iMac- Hifi

Cosmic182 · 25 Mar 2014 at 19:50

Hi guys

I've had my iMac for around 6 months now and loving it, usually on it every night with my music\guitar. I'm in the need for a new hifi and was wondering how I go about hooking up a hifi to the iMac to get louder music through the hifi speakers, if possible. I know some hifi's have the airplay which I guess is one way? just wondering how stable that is and wether there is a more direct connection I can make.

cheers

Minstadave · 25 Mar 2014 at 19:55

Buy your hifi of choice and an Apple TV, then send music via airplay to the ATV connected to your hifi via digital optical cable.

It's very simple and effective

plus the ATV3 is only about £60 at the moment, there's rumours about it being replaced shortly.

You can get hifi systems with airplay support, but your choice is limited.

Cosmic182 · 25 Mar 2014 at 20:06

Cheers Dave

whats the advantage of having an Apple TV? Do i need it to enable airplay? (I'm guessing this option is if I didn't want/find an airplay ready hifi system? I've seen a couple of Sony Hifi's (airplay supported) but as you say it is quite limited. The option you said about does sound very simple and effective though if what I said is correct.

Thanks

Minstadave · 25 Mar 2014 at 20:07

Just gives you the freedom to upgrade in future I guess and a large choice of hardware.

Ben Cole · 25 Mar 2014 at 21:15

Doesn't the Mac have a digital out? Coax or Optical?

I'm sure I read the headphone socket doubles as an optical out on some Macs which you connect directly to a hifi.

Somnambulist · 26 Mar 2014 at 08:16

Yes all Macs headphone output doubles as a digital audio output - optical to 3mm jack.

You can also output audio via the HDMI connection or USB.

Mac > DAC > amp > speakers is a typical set up, or like me it's Mac > DAC > active speakers

Cosmic182 · 30 Mar 2014 at 14:49

This is the back of my old hifi guys, (as you can see I've dug it out of the loft until I decide on a new stereo) which socket and which cable do I need to use to connect to my iMac?

Tia

Minstadave · 30 Mar 2014 at 15:12

You can connect via the analogue in or the optical digital in.

Easiest would probably be a 3.5mm to toslink optical cable.

Cosmic182 · 30 Mar 2014 at 15:48

Thanks Dave, it worked a treat

Will certainly do until I can decide on a new stereo.

Cheers again, appreciate it.

Cosmic182 · 30 Mar 2014 at 16:23

P.s in the future, is it possible to buy an audio amplifier and just hook up some speakers to that? As I say this is great for the time whilst I'm researching, but eventually Id like to lose the big stereo I have. So i was just thinking if its possible to hook something like an audio amp up to the iMac then just some speakers to that. Or something simple that will work. Sorry for the novice Q's just trying to get my head around it all as I'm not very knowledgeable with the external audio eq.

Minstadave · 30 Mar 2014 at 16:31

Yeah you could hook up an amp and speakers, or a set of active speakers (amp built in).