Make me Jealous/Inspire me! Let's see the killer setups

[PFDarkside]

I'd love to see some Home Theater/Home Media Streaming setups using Apple and other products. What is possible with iPhone/iPad/Airport Expresses/Apple TV/ATV2/MacMini/etc... I know at least a few of you have ridiculous streaming audio throughout the house or a great media library that can stream Videos to multiple displays, and so forth. I'm envisioning a system that will allow music in the living room, bedroom, back porch, garage, all controlled by one's iPad or iPhone. Let's see them.

 

[blevins321]

Ultimate setup = Mini serving Plex to main TV, and AppleTVs with Plex clients up to the other TVs in the house. (I just have one TV though). You can control all the ATVs with the Remote app from Apple and/or the Plex app that also functions as a remote.

For music, a few expresses hooked up to speakers would do nicely.

 

[Cyacene]

Well, I cant show ya, but i can tell ya!

Upstairs:
iMac 2011 running main iTunes library and Plex Media Server
Photos and music are stored locally. Plex points to ->
4TB NAS device in closet loaded with Movies and TV shows (DIVX and MKV)

Main Floor:
Jailbroken Apple TV 2nd gen hooked up to receiver / plasma
Access to iTunes library on iMac
Screen saver is set to iPhoto library on iMac
Installed plex client accesses NAS upstairs for ripped movies and TV shows
Reciever has A and B speaker settings
A is 5.1 surround in living room
B is 2 outdoor speakers in backyard

Basement:
Jailbroken Apple TV 2nd gen hooked up to receiver / plasma
Access to iTunes library on iMac
Screen saver is set to iPhoto library on iMac
Installed plex client accesses NAS upstairs for ripped movies and TV shows

iPhone and iPad:
Apples Remote App for controlling music and volume on all levels.

Parties:
Everything turned on
iPad running the remote app out on the kitchen island, with iTunes DJ running on iMac for song requests and voting with access to only my 4 star playlist
Main floor receiver is set to A+B for music in living room AND outside at the same time

Airplay:
Enabled on both apple TV's for Wifes Macbook Pro and her own iTunes library
Also allows friends to play their own songs/playlists or show pictures from their iPhones when they're over


Everything works perfectly and is rock solid.

 

[dXTC]

@ Cyacene:

Seriously, that's an epic setup.

 

[TYR3]

@Cyacene ... Very nice! Are your atv2's on WiFi or Ether?

 

[shaotse]

Just augment your apple tvs (they're still key for AirPlay) with Mac minis, and throw an airport express with Bose speakers in every room and now you're cookin'

 

[Rocco83]

Mind you I am pretty much poor as crap, but both my parents just retired and threw some money at me to make their home a little more fun for grandkids so this is what I did for them.

Man cave in garage:
2k11 Apple TC 2TB to store movies and backup
2k09 Apple Mini as my HTPC w/ XBMC
Apple TV2 jailbroken using XBMC
lg Infinia 55lx9500
Onkyo HT-S7300 7.1
XBOX 360 250Gig JTag'd
lg BD690 3d Blu-ray w/ 250GB Hard Drive
Networked through a powerline ethernet adapter to the house.

Garage bathroom:
2k10 Airport Express for Airplay for tunes while people shower

Play room in the house:
Apple TV2 jailbroken using XBMC
lg Infinia 32lv3400
PS3 80 Gig with Move
XBOX 360 250Gig with Kinect
Black Wii
Onkyo HT-S3400 5.1

Living room:
2k11 AEBS hooked up through powerline ethernet adapter
Apple TV2 jailbroken with XBMC
63" Samsung PND8000
Onkyo HT-S9300THX 7.1
Samsung BD-D6500 3D Blu-ray disc player
iPad with remote app

Master Bedroom:
2k11 iMac 27" (which my mother refuses to learn how to use except for facebook and email and my father only wants for solitaire )

All-in-all it works pretty well. It has taken me almost a week straight to teach them how pretty much the basics of how this works. I really don't understand how they have a hard time grasping this, but as long as my mom can watch her work out videos and my dad can watch all his old seasons of M.A.S.H. and NCIS I guess it all worked out.

They even gave me an iPad 2 and are ordering me a new MBP once the next update comes so I can't complain too much about getting to hook this up.

 

[bruinsrme]

Bedroom
42 inch pannie 11k plasma
Vizio sound bar
Xbox 360
Atv2
Pannie 60 bluray
Pc

Den and upstairs
42 inch pannie 11k plasma
Vizio sound bar
Xbox 360
Ps3

Down stairs
Pannie 54 v10
Klipsch rb7s front/side
Klipsch rs7s rear
Klipsch rc7 center
Svs pc ultra sub
Pioneer vsx94
Ps3 slim
Xbox 360 kinects
Atv2
Mini as an iTunes server
2 Verizon ipad2 64g 3g black
1 Verizon ipad2 32g 3G white

Network TC 2TB, 2AEs
Link sys 4 and 16 port 10/100/1000 switch

 

[davids8477]

I'd love to see some Home Theater/Home Media Streaming setups using Apple and other products. What is possible with iPhone/iPad/Airport Expresses/Apple TV/ATV2/MacMini/etc... I know at least a few of you have ridiculous streaming audio throughout the house or a great media library that can stream Videos to multiple displays, and so forth. I'm envisioning a system that will allow music in the living room, bedroom, back porch, garage, all controlled by one's iPad or iPhone. Let's see them.

This has been an evolving process - so it could, perhaps be streamlined a bit.

Office: Mac Mini with 12 TB of Raid 5 storage for Media (music, photos, DVDs, Blurays). Same Mini also runs my web site and PLEX server.
Bedroom: Mac Mini streaming from Office mini for music and movies (Plex) as well as surfing etc.

Living Room: Mac mini driving 55" Sharp and 5.1 surround system- served by Mini in the office. Plex controlled by Mac remote. PS3 for playing actual Blurays. Netflix for streaming movies - although this will stop now thatthey have increased the price. Also 2 HDHome Runs to record up to 4 channels and distribute (Via wired LAN) to the other Macs in the house - 2 IMACs in office - or the IPADs/Iphones.

Apple TV2 on open patio driving 30" LCD TV to stream music, movies etc.

3Rd Generation Iphone (no sim - so really an Ipod Touch) streaming music from the Mini in the office into the kitchen into a Small Bose system - also streams Pandora etc

So to summarize 3 TV's, 3 Mac Minis, 2 IMACs, 1 Macbook Pro, Ipads and Iphones and an ATV2 all working in harmony - most of the time.

I should also add the everything MAC can be controlled either by the Mac Remote or an Iphone or Ipad

 

[rayward]

Media Closet:
4TB NAS attached to Airport Extreme Base Station which provides dual band WiFi (internet provided via cable modem). 16-port network switch for pre-wired ethernet network (Cat 5e). NAS provides Time Machine back-up for iMac and media storage HDD (see below). All elements connected via ethernet unless stated otherwise.

Study:
iMac with 2TB external HDD attached via Firewire, containing iTunes library (circa 1TB and growing). Aging 1TB Time Capsule (HDD redundant due to size of library) used as network switch and for WiFi zone expansion (different floor and opposite end of house to the AEBS).

Family Room:
Denon Receiver with DVR, ATV and PS3 attached (4-port switch to allow everything to be connected to the network via ethernet).
iPhoto library set as ATV screensaver.
55" Sony LED LCD
Zone 1 = 5.1 surround sound (all speakers installed flush in the ceiling except for the sub-woofer)
Zone 2 = rear covered patio, side covered patio, dining room and game room - each with their own volume (choke) control on the wall.
Each component is connected to both Zone 1 and Zone 2, so I can be play any combination.
Harmony One universal remote (with IR repeaters so that it works with cabinet doors closed).

Elsewhere:
Master, two Spare Rooms and Game Room each have wall mounted LCD TVs of various sizes, each with a cable box and ATV attached (2 ATVs wired, 2 wireless). All rooms have "regular" Logitec IR universal remotes.

iPad and iPhone both with Remote app to control iTunes and/or Family Room ATV (as this feeds both zones).


The only issue I have with this whole set-up is that the Zone 1 audio feed through the Denon receiver has to be retarded by about 200 milleseconds so that it is in time with the video feed. This means that, when playing the same feed in Zone 1 and Zone 2, any Zone 2 output - which is taken from a separate analog input from each component - is out of sync. I cannot find how Zone 2 can be similarly adjusted to hold back to be in sync with Zone 1.

 

[MovieCutter]

Living Room:

-125" 16:9 HD projection screen (drops via electric motor in sync with dimming house lights on remote command)
-1080P HD projector
-Tivo Series3, THX certified
-2010 Mac Mini with 16TB DroboPro and Plex interface
-Pioneer VSX-1021 Airplay receiver with 7.1 surround
-XBox 360
-Nintendo Wii
-iPad/iPhone control capability
-AppleTV 2 for wireless Airplay from iPad
-two-keg bar and popcorn machine

Bedroom:
-8-core Mac Pro for work, attached to"
-ceiling mounted Samsung 55" LED display (for play)
-27" ACD (for work)
-the 55" tv rotates 180 degrees to face my bed where I can then connect my laptop via in-wall HDMI and play source material from the theater downstairs.
-in-wall Cat6 connecting Mac Pro to Mac Mini server and Drobo in living room

Basically, I have my entire media collection (about 6 TB worth) on the DroboPro. I can access any data from any computer over the hardline gigabit network or wirelessly on my Airport network. Can control the Mini from any computer, iPad, or iPhone, as well as remotely control lights, air circulation, and theater functions with Harmony One, iPhone, or iPad.

 

[AppleDApp]

Living Room:

-125" 16:9 HD projection screen (drops via electric motor in sync with dimming house lights on remote command)
-1080P HD projector
-Tivo Series3, THX certified
-2010 Mac Mini with 16TB DroboPro and Plex interface
-Pioneer VSX-1021 Airplay receiver with 7.1 surround
-XBox 360
-Nintendo Wii
-iPad/iPhone control capability
-AppleTV 2 for wireless Airplay from iPad
-two-keg bar and popcorn machine

Bedroom:
-8-core Mac Pro for work, attached to"
-ceiling mounted Samsung 55" LED display (for play)
-27" ACD (for work)
-the 55" tv rotates 180 degrees to face my bed where I can then connect my laptop via in-wall HDMI and play source material from the theater downstairs.
-in-wall Cat6 connecting Mac Pro to Mac Mini server and Drobo in living room

Basically, I have my entire media collection (about 6 TB worth) on the DroboPro. I can access any data from any computer over the hardline gigabit network or wirelessly on my Airport network. Can control the Mini from any computer, iPad, or iPhone, as well as remotely control lights, air circulation, and theater functions with Harmony One, iPhone, or iPad.

This is just insane!!! some people invest lots of time and money into a sweet setup.

 

[MovieCutter]

This is just insane!!! some people invest lots of time and money into a sweet setup.

Thanks, I've been building "home theaters" since I was a kid. rigged up a couple of my parents old stereos to create my first 5 speaker surround sound in my bed room and mom borrowed a projector from her school for me to plug a VCR into...so this is just the latest realization. Probably a Mark VI or VII. I probably spent under $10k for this setup...all computers and TVs, etc included.

 

[spencers]

I have a fairly sparing setup. For those on a lower budget, it works great.

Panasonic 42"
Acer Revo 1600, running XBMC Live on an internal 32GB SSD.
(2) 2TB USB2.0 drives, one for TV, one for Movies
My MBP serves up an iTunes share for my music
AirPlay is installed on XBMC
Addons like: Apple Movie Trailers, ESPN3, Youtube
Software like: Sickbeard, CouchPotato

Plex is installed on my MBP and can transcode anything from the XBMC box to my iPhone, wherever I may be.

 

[EvilC5]

Heart:
2010 Mini Server with 1TB
8TB Drobo
3TB FW external
EyeTV HD hooked to my Fios DVR
Turbo H.264 USB
AEBS
hooked to 32 inch Vizio

Living room:
Apple TV2
Sony DA5 ES receiver
2 x Adcom GFA-545 amps
Martin Logan Accent i's
Martin Logan Fresco Center speaker
Velodyne HGS 10 sub
Polk LS-FX surrounds
Samsung BluRay
Samsung Edgelit LED LCD 55 inch
Airport Express as airspeaker to 2nd zone
4 outdoor Klipsch speakers on 2nd zone

Sons play area
20 inch LCD
Apple TV2

Garage
JB Apple TV1
Sony bookshelf stereo
Sony Vega 25 inch picture tube tv....lol

Bedroom
Apple TV2
Vizio 42 inch
Sony Powered A/V spreakers

Basement mancave
PS3
Apple TV2
Apple TV1 (so my son can watch tv on one tv, and I can watch on the other)
samsung 46 inch
vizio 42 inch
onkyo A/V receiver
Klipsch speakers
Airport Express as airspeaker to 2nd zone
2 klipsch outdoor speakers on 2nd zone

iPhones and iPad's to control with remote app
air video and air video server to stream other formats to ATV2's via airplay

I can stream music to 8 zones and control with my ipad from my patio in the backyard.

not the most pimp, but pretty slick.

Have iMac and MBP to transcode if needed also.....

 

[Hammie]

Here is my setup in my basement media room:

Equipment includes:

Panasonic TH-50PZ850u
Onkyo Pro PR-SC5508P
Emotiva XPA-1 (x2)
Oppo BDP-83
Pioneer PL-670 Turntable
DirecTV HR23-700 HD-DVR
Sony Playstation 3
Nintendo Wii
Apple TV (160GB), Mac Mini (iTunes Server) w/ 2TB HDD for media, iPad
B&W 804S, HTM3S, CWM DS8
SVS PB12-NSD
Denon AH-D2000 Headphones
Tripp Lite HT1210ISOCTR Power Conditioner, SMART1000LCD UPS System

I also use a pair of B&W MM-1's in my office and a B&W Zeppelin in the bathroom/second floor to stream music there.

 

[AppleDApp]

Here is my setup in my basement media room:

Image

Image

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Equipment includes:

Panasonic TH-50PZ850u
Onkyo Pro PR-SC5508P
Emotiva XPA-1 (x2)
Oppo BDP-83
Pioneer PL-670 Turntable
DirecTV HR23-700 HD-DVR
Sony Playstation 3
Nintendo Wii
Apple TV (160GB), Mac Mini (iTunes Server), iPad
B&W 804S, HTM3S, CWM DS8
SVS PB12-NSD
Denon AH-D2000 Headphones
Tripp Lite HT1210ISOCTR Power Conditioner, SMART1000LCD UPS System

I also use a pair of B&W MM-1's in my office and a B&W Zeppelin in the bathroom/second floor to stream music there.

Why 2 amps?

 

[Hammie]

Why 2 amps?

Currently, I have two one channel amps. One for each front speaker (left and right channel).

I will be adding two more amps. I will be adding one more one channel amp for the center speaker and a two channel amp for the two surround speakers.

 

[AppleDApp]

Currently, I have two one channel amps. One for each front speaker (left and right channel).

I will be adding two more amps. I will be adding one more one channel amp for the center speaker and a two channel amp for the two surround speakers.

why do you need an amp for almost every speaker?

 

[Hammie]

why do you need an amp for almost every speaker?

So each speaker will have sound coming out of it...

Seriously, though, a dedicated amplifier per speaker generally produces a better sound than a multichannel amp or an all-in-one device such as a receiver.

 

[spyguy10709]

My setup is

I'd love to see some Home Theater/Home Media Streaming setups using Apple and other products. What is possible with iPhone/iPad/Airport Expresses/Apple TV/ATV2/MacMini/etc... I know at least a few of you have ridiculous streaming audio throughout the house or a great media library that can stream Videos to multiple displays, and so forth. I'm envisioning a system that will allow music in the living room, bedroom, back porch, garage, all controlled by one's iPad or iPhone. Let's see them.

Main Floor:
Jailbroken Apple TV 2nd gen hooked up to my 52 inch panny plasma
Screen saver is set to iPhoto library on BlackBook server (a macbook black hooked up as a server, in basement)
Installed AirFlick on blackbook for ripped movies and TV shows (I screen share from macbookpro on main from bottom)
5.1 logitech speakers.

Basement:
Blackbook server
HackBook (hp laptop on osx 10.4, also has air video player) connected to 42" Plasma (i <3 plasma)
Plasma has Atari 2600, Sega genesis-saturn-dreamcast, Nintendo Wii, a retroN 3, a (soon)ps1+2

iPhone, iPod touch and iPad:
Apples Remote App for controlling music and volume on all levels.

Airplay:
Enabled on apple TV for my Macbook Pro


ALSO
I have netflix, FiOS 50/30 internet (often faster than that) an AirPort Extreme with a 3tb hard drive, and a Sony Bluray hacked to be a network bluray drive (google it)

 

[sandyjmacdonald]

I need more money. Mine isn't really a killer setup, but adequate for my needs.

I have a 28" Sharp LCD TV with an Apple TV 2, PS3, Wii and Sky+ box attached. The Apple TV, PS3 and Wii are all wired straight into an Airport Extreme that is bridged to my router. Media is stored on a late 2009 21.5" iMac (3.06 MHz Core 2 Duo, 4 Gb RAM, 1 Tb HD) in the bedroom with attached 2 Tb HD for movies and iTunes, and 1 Tb HD for Time Machine backups.

I use the Apple TV mostly as a way to stream music to the living room, so I have it hooked up to a Cambridge Audio A1 amp with Eltax Monitor III speakers, that also gives pretty nice audio for movies on the Apple TV and the PS3.

I've also got a B&W Zeppelin Mini in the bedroom with an old iPod nano attached (for the rare times when the iMac is off), for tunes in the bedroom. It's also wired to the iMac.

And I have an old Apple TV in the cupboard that I'd like to jailbreak and set up with Plex or XBMC.

 

[wrinkster22]

sigh... our home theater once it is finished:
used ipod classic (cant decide on capacity)
(fake) iPod dock
apple composite cable
40gb of various iTunes tv shows
1000 watt speaker system
36" tube tv (no hdmi port...)

 

[Uofmtiger]

My main system:

Apple TV 2 (on top of the Directv Box)
Mac Mini (this is in my office that shares a common wall with the living room. Therefore, I have one HDMI out feeding this setup and another feeding a monitor in my office)
Denon 4311CI - This has airplay built in, so I can control it with my iPad or iPhone.
Eye TV - Hooked up to Directv and the Mac

My living room headphone setup:

Airport Express - This feeds audio to the PS Audio Dac on the shelf.
iPad - I use this for Airplay. I am thinking about adding a 15 inch MBP and setting this area up as a workstation.

Bedside table:

Headphone setup with Airport Express controlled by iPhone/iPad or Touch.

Bedroom TV setup

I also feed this setup the signal from the headphone setup above (via the DAC). Additionally, I have an AppleTV2 hooked directly to the Denon receiver.

The Kitchen:

I use a first Gen iPod Touch with a Pure i20 dock. It has 24/192 DACs built in, or you can send a digital signal to a separate DAC. It feeds a couple pair of small speakers. Since it is limited by old firmware, I use Plex as the main way to stream content to it. I also use it for iheartradio, MOG, and Pandora.

Finally, the hub is is my home office:

The Apple TV on the top monitor is being fed via HDMI from my main system. Since the rooms share a common wall and closet, I have cable going to and from both setups. (The Denon 4311CI has two HDMI outs)

The mini is used for most of my media and the iMac is used as my main computer. Notice an older Denon AVR3300 in this room as well. It was my first Denon receiver and I have been fairly loyal since.

 

[sandyjmacdonald]

Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner. Seriously impressive.

Aren't the Grados great? Amazing sound for not a lot of cash.