ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
Hi Friends, Hi just wanted to tell you about AirFoil Speakers which makes it possible to use your Mac as an AirPlay-sound receiver. I use this on my home server (a mac) that is connected to my beosystem so I easily can play music without the need for an AirPort Express or Apple TV.
I have a pair of Apple TV´s but they are both connected to my TVs and it is much more messy to play music that way. Now I just select A. AUX on my remote and play music to the AirFoil-speaker that comes up as any other AirPlay-device on iOS.
A good alternative to the Playmaker if you have the same kind of setup as I have. The servers sound output is not used for anything else anyways so it does work very well. And in case you want a bit of higher sound quality you can buy an external DAC (Mac/PC - DAC - BeoSound).
The speaker-software requires AirFoil which costs 25 dollars and that app you can use for playing media on your mac or pc to airplay devices from applications that don´t allow it otherwise. So it is very flexible. There is also an app for iOS-devices that transforms them into an AirPlay-device itself if you want that but I have not tried it so I cant say anything about it, however I imagine that you would need to keep that app in front to be able to use it at all times. On my server I just keep the app running and do not have to do anything. I just disabled the graphic presentation of it because it made my server draw another watt .
I could of course just as well have an AirPort Express connected but it draws unneccessary power and also costs about 99 dollars.
More info here: http://rogueamoeba.com/airfoil/mac/
http://rogueamoeba.com/airfoil/ios/
Beolab 50, Beolab 8000 x 2, Beolab 4000 x 2, BeoSound Core, BeoSound 9000, BeoSound Century, BeoLit 15, BeoPlay A1, BeoPlay P2, BeoPlay H9 3rd Gen, BeoPlay H6, EarSet 3i, BeoVision Eclipse Gen 2 55", BeoPlay V1-40, BeoCom 6000 and so much else :)
Michael:There is also an app for iOS-devices that transforms them into an AirPlay-device itself if you want that but I have not tried it so I cant say anything about it, however I imagine that you would need to keep that app in front to be able to use it at all times.
Thanks Michael for the write up.
I have had a number of Amoeba's products since I bought my Mac in 2009, but I have never quite converted to a full licence.
However I thought I would test my A3 as a remote speaker using Airfoil to broadcast Airplay from the Mac to the iApp on the A3 called ... "Speakers"
The sound seemed muffled compared to native audio so I used the equaliser built into Airfoil to tweak the treble and the bass upwards - seemed much better.
And I could have broadcast to my two ATVs as well.
Downside was that there was wifi type stutter - several times ! ... not something I see / hear that often !
Still not sure I shall go the path you recommended - as you may recall I have had difficulties getting to the "perfect" set up for me ... and my family. But I think your suggestion is worth merit and hopefully some others will try it out.
BeoNut since '75
Michael: Hi Friends, Hi just wanted to tell you about AirFoil Speakers which makes it possible to use your Mac as an AirPlay-sound receiver.
Hi Friends, Hi just wanted to tell you about AirFoil Speakers which makes it possible to use your Mac as an AirPlay-sound receiver.
And an iPad. I've been using Airfoil Speakers for years, to stream to my iPad connected to the (non-Airplay) BS8. I use it to stream Flash-based football commentary from my laptop to the iPad.
Airfoil Speakers is also available as an iOS app.
moxxey: Michael: Hi Friends, Hi just wanted to tell you about AirFoil Speakers which makes it possible to use your Mac as an AirPlay-sound receiver. And an iPad. I've been using Airfoil Speakers for years, to stream to my iPad connected to the (non-Airplay) BS8. I use it to stream Flash-based football commentary from my laptop to the iPad. Airfoil Speakers is also available as an iOS app.
I did write about that also, and that I did not have any experience of the iOS app but good that you have good experience of it
elephant: Thanks Michael for the write up. I have had a number of Amoeba's products since I bought my Mac in 2009, but I have never quite converted to a full licence. However I thought I would test my A3 as a remote speaker using Airfoil to broadcast Airplay from the Mac to the iApp on the A3 called ... "Speakers" The sound seemed muffled compared to native audio so I used the equaliser built into Airfoil to tweak the treble and the bass upwards - seemed much better. And I could have broadcast to my two ATVs as well. Downside was that there was wifi type stutter - several times ! ... not something I see / hear that often ! Still not sure I shall go the path you recommended - as you may recall I have had difficulties getting to the "perfect" set up for me ... and my family. But I think your suggestion is worth merit and hopefully some others will try it out.
Hi Elephant I havent had those problems at all actually. My Mac that has the speakers-app on it is connected directly via ethernet also so it is very stable. The sound is pure and not distorted in any way on the mac app, perhaps the iOS-app is worse. I can imagine that the iPad makes some kind of sound adjustments(?).
Never had any stuttering occur while playing to the Mac via the speakers-app but I have heard that while playing music from my iPhone to my Apple TV on some occations. I think those issues are more related to wifi bandwith than the software or hardware itself. Keeping close distance, as few units as possible on the wifi and a good router/access point is probably most important.
My setup is BS9000 with airport express to the AUX in the dining room with BL6000's Masterink to BL3500 in kitchen and BL2000 in bedroom.
BS8 in the living room which has powerlink to it and into the RCA jacks , it adjoins the dining room and is more or less drowned out by the BL6000's as the input is quieter but I now have a BV10 in the living room with apple TV (I didn't thinks I would have the cash after renovating the full house but my dealer has subtle tones and convinced me!!!)
The BS8 is more or less redundant which is a shame because I love it.
So......
If I stream from my mac to airport and apple TV at the same time there is a slight delay on the apple TV so it sounds out of sync.
If I use this app is it all in Sync???
Secondly ...
I could then move the BS8 to another room with an ipod on top of it and stream music from...
Mac everything at once without a delay using this app??
cheers in advance.....
I could put ML to the BV10 but seen as the whole house has been done less than 8 months I don't want to start chasing cables in (the missus wouldn't see the benefit that I would)
plumber77: My setup is BS9000 with airport express to the AUX in the dining room with BL6000's Masterink to BL3500 in kitchen and BL2000 in bedroom. BS8 in the living room which has powerlink to it and into the RCA jacks , it adjoins the dining room and is more or less drowned out by the BL6000's as the input is quieter but I now have a BV10 in the living room with apple TV (I didn't thinks I would have the cash after renovating the full house but my dealer has subtle tones and convinced me!!!) The BS8 is more or less redundant which is a shame because I love it. So...... If I stream from my mac to airport and apple TV at the same time there is a slight delay on the apple TV so it sounds out of sync. If I use this app is it all in Sync??? Secondly ... I could then move the BS8 to another room with an ipod on top of it and stream music from... Mac everything at once without a delay using this app?? cheers in advance..... I could put ML to the BV10 but seen as the whole house has been done less than 8 months I don't want to start chasing cables in (the missus wouldn't see the benefit that I would)
Hm, I am not sure. I think that maybe the delay is from the TV itself. My V1-40 has a little lag but I have not tried to play music to it and another source at the same time. I could try now but Im to tired today honestly :).
Can't you play to the BV10 over masterlink instead of the Apple TV by the way?
I was thinking about that but it would mean running a cable (hacking at walls!!!)
plumber77: I was thinking about that but it would mean running a cable (hacking at walls!!!)
Thats true but probably a good idea since you have the possibility. Perhaps you can run the cable in a existing cable tube (dont know the correct english term).
Michael:My Mac that has the speakers-app on it is connected directly via ethernet also so it is very stable. The sound is pure and not distorted in any way on the mac app, perhaps the iOS-app is worse. I can imagine that the iPad makes some kind of sound adjustments(?).
Hi Michael !
The sound was not distorted (as in being played too loud) just muffled ...
I did try the A3's iPad App option of "flat" sound versus non-flat (I think it is biased for voiced) but that was not as good as the flexibility that the Airfoil equaliser gave me.
Other people on the forum have recommended playing with the iTunes equaliser ... and now I understand the benefits that subtle differences can make
elephant: Michael:My Mac that has the speakers-app on it is connected directly via ethernet also so it is very stable. The sound is pure and not distorted in any way on the mac app, perhaps the iOS-app is worse. I can imagine that the iPad makes some kind of sound adjustments(?). Hi Michael ! The sound was not distorted (as in being played too loud) just muffled ... I did try the A3's iPad App option of "flat" sound versus non-flat (I think it is biased for voiced) but that was not as good as the flexibility that the Airfoil equaliser gave me. Other people on the forum have recommended playing with the iTunes equaliser ... and now I understand the benefits that subtle differences can make
Ah, then I understand. I always try not to use equalizers and other types of sound enhancements if not necessary. I want the sound to be as real as it can be. But I would probably go the same way to try to correct the sound if it was unsatisfactory otherwise :)