Home AV

[matc]

Now I don't currently have a stereo or surround sound system at home, and I want something to be able to play my music through via iTunes. I've heard of people streaming their music from the computer through the tv/home cinema system; so before I go and buy said surround sound kit, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't spending the money on the wrong thing. I have currently got:

Samsung 42" Plasma (sorry Plotloss)
Macbook Pro
PS3
Xbox 360
iPhone (heard this can be used as a remote??)

What would I need to buy to link everything together? I'm not too bothered about the xBox in all honesty, as I haven't got a current Live susbscription, and also haven't got a wire-less dongle thing for it; so using it on the net has previously meant me using an eternet cable connected to my mac to get it to work.

Also is it possible/advised to use the TV as a screen for my Mac, so I can watch iPlayer on it?

Thanks for any help.

[MrV]

Whats your budget ?

[matc]

MrV said:

Whats your budget ?

Don't really want to spend thousands; a friend of mine bought the Bose 3 speaker set-up recently for his mac/iTunes and the sound from that is probably as good as I would need. Although the 5 speaker one would probably fill the room better.

[SJobson]

Something like a Beresford DAC to plug all your existing kit into, outputting to some sort of amplifier and speakers. Or if you want surround sound, get an AV receiver with multiple digital inputs and multiple speakers.

Best way to get sound out of the Mac (assuming it's an Intel processor one): there is a digital optical output hidden in the headphone socket. Get an optical Toslink cable and 3.5mm adaptor, plug into the DAC, and you can download the Remote App from the App Store for free to control iTunes from your iPhone.

If you don't want the Mac to be physically located near the hifi, the Airport Express will wirelessly stream music from the computer. Again it has a Toslink output like the Macbook, so everything else can remain the same - however, I haven't heard this myself so can't vouch for how well it works.

You can do it more cheaply with a 3.5mm to RCA analogue cable (either direct from the Macbook or via the Airport Express) but the quality will be significantly reduced.

I have my Mac Mini plugged into a telly with a DVI-HDMI cable, but I have no idea what output options there are for a Macbook Pro, so can't help there.

[Goochie]

What type of and how many inputs does the screen have?

If the Mac has an RGB connection (normally used for connection to a projector or monitor) you can get cables to connect from that to the DVI connection on a TV. Your TV may also have an RGB input in which case you simply connect it to the Mac as you would do with a monitor.

[matc]

SJobson said:

Something like a Beresford DAC to plug all your existing kit into, outputting to some sort of amplifier and speakers. Or if you want surround sound, get an AV receiver with multiple digital inputs and multiple speakers.

Best way to get sound out of the Mac (assuming it's an Intel processor one): there is a digital optical output hidden in the headphone socket. Get an optical Toslink cable and 3.5mm adaptor, plug into the DAC, and you can download the Remote App from the App Store for free to control iTunes from your iPhone.

If you don't want the Mac to be physically located near the hifi, the Airport Express will wirelessly stream music from the computer. Again it has a Toslink output like the Macbook, so everything else can remain the same - however, I haven't heard this myself so can't vouch for how well it works.

You can do it more cheaply with a 3.5mm to RCA analogue cable (either direct from the Macbook or via the Airport Express) but the quality will be significantly reduced.

I have my Mac Mini plugged into a telly with a DVI-HDMI cable, but I have no idea what output options there are for a Macbook Pro, so can't help there.

Thanks very much; I've had a look at the Beresford DAC and it's had some great reviews - so it will probably be getting some of my money. I don't suppose you know if the Bose Copanion 5 system would work with it, or whether I would need to get an amp an seperate speakers.

Apparently a DVI-HDMI cable will work on with the mac, but there has been some reports of a few compatability issues between the mac and Samsung set's?? Also will it do the screen any damage using it as a monitor.

[andye30m3]

I think apple TV allows you to stream music to a hifi / surround sound amp using the TV screen as a front screen, I'm having trouble streaming mine at the moment so i've synced it which just copies the music off i tunes on to tho 40Gb hard drive on the apple tv.

If connected to the net you can also down load films.

It starts at £200.