Apple TV without TV being on

[waddle]

I have an Apple TV but do not want my TV (really just my monitor if possible) to be on while I play my music from my Iphone. I also have a Bose system that is hooked up to my TV that the music flows through my TV to the Bose. Is there any way to get the Apple TV to play directly through the Bose or a way i make it so I don't have to have my TV on?

 

[sandyjmacdonald]

Sounds like an Airport Express would be your best option. You can stream to this, via Airplay, with you iPhone and connect it straight to your Bose.

 

[waddle]

So if this all I wanted to do and don't care about TV I kinda wasted my money on Apple TV huh? I just want to be able to play my Itunes AND Pandora thru my Bose. No TV. I have a Time Machine as well and that seems to do a lot of what the AirPort express does. Can i do what you suggest via the Time Capsule?

Why not combine Apple TV, Airport Express, and Time Capsule into one?

 

[slothrob]

You can send music from your computer to the aTV2 using AirPlay, without turning on the TV. Alternately, with an iPhone or Touch, you can control the aTV2, with the TV off, and play whatever you want from your iTunes library.

 

[Ventucky]

Does your TV have a sleep option for the screen? I have/had the same issue so I just put the screen to sleep when listening to music. I have a Sony Bravia TV that allows that functionality.

 

[whooleytoo]

You can send music from your computer to the aTV2 using AirPlay, without turning on the TV. Alternately, with an iPhone or Touch, you can control the aTV2, with the TV off, and play whatever you want from your iTunes library.

Exactly this, with Airplay (for 'pushing' content) and the Remote app (for 'pulling') it'll work great. It's not as if the AppleTV has great visualisers that you'd be missing.

The possible 'gotcha', there are some popups (such as the Resume/Start from the beginning" option with movies) which can appear on the TV. If you don't use a TV, you wouldn't see any similar popups and won't know you need to dismiss them.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Use the TV to navigate to the playlist or song you want to play first. Then, just turn off the TV. Easy.

 

[blevins321]

Here's a thought - Does the ATV2's optical out port work when there is something connected to HDMI? If they're both active, root the ATV2 directly to the Bose via that port, and then Airplay without the TV

 

[abthegreat]

Airplay over optical will work without the TV being on. But HDMI will require the TV being on and HDCP communicating with each other.

 

[waddle]

Airplay over optical will work without the TV being on. But HDMI will require the TV being on and HDCP communicating with each other.

I really appreciate all of the responses but currently the aTV2 is hard wired via HDMI to the TV so the TV has to be on. As far as the optical connection is concerned What kind of wire or attachement do I need to link this port with my Bose directly. I just don't understand the optical port but I think it the option that will work for me.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

To get an accurate answer waddle, you'll need to identify the specific Bose system you have and/or identify the names/types of all of the ports on the Bose box.

 

[whooleytoo]

I really appreciate all of the responses but currently the aTV2 is hard wired via HDMI to the TV so the TV has to be on. As far as the optical connection is concerned What kind of wire or attachement do I need to link this port with my Bose directly. I just don't understand the optical port but I think it the option that will work for me.

It's a standard "optical audio" or "Toslink" connection. Obviously, check first if your Bose system has an optical input!

 

[gooberq]

i got an optical cable from Amazon and connected to my old Onkyo system and it works fine. Amazon has them for cheap.

I have ATV2 connected to TV using HDMI and i dont turn on the tv, i can stream the music to the receiver using ipad (airplay). Works great.

http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-AV2000...WHH2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1316196063&sr=8-4

 

[osohardy]

it works perfectly fine to airplay pandora/itunes to ATV over HDMI too if you connect the HDMI via your receiver instead of direct to TV...

 

[growlgrowl]

Sony Bravia screen sleep

Does your TV have a sleep option for the screen? I have/had the same issue so I just put the screen to sleep when listening to music. I have a Sony Bravia TV that allows that functionality.

I'm trying to find this option on my Sony Bravia KDL-32EX301, can you tell me where I might find it?

Cheers

 

[waddle]

i got an optical cable from Amazon and connected to my old Onkyo system and it works fine. Amazon has them for cheap.

I have ATV2 connected to TV using HDMI and i dont turn on the tv, i can stream the music to the receiver using ipad (airplay). Works great.

http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-AV2000...WHH2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1316196063&sr=8-4

Thanks for the link and to the poster before you. I just ordered it. My bose does have an optical port.