General Forum

Re: Mac Mini and Link Distribution

timhanna — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 08:01:20 GMT

Yeah its not easy... worse case I can chicken out and just use analogue I guess...

Re: Mac Mini and Link Distribution

stefan — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 07:32:43 GMT

I had a Mac mini as media center connected to my BV7-40 MKIII, then switched to TVIX 6500 - can output digital and analog audio simultaneously - then switched to LG BD 390. It`s a Blu-Ray player with USB and ethernet connections, so you can play files (movies, audios, photos) from external HDs. BD 390 outputs digital and analog audio AND video simultaneously. It has an audio- and photo section (that I never use - I have a BS5) and a YouTube function. And it can be controled by the PUC. Also decodes HD audio - DD True HD, DTS HD....Price: 240 Euros. Just connect HDMI, Scart via RCA adapter, ethernet- wlan is also integrated. Assigned as DVD2 and accessible from all linkrooms via Beo4/5. Great picture, great sound. I`m more than satisfied....

Stefan

Re: Mac Mini and Link Distribution

timhanna — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 05:02:29 GMT

:( So close yet so far everytime!

It does everything, but just decides not to bother with the audio... typical :p

So i guess its still not the right solution!

Re: Mac Mini and Link Distribution

stefan — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 04:18:51 GMT

I would have recommended the CM-388, BUT as your Mac mini has DVI out, you will need the coax in of the CM-388 (in addition to a opt. - coax converter). The coax input signal will NOT be converted to analog. See manual. Sorry....

I think it will accept lower resolutions, 1920x1080 is just max. resolution.

"I really am starting to miss the Good Old B&O solutions! No scaling, no adapters, no rubbish!!!!"

Yes, this is my thought sometimes, too......

Stefan

Re: Mac Mini and Link Distribution

timhanna — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 03:59:23 GMT

That's perfect then! Thank you Stefan!

Yesterday, I FINALLY setup my first Video BeoLink! I only had the masterlink connected to the BV1 but now I setup the antena coaxial too! Its great! DTV works! DVD from BV7 works! And a STB box works (but there is no PUC control :( )!!!

What I really want to do now is to distribute the mac mini, that would be my ultimate setup. So i need a way to:

Pass the DVI + Optical Audio to the BV7
Downscale the DVI + Audio to Analog so that I can BeoLink it!

I found only one solution for this:

http://www.lektropacks.co.uk/view_product_standard.php?product=1001184&show=55&sub1=55

Is there anything else? The problem is that its the price of another mac mini! And can accept 1920x resolution from the DVI, just the HDMI. It will accept 16??xx

I really am starting to miss the Good Old B&O solutions! No scaling, no adapters, no rubbish!!!!

Re: Mac Mini and Link Distribution

stefan — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 03:43:56 GMT

PC and V.AUX are both video sources, so should not matter...

Stefan

Re: Mac Mini and Link Distribution

timhanna — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:10:30 GMT

Sorry Stefan, I was saying that I though we had to use the PC connection because otherwise the BeoSystem 3 tries to process the video. With PC mode, the signal from the mac mini in this case would be sent in as it is?

Or does it not matter?

Re: Mac Mini and Link Distribution

stefan — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 10:44:22 GMT

Sorry ???

Stefan

Re: Mac Mini and Link Distribution

timhanna — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 10:35:25 GMT

But doesn't the BeoSystem 3 process the signals of the V.AUX/V.MEM ?

Re: Mac Mini and Link Distribution

stefan — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 10:31:49 GMT

Why not assign your Mac to V.AUX - should work with your BV1...

Stefan

Re: Mac Mini and Link Distribution

timhanna — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 09:57:41 GMT

Hi Stefan,

Thanks for all your help. The thing is that since my BV1 doesn't accept the PC command, I still won't be able to access the music, right?

Does this option offer any advantages over the Airport Express solution?

Re: Mac Mini and Link Distribution

stefan — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 09:53:33 GMT

You can use a Philips HD 1500 headphone surround amp. It accepts digital PCM, DD 5.1, DTS. The input signal will be converted to analogue stereo and the digital in will be passed through simultaneously. So connect your mini to digital in and both digital and analog out to your BV7. I used this solution when I had a mac mini connected to my BV7-40 MKIII and it worked great. The Philips HD 1500 is about 70 Euros second hand.

Hope this helps.

Stefan

Re: Mac Mini and Link Distribution

timhanna — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 06:36:01 GMT

Thanks again Phil,

I guess this Beonet is the one to wait for...

Re: Mac Mini and Link Distribution

PhilLondon — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 05:43:13 GMT

Just to answer a question above, before you decided for the Airport Express.

If you connect the Mac mini to the BV7 using digital, you cannot get the sound in a link room. Only analog (Sound and / or picture) get distributed.

Re: Mac Mini and Link Distribution

timhanna — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 05:12:37 GMT

Exactly DoubleU and no DACs!

Apple really is as far as I want to diverge from B&O... I always feel like if I start using other equipment... I'm doing something "wrong" hehe