So the Mac actually has two kinds of audio output, analog stereo and
optical/digital multi-channel.
The first is probably more familiar which would be to have a
mini-headphone cable with standard left/right RCA connectors on the
other end which you run to an input on the receiver and you get nice
stereo sound. There are only two sound channels so if you want to get
all fancy with a subwoofer you would need some kind of crossover gear to
send only the low sounds to a subwoofer and leave everything else in
your main speakers. This probably isn't done much for home listening but
I've known audiophiles who went to this trouble.
The second is a new(ish) setup where up to six separate channels of
audio are combined into one high-speed data channel and sent via fiber
optic cable from your mac to your receiver. The hadphone jack on your
Mac will detect when a miniTOS link cable is plugged in and turn on its
optical output hardware. The other end goes into any rececent (last 10
years or so) home theater receiver with optical inputs. The receiver
will decode the optical audio signal into left, right, center,
subwoofer, rear left and rear right channels. Usually there are built-in
amps for all the channels except the subwoofer, so you just connect 5
standard speakers to the 5 plugs and you get all the surround sound
goodness. Most consumer subwoofers come with a built in amp tuned to the
speaker so the receiver just gives a 'line level' output on an RCA jack
to run to the subwoofer. That's why they call it 5.1 for five speakers
plus the subwoofer.
As far as what you actually get, for most music recordings you only get
stereo, so having all the other speakers doesn't do much for you. Most
receivers have all kinds of fancy modes to put 'something' in the other
speakers but in the end it's just stereo. Most receivers also will do
trickery if you, for example, don't have a subwoofer. All the 5.1 stuff
kicks in when you have a DVD with 5.1 audio tracks, which is pretty much
all of them. So of course if you buy a DVD of some concert you'll
probably get the full surround stuff, but really old movies are just
stereo since that's all they had back then. Sony, back in 99, tried
something called a Super Audio CD which had all the channels at high
quality like a DVD but was just for audio. It pretty much flopped but is
still around and some folks really like it. I haven't tried playing one
of these on my Mac so I'm not sure what it would do.
Not sure what your budget is but you can pick up a plain jane 200w
receiver for about $150 new, so don't spend to much on that old used
unit. If you're waiting for one that has true all mechanical/analog
controls you might find they are quite old and probably have a lot of
noise in the controls from years of use/dust/dirt. Another possibility
is to just get a real amplifier and be done. Most amps have just one
pair of inputs, real physical left/right volume controls and one pair of
speaker inputs. Prices on plan old amps range from around $90 for a
300w cheapie to thousands for high power high end stuff. I've used QSC
300w stereo rackmount amps for years which run about $300. Since the mac
output is line level you can run it (with the right cable) right into
one of these things and be done.
Hopefully this will help wrap your head and not warp it :)
CB
On 4/22/12 3:55 PM, Lewis Alexander wrote:
if you just want surround sound and nothing else, you're using your mac as your
main media source, the surround sound controllers on the market can
automatically handle setup for you, as long as you send your main signal from
the mac to the source, it should all go pretty well.
I recommend Sony for their quality and accessibility.
On 22 Apr 2012, at 20:51, Eric Caron wrote:
Hello Listers,
I'm having a lot of trouble getting my head around the new surround
sound systems. What I think might work best for me is to find a older powerful
stereo receiver or receiver and amp that I can plug my computer directly to and
perhaps also connect a airport express or Apple TV.
I don't own a TV and don't enjoy listening to TV or even movies very much. I
do love solid strong clear stereo music.
So If anyone else out there can advise me here is what I've done so far.
I've contacted a electronics repair center and asked them to keep a look out
for a solid older system. I would like 200 wats of power and old fashioned
controls.
Here are some concerns.
Would the Apple Express give me air play in the best way or would a Apple TV
give any advantages in this set up?
Could I run a sub woofer from a older system like that?
Any tips on what system might work happily with my Mac?
Finally, I'm not avers to using a newer unit but am totally baffled by all the
stuff on the remote and all the TV related stuff. Is there a retro receiver
out there or a new one with old fashioned capability?
My Mac is my entertainment center at this point but I'd love to get better
sound then I currently have.
eRic Caron
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