2. digital
  3. 1390249758

Streaming, Apple TV, Tell me why not.

New to the streaming music end of this hobby, And honestly enjoy the (call me silly) getting up to grab the next compact disc and open the transport tray. BUT when my Pioneer DV-09 deal fell though, or rather had not been shipped from the seller... still trying to get my money back out of that deal... i started thinking, i have an Apple TV, a 3TB hard drive loaded with movies and music (not all high quality) and a Macbook... why do i need the CD transport at all. I know this is far from a new discussion, but the real question is, WHY NOT the apple TV? is there any good reason that goes against the HIFI Gods taht says I should not use the Apple TV to stream Ripped CD's? what am I missing if anything? What should I be using instead? what do you guys use?
zimmy709

Showing 3 responses by audioengr

audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Because ATV resamples to 24/48 and ATV and AirPort Express use WiFi and convert to Apple Lossless, the audio quality is compromised. Even reclocking these to reduce jitter is not that great. I have extensive experience with Apple products.

Sonos on the other hand does not compress or resample the music stream. If you put a Synchro-Mesh reclocker (preferably powered by Dynamo power supply) between the Sonos and your DAC, you will get world-class audio quality. Sonos playback software is easy to use and basically bullet-proof and no drop-outs. It is used world-wide.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Kijanki - I don't agree. Its more than just the jitter. The decoding of ALAC on the AE board is the problem I think. I have reclocked, modded and even tried to market a product made from the AE. Its beyond help IMO. I know this thing inside and out.

I have also modded Benchmark DACs for many years, so I know them and their jitter suppression capability.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
K - I only know what I hear. I actually abandoned a product that I had invested a lot of money in based on the board from the AE. Maybe it screwed-up the offset or something else. This would not show up in a bit-perfect test. It may also be a real-time problem with decoding ALAC, not showing up in a bit test.

Comparisons that I have made with AIFF and ALAC show that both sound inferior to .wav on a Mac.

Steve N
Empirical Audio
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