Apple tv as audio streamer?

[SaurabhK]

i am contemplating getting an apple TV as an audio streamer to stream music via airplay to my audio set up. The Apple TV would be connected to a DAC via optical out. Just want to know what would be the SQ ? Has anyone tried this? This seems to be the lowest cost solution where you dont need a computer or TV to be switched on.

Have tried it with WDTV ( sounds horrible) and you need to keep the TV on which is a deal breaker.

Mostly would be streaming ripped Cds from my ipod and the occasional Apple Music. Hoping for apple tv to soon support some lossless format service..

 

[sam9s]

lowest cost solution will be a Raspberry Pi running as an Airplay Receiver. Check out the link. Below is just one of the guides to turn a Rpi in to Airplay receiver, there are lot many just google if the below one does not work.

Turn a Raspberry Pi Into an AirPlay Receiver for Streaming Music in Your Living Room

This one is using a usb sound card, you can also use USB DAC google more for information

 

[SaurabhK]

diy is too much of a bother.. an out of box device is more im lukin at

 

[Nikhil]

I had used this for sometime and the SQ is not bad but not the best either.

It depends on your system - if you have a fairly resolving system you will hear the SQ as a little diffused in comparison to using a direct connection to the DAC. The other drawback is iTunes itself. iTunes and AppleTV are convenient but better suited for movies. So good to get started but you will find improvement in SQ when you move towards using a good media player software and go direct to the DAC from the computer.

 

[SaurabhK]

so your recommending tossing the Apple tv.. so how would you recommend connecting the computer to the dac? Have all types of inputs except HDMI on my dac so.. am open to ideas for best SQ .
So far have not attempted going the computer route for music except to rip music to my ipod uisng EAC and trying out some streaming services like Tidal, Spotify.

 

[sathiamoorthy]

Your requirement is somewhat same as mine. But I will be connecting it directly to amplifier.

 

[amit11]

Hi Saurabh,

I have the apple tv via optical out and it sounds good.

One point to be noted here is, apple tv will convert to 48khz and then output.
So if you have songs of cd quality i.e. 44.1 khz, then those will get converted to 48khz. At gross level it would sound same, but yes it would be inherently different.

Hence, when i came to know the above thing, i later got an airport express which does not do such conversion and outputs at 44.1. khz. Even in airport express we have the oldest version and then the newer versions. I had read that the oldest version has least jitter, hence I tried to hunt that and got it. Had to hunt because new for buying is not available in market, only a used one is available if someone has and is ready to sell.

 

[srinisundar]

I am using apple tv for streaming movies and audio and for audio it is perfectly good if streamed from your macbook or mini or ipad or iphone. It sounds good and i have compared with the sound with Popcorn hour ( A410) and it is good and but it cannot be compared with an CD player or from HTPC. No stuttering or buffering.It is for convenience and not for complete enjoyment if you are an audiophile who is looking for minute details.

However for video streaming of HD files it is not worth using.

Regards

 

[indy70]

I had an Apple TV 1st Gen till few months back which went brick. I used to connect it directly to my Denon receiver via HDMI, or I used to move it to another room and connect the RCA to Amp directly. It still gave me decent sound quality. This is the old Silver color Apple TV which was big. I am guessing it had better audio components than the newer tiny black Apple TV (with no RCA, so no in build DAC).

 

[arj]

if you only want it for audio, the airport express may just be better and simpler.

 

[SaurabhK]

So got the poor mans Apple TV 3rd gen streamer going . I am using it only for music. Its not bad for the money. Got it connected via optical toslink. Got apple Music going. Obviously the resolution is not that great compared to a CD(not necessarily due to low bitrate) as streamed lossless also sounded almost same. . As pointed out earlier this could be an Itunes issue/apple hardware issue.

Was wondering if an optical cable upgrade might improve things?? Currently have a bandridge

 

[amit11]

Well, i dont think optical cable will bring a change. As i had mentioned earlier apple airport express i found better than apple tv due to difference in rate, 48 vs 44.1

 

[bhuvkalra]

Hi
I have been using the Bluesound node for a while now..primarily as a streamer (I am impressed with the Rdio app that is built in). The Node is also a reasonably good quality DAC and reads through the USB. The app works seamlessly on the Laptop / iPod / iPhone and is really nice. You could check out the reviews.
A Vault option (with 2TB storage is also available)
Good luck!