Currently I am using a WD TV Live as my HTPC. I have all my movies loaded on a DLNA server in my home, and the WDTV picks them up and plays them quite well. But, as you might guess, there are limitations -- mainly relating to internet content that is only avilable on a PC (such as ESPN3... my ISP, Cox, offers it, but it only works thru a real PC).
So I have been thinking of upgrading to a Mac Mini 2012 to replace the WD TV Live. Hopefully, the Mac Mini will be able to access my DLNA server (I run a Servio server off my router). I am not too worried about that, the Mac Mini should be fine for that purpose. But I am worried about the 5.1 surround sound. How does that get from the Mac Mini to my AV receiver? The WDTV Live has an optical port, and it passes thru the AC3 audio quite well. How does the Mac Mini do this without a digital audio port?? I know that some older Mac Mini's do it thru a Toslink to Mini plug converter -- will this work with the new Mac Mini too? I know the new Mac Mini passes the AC3 audio on the HDMI cable, but my AV receiver is old and doesn't pickup the audio from the HDMI...
So I am holding off my purchase until I can figure this out. No sense dropping a wad of cash on a new Mac Mini, if it won't play the AC3 5.1 for me.
Also, many of my movies have a spanish track, the WDTV can switch between these tracks (and VLC can too), can iTunes do it? It would be nice, as I do need to play the spanish sound track sometimes, the english at other times.
Thanks for any advice or help you can give!
So I have been thinking of upgrading to a Mac Mini 2012 to replace the WD TV Live. Hopefully, the Mac Mini will be able to access my DLNA server (I run a Servio server off my router). I am not too worried about that, the Mac Mini should be fine for that purpose. But I am worried about the 5.1 surround sound. How does that get from the Mac Mini to my AV receiver? The WDTV Live has an optical port, and it passes thru the AC3 audio quite well. How does the Mac Mini do this without a digital audio port?? I know that some older Mac Mini's do it thru a Toslink to Mini plug converter -- will this work with the new Mac Mini too? I know the new Mac Mini passes the AC3 audio on the HDMI cable, but my AV receiver is old and doesn't pickup the audio from the HDMI...
So I am holding off my purchase until I can figure this out. No sense dropping a wad of cash on a new Mac Mini, if it won't play the AC3 5.1 for me.
Also, many of my movies have a spanish track, the WDTV can switch between these tracks (and VLC can too), can iTunes do it? It would be nice, as I do need to play the spanish sound track sometimes, the english at other times.
Thanks for any advice or help you can give!