O/T : Anyone using a NAS / Mac / Sonos setup at home?

Timbob · Post by **Timbob** » Mon May 23, 2011 3:56 pm

I am looking into getting all my music onto a NAS (as well as using it for my backups). Anyone done something similar or got alternatives/recommendations?

Bit confused over what the best way to go is.

smallspeed · Post by **smallspeed** » Mon May 23, 2011 4:04 pm

i used an nslu2 for this a few years ago, but since moved to an old dell pc stuffed in a cupboard, and am currently building a flashy new server..

the nslu2 ran really well and did everything i needed (upnp server, etc) and there are lots of hacks/mods for it, however i think its getting a bit slow/old-tech now adays..

might be worth considering something like the acer revo as this has quite a bit more grunt and isn't too expensive

squirdan · Post by **squirdan** » Mon May 23, 2011 5:11 pm

got a sonos system with a napster subscription, and use their free app to turn iphone into a controller (no need to buy a sonos handset)

have got 2 standalone zone player amps and 1 unpowered zoneplayer plugged into an existing Bose centre

works v well

albeit, you can do a similar thing for less dosh with apple kit now

KS · Post by KS » Mon May 23, 2011 5:33 pm

Does anyone know what these people are talking about?

Lightweight_911 · Post by **Lightweight_911** » Mon May 23, 2011 5:45 pm

- & I thought it was only me !

louis356 · Post by **louis356** » Mon May 23, 2011 6:31 pm

Completely zoned out

Or am I just old?

Anyone want to listen to my new 8 track?

middlefour1 · Post by **middlefour1** » Mon May 23, 2011 7:08 pm

KS wrote:Does anyone know what these people are talking about?

Nope, not a clue.....

Gary71 · Post by **Gary71** » Mon May 23, 2011 8:24 pm

You old farts

I use a older Intel Mac Mini with a 2TB drive plugged in running via wireless to several airport express units, one uses the optical out to feed a Meridian DAC and into the pre amp on the proper HiFi, the others feed directly into amps and speakers in other rooms.

All controlled via iPhones and even the kids get in on the game via iPods...

I've also used Sonos quite a bit, and it's OK and since being able to use an iPod touch as a remote more user friendly, but doesn't do Apple 'Genius' playlists which are frankly genius!

Still with us?

Tosh · Post by **Tosh** » Mon May 23, 2011 9:00 pm

Got all the music on a Buffalo linkstation (1tb) and a Sonos system including the built in speaker jobby and the iPod dock. I picked up most of the stuff used from a mate who moved back to the US and so have old controllers and units in the main but love it. iPhone controller is great, radio is ace and I have 6 different zones around the house:
2 into Bose Wave radios
1 the Sonos speaker
1 into a Bose system with the mini cubes as an aux in
1 into a set of the mini cubes (active)
1 into a set of passive Wharfedale shelf speakers.

The iPod dock is ace, plonk it on and press play....

Mate built a house in the US and specced up a huge network driven music system and he has now decided to bin that as he's finding it too complex to use and going back to a Sonos

Mr Pharmacist · Post by **Mr Pharmacist** » Mon May 23, 2011 10:06 pm

I use apples airport expresses - very simple to set up, work really well, pretty cheap, and all controlled via iphone / ipad / itouch and they extend your wireless network.

and ignore all these laggards

bullett · Post by **bullett** » Tue May 24, 2011 12:37 am

Bucking the trend, I use a Squeezebox not Sonos and it's excellent. Squeezeserver on the PC, all tracks ripped to FLAC and multiroom to the radio in the kitchen, my office and the lounge.

The lounge system goes via the AV amp all hidden away in the cabinet and controlled via a single remote (Harmony One).

DVD's next to go on the server.

2x2TB RAID1 arrays with critical files backed up to another HDD, portable and off-site.

hamishf · Post by **hamishf** » Tue May 24, 2011 6:45 am

I've got Sonos going directly into the Cyrus box, driven off the iPad (which the 3 yr old can drive to get her kids songs playing). For NAS, Sonos just accesses the songs on the Mac. And I have a spotify subscription and since we've got that all music comes down the wires rather than off the Mac or iPod (tho that wireless dock is very cool when you've got visitors).

hamishf · Post by **hamishf** » Tue May 24, 2011 6:45 am

I've got Sonos going directly into the Cyrus box, driven off the iPad (which the 3 yr old can drive to get her kids songs playing). For NAS, Sonos just accesses the songs on the Mac. And I have a spotify subscription and since we've got that all music comes down the wires rather than off the Mac or iPod (tho that wireless dock is very cool when you've got visitors).

Bruce M · Post by **Bruce M** » Tue May 24, 2011 11:10 am

Previous generation Apple TV in the living room, network cable linked to the PC in the study. Use it for music, videos, Utube and linked to my Fickr.com photos.

All the kiddy DVDs get "ripped" on the PC (DVDfab) so I have a backup if they get scratched beyond use. They also get compressed using Handbrake into MP4 format, uploaded to Itunes and sync'd to the Apple TV.

I do want to add an airport express or two in the future but I need to upgrade the Wifi box first. The iphone remote works quite well (can control the apple TV or the main PC).

middlefour1 · Post by **middlefour1** » Tue May 24, 2011 11:34 am

Gary71 wrote:You old farts

Still with us?

Yep that's me

and no, still not a clue...