MMD

I'm a noob to this stuff so I hope (1) this adds some value and (2) I'm not posting something I shouldn't... I have a friend who uses hacked AppleTV 2s throughout his house. He's offered these links to me as he says they should have most of the information I'd need to get up and running. The update will enable playing multiple media types, including MKV, AVI, etc and will also enable pulling the files off of any computer or NAS. It will also enable searching on YouTube. He said it might be helpful to install XBMC once the box is hacked. http://www.unplggd.com/unplggd/how-to/how-to-hack-xbmc-onto-your-apple-tv-2g-in-3-easy-steps-137384 http://www.appletvhacks.net/ http://apple-tv-hacks.com/

I suggest you have links open in a separate window instead of taking folks away from this site.

* SoCal - no earthquakes or hurricanes so far * VP BusDev/Marketing at renewable energy company involved in polysilicon production (chemical engineering & equipment company). We're at the start of the solar power/photovoltaic food chain helping companies produce the raw material used in solar modules (panels) and semiconductors. * World business traveler (no new polysilicon production in the US) - just got back from Zaporozhye and Dnepropetrovsk * Hooked on music since listening to one-channel tunes from a transistor radio under my pillow at night when I was supposed to be sleeping * Current (and original) owner of a pair of Klipsch La Scala speakers (purchased in 1981) * 5 music systems at home all connected to iTunes via Airport Express and AppleTV from boombox in garage to monster HT system * Race fan - Not an F1 fan (no passing) - have tracked my 2000 Porsche Boxster S (sold) and BMW M3 (sold) * Determined computer audiofan (I prefer music to gear but need more gear) hungry to catch up to you all. Big budget tastes but mid-budget reality. * Too many interests = time and fund dilution. Desert offroader & camper, amateur woodworker, vinyl listener, firearms, Steelers fan

I'm interested in looking at items members have for sale. you guys are climbing the mountain and I'm still getting my first set of gear ready so this'd be a great oppty for me.

Each of my zones has either an Airport Express (APE) or an AppleTV. I know I can go from the APE (and ATV?) to a DAC via optical digital cable. So I guess I need a DAC at each location (except in the HT where the Onkyo receiver is) I want to improve quality and stream lossless. If I'm streaming lossless and I don't have a DAC at all of the APEs will the APEs (or ATV) will still stream music to the receivers? I'm primarily after higher quality in the HT and the 2-channel in the living room (too far apart for connecting via the HT receiver's zone 2). The rest of the locations I still want to function as they are now via the APE or ATV. Do I need to hack the AppleTV2 to go this route?

Thanks for your response. I didn't provide enough info... I'm planning on starting over by ripping all my music into lossless (FLAC? Still trying to figure this all out so your input is very welcome) onto a NAS that I haven't bought yet (suggestions as to which unit to buy?). I'm at the very beginning using some existing hardware and iTunes that I assume aren't really up to the task of getting my music where I want to go (except maybe the Onkyo HT receiver and iTunes?). I'm not sure the Airport units will support this so I need to understand their capabilities too. Thanks again

I’m pleased that I found this forum and site and I'm reading and searching. I need some (a lot) of help and will try to minimize my questions as I read and learn more. I currently have thousands of songs on iTunes on an iMac to fed wirelessly via Airport Extreme to Airport Express units in five different systems throughout my house: HT, 2 channel in living room, HT in MBdrm, 2 channel/4 speaker system outside and 2 channel in garage). I'm tired of the low quality that iTunes now is outputting and have only recently learned about lossless so now I'm playing catch-up. I have a new Onkyo TX-NR809 (see info/some specs below). Based on the info on the Onkyo (below), what kind of quality can I expect (will it be satisfactory)? Is there a way to distribute the signal to the 5 locations wirelessly using the existing Apple Airport Express units? Any other input you care to provide will be appreciated. (I hope I understand your responses). Thanks! "The Onkyo TX-NR809 adds both the Mavell Qdeo and IDT's HQV® Vida™ video upscaling and processing circuits. It also includes Imaging Science Foundation's ISF Video Calibration technology for the first time at this price point. On the audio side it gains Audyssey's MultEQ XT advanced automated calibration and Dolby Volume for optimal listening experience at any sound level. There are now front and rear USB ports for digital storage devices and Onkyo's optional wireless USB adaptor. Direct digital connection via the front-panel USB port lets you access MP3, WMA, WMA Lossless, FLAC, WAV, Ogg Vorbis, and AAC audio files stored on a USB flash drives or iPod/iPhone. It also offers improved home integration capabilities with Zone 2/3 preouts and a bi-directional remote control with on-screen RC set-up for attached components, and Macros for four activities. The Onkyo TX-NR809's powerful 135-watts per channel amplifier section easily achieves THX-Select2 Plus Certification. Each of the seven amplifier sections employ the company's low-negative feedback Wide Range Amplifier Technology (WRAT), three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry, and the High Current Power Supply (HCPS) uses a massive transformer. In addition, TI Burr-Brown 192 kHz/24-bit DACs are used on each channel to ensure that all digital signals are converted perfectly to analog sound."