Apple TV vs Airport Express

[jeffmorr]

Hey everyone!

Today, I was discussing with my dad the different options for streaming music across our cottage. Right now, at our city home, we use an Airport Express connected to our home audio system that has speakers across the main floor. We use an iPod Touch with the Remote app as well as the SiriusXM app and AirPlay to stream to the Airport Express.

What I want to do at my cottage is nearly the same thing, but I have limitations. First, my music library is 72gb, and I'm not planning on bringing the iMac to my cottage every weekend to play the music. So, with the new AirPlay functionality, I'm able to use an iPod Touch to stream it directly from that. The largest capacity on a Touch is 64gb, so I'm willing to lose ~10gb of my music. So, what I'll do is every week, sync the iPod with iTunes at home, then bring the iPod to my cottage where I will use AirPlay to stream the music through an Apple TV or Airport Express to the sound system. My questions is (I know its taking a while to get there) should I get an AppleTV or an Airport Express to stream the music through. They both have AirPlay, and I like the extra functionality of the AppleTV (for if I want to take it to the TV to watch some movies), but my AppleTV at home (the old one) isn't very consistent and it has lots of problems, so will I be able to depend on the AppleTV as much as an Airport Express?

Thanks for the help. I hop I'm not too confusing

 

[Intell]

Have you considered a G1 Apple TV? You can load it up with your movies and music, yet still stream music through it. But it can't do Netflix or stream videos through Airplay.

 

[jeffmorr]

Have you considered a G1 Apple TV? You can load it up with your movies and music, yet still stream music through it. But it can't do Netflix or stream videos through Airplay.

Well, I need the functionality to sync my music every week when I get back home, because I download music like crazy. Plus, my current AppleTV is really glitchy and I don't want to get an other one of the 1st generation ones.

 

[Intell]

Then the 64Gb iPod Touch is the way to go. Have you updated the Apple TV to 3.1.3? I found that makes mine the happiest.

 

[jeffmorr]

Then the 64Gb iPod Touch is the way to go. Have you updated the Apple TV to 3.1.3? I found that makes mine the happiest.

Ya, but should I get an Airport Express or an Apple TV at my cottage. I'm not bringing my current AppleTV from my city house there, because it has serious HDMI problems

 

[Intell]

If the cottage has a WiFi network, get a Apple TV. If it doesn't get an Express.

 

[miklovo]

Ya, but should I get an Airport Express or an Apple TV at my cottage. I'm not bringing my current AppleTV from my city house there, because it has serious HDMI problems

Given you've got wifi at your cottage....get a new TV so that you can throw a few movies onto your iPod before you leave so you've got both music and movies!! Think about it..50gb of music & 12gb of movies =great weekend!

 

[benhollberg]

I assume you have an wireless network, and if I'm right get an Apple TV. It is not only cheaper but provides more functionality. Even if you don't have a network you can set one up with a computer but I think you said you don't want a computer there. So if there is no network get the Airport, you'd need a network anyway for the Apple TV.

 

[jeffmorr]

Thanks for all the suggestions. If I were to get an Apple TV, how do you suggest on plugging it in. I don't have a monitor or TV on the main floor, and we don't have room for one, so what would I do for the TV part of AppleTV?

 

[icanboogie]

digital audio necessary

I need to make the same decision, and one thing came up:

Please notice that the new AppleTV has only a digital audio out (toslink), so if you do not have an amplifier or receiver with a digital input, you need a D/A box to connect in between. (Starting at about 50 Euros)
You cannot directly connect any standard hifi system/amplifier/boxes to the new AppleTV if there is no digital input on it.

 

[benhollberg]

Thanks for all the suggestions. If I were to get an Apple TV, how do you suggest on plugging it in. I don't have a monitor or TV on the main floor, and we don't have room for one, so what would I do for the TV part of AppleTV?

You have to use some kind of display to even setup the Apple TV and connect to a network. If you plan on not getting any kind of monitor soon then go with the Airport.

 

[gotvinyl]

If you get the apple tv 2, you have 2 choices to make it play music.
1. You can get a stand alone DAC (digital to analog converter) for somewhere between $50 and several thousand dollars and put it between your audio receiver and the atv2.
2. You can hook it up to a receiver that has a DAC inside (all modern AV receivers) with he HDMI or optical digital (toslink) cable.

So, If in your cottage, your receiver can only accept RCA cables (left and right, red and white), you need the DAC or a new receiver.

One more issue is that most (if not all) modern AV receivers that have the capability to play multiple zones WILL NOT play digital input to zones 2, 3, etc. So you are stuck with zone 1 only with the atv2.