

bayerische — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:47:29 GMT

soundproof:
Hi Halid,
It's on my "to do" list, I've had some inquires via PM, as well. I'll try to put something together!

Soundproof, I decided getting the 1,83ghz Mac mini tomorrow. I think I'll have all the pieces on the 22'nd. Beoworld should be up and running by then. I'll post my results as soon as possible.

Re: Apple TV and Beo

soundproof — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:40:37 GMT

Hi Halid,

It's on my "to do" list, I've had some inquires via PM, as well. I'll try to put something together!

Re: Apple TV and Beo

halid — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:51:15 GMT

Soundproof : read your post and was wondering if you more in detail could describe your setup. Sounds really, really neat.

Best regards

Hans, Sweden

Re: Apple TV and Beo

maclife — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:37:54 GMT

soundproof:
bayerische:
In the manual it reads that the "sync" cable is a mini-jack cable, and it should be recommended by Beo, does this mean that if my dealer don't have one, that I could use any good quality mini-jack ( 3,5mm) cable?
I tried that, and it didn't work properly - could be that the jack was too short, though it should be to a standard. When I got the one from B&O (took them two days to get it to the dealer) everything worked perfectly, and there's a noticeable audio effect from synchronising the speakers. Really worth doing.

Yes, only the one from B&O works perfectly:

http://retail1.bang-olufsen.dk/Communityaccess.asp?CatalogueType=Accessory&Produkt=6270901

You never ever should use anything else (like the usual minijack cables), as this wouldn’t work (I tried that too). The B&O cable is changing from (the) left to (the) right (channel), what should be the secret (if my information is correct).

Re: Apple TV and Beo

soundproof — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:19:10 GMT

There are different ways of sync'ing libraries. You can merge them, which is what you want to avoid, as you have different content on different libraries, or you can just make each separately available through your wireless setup, to every playpoint in the house (your laptop, the mini, the ATV ...) The instructions for choosing modes are quite straightforward.

In my home, I have a number of outlet points, either computers or Airport Express units. Using the laptop or the Touch/iPhone, I can select a library, content from the same, and then choose which outlet I want that music piped to, wirelessly. It's quite neat. As you already have a server, you'll just assign that as your main depository for the content you put into your system from the mini, and don't let yourself be constrained by the capacity of the harddisk on the mini. I keep very little content on it, and have the majority on a stand-alone NAS-server.

Re: Apple TV and Beo

bayerische — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:29:44 GMT

For me it's no problem not to have them synced. My iPhone (8gb) is full, and I really have to be selective to what I put on it. So putting music on the Mac mini, will also be a bit selective at first since I don't want to put anything unnecessary on it.

Just ordered the Sync cable from my dealer.

Re: Apple TV and Beo

soundproof — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:24:26 GMT

Well, you have the various library sharing options, and with the Touch or iPhone you can select different libraries that have been enabled as sources to either the mini or the ATV ... not really a problem, I find.

Re: Apple TV and Beo

jk1002 — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:54:44 GMT

You would need some software then to sync the libraries. Think about how often you change the category of a CD or go after cover art. it's typically not just done by simp;ly copying the files around unfortunately.

That is one thing I give the ATV the thumbs up for, it does sync with itunes like an Ipod. I just wish they would re-do the UI so that it stops looking like a shopping cart for Itunes.

Re: Apple TV and Beo

soundproof — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:35:57 GMT

bayerische:
In the manual it reads that the "sync" cable is a mini-jack cable, and it should be recommended by Beo, does this mean that if my dealer don't have one, that I could use any good quality mini-jack ( 3,5mm) cable?

I tried that, and it didn't work properly - could be that the jack was too short, though it should be to a standard. When I got the one from B&O (took them two days to get it to the dealer) everything worked perfectly, and there's a noticeable audio effect from synchronising the speakers. Really worth doing.

As to the Mac mini, I understand from the comments in the thread I linked above that the Atom chipset is inferior to the one in the existing minis, go figure!