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Generation 1 Apple TV as a music server

I'm looking for a music server to add to my hi-fi system. Have previously considered the Mac mini(base model), but my budget cannot reach to that level.

As an alternative I'm considering the Apple TV gen 1, as I want to sync all my iTunes music files(AIFF) to its hard-drive, and use that as a hi-fi front end.

Any advice on this choice, or others would be appreciated.
soundmark1
maplegrovemusic's avatar
maplegrovemusic
1,113 posts
 
I highly recommend the apple tv . It was in one of the mags recently as a great buy . They really liked the dac inside.I own one myself and find it very user friendly . the only downside is the need for a monitor.I actually take it with me when going to different audio stores to audition gear with . There are larger hard drives on ebay also that are plug and play .
ssglx
203 posts
 
I love my ATV generation 1. I actually bought a 2nd one as a backup in case one dies. It stores my full music collection in Apple lossless, and all our family pictures. Really cool to put it on shuffle play and watch slideshows.

I've read that an optical connection isn't the best, but it sounds quite good to me.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Its the best WiFi offering from Apple, but the Logitech Touch beats it hands down for SQ.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
kbarkamian
647 posts
 
Steve,

Are you talking about the Gen 1 ATV or the current one? If Gen 1, music streamed or stored?

Soundmark1,

I've had an ATV 1 for about 3 years now. Nothing but great things to say about it. If you have and iPod Touch, iPhone or or iPad, it makes a great remote. No need for a TV, and quite honestly it makes finding music a bit easier.

Toslink isn't usually the best connection, but it does have its advantages - it makes a ground loop and electrical noise impossible between the ATV and DAC. Get a glass cable, and it'll sound great. I use a $25 one from Amazon and it easily beat a $75 or so fiber cable.

There was a thread where a bunch of us shared what we were doing to maximize sound quality. Noting expensive or ridiculous.

I don't think the ATV will pass a high-res signal. I think it downsamples everything to redbook. About the only downfall I know. Then again, I don't have any high-res stuff, so no big deal to me.

It's a great self-contained server IMO. It just works. With my Rega DAC which is NOS and reclocks, my system gets out of the way and plays music. That's what it's all about in my book.

I hear the Mac Mini is better, especially with Pure Music. Can't afford that, and I don't regret it either.
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