The ease of the sound depends on where the sound is going. If your TV depends on built in sound, having separate sound out can create problems with even where to feed the sound in. If your sound is already separate (external audio), it can actually be easier to have separate out.
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Mac mini for HTPC. What setup?
- Thread starter matrix07
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The ease of the sound depends on where the sound is going. If your TV depends on built in sound, having separate sound out can create problems with even where to feed the sound in. If your sound is already separate (external audio), it can actually be easier to have separate out.
I might not be clear enough. I don't want to listen to music from the TV. So I guess I can hook my speakers to Audio Out and Opt+Speakers on menu bar and there'll be my speakers to select?
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I hope it's this easy but I'm a bit pessimistic because in the end the sound shouldn't come out of TV (which connect with HDMI) at all.
I spent most of yesterday playing around with my mini as an HTPC. Love having OSX on the big screen. Really like Plex. But.... and it's a big but.... being unable to bitstream high quality multiple channel surround sound is a huge disappointment.
On my Windows based HTPC (and on the Mini running Windows via Boot Camp), it will play any format I throw at it - TrueHD 7.1, DTS-MA, DTS-ES and it plays nicely through my Pioneer VSX-1021K via HDMI.
With OSX, I'm limited to 5.1. 😡
On my Windows based HTPC (and on the Mini running Windows via Boot Camp), it will play any format I throw at it - TrueHD 7.1, DTS-MA, DTS-ES and it plays nicely through my Pioneer VSX-1021K via HDMI.
With OSX, I'm limited to 5.1. 😡
You won't notice! I can show a nice video with prove that anything above 44khz/16bit can't be distinguished from the default CD rate.
You can't tell the difference between DTS HDMA's core or the full thing.
You probably don't have enough space for a proper 7-speaker surround setup, and besides, surround is overrated (like 3D).
The most important channel in DTS/Dolby is the center one, and that one is included.
Give me a good 3.0 setup any time over flaky 7.1's.
Oh, I most definitely notice. I spent good money and a LOT of time installing and positioning speakers for optimal audio immersion. I've been running a 7.1 system for several years now, and while the difference between 5.1 and 7.1 is not as noticeable as the difference between a two or three speaker set up and 5.1, there is definitely a difference.
Well yes, you can, using the Reflector app. For $13 you can make any Mac (or Windows machine) an airplay-host.
I might be able to get a 2006 CoreDuo 1.66 Mac mini 512K RAM.
Most of what I've read online is that this is bare bones minimum to run a HTPC.
I know one can upgrade the processor, but I'm not sure I'm ready to tackle that project. Perhaps one day, but for now is this mini is good enough to stream 720p and run Plex with decent results (i.e. no stuttering)?
Most of what I've read online is that this is bare bones minimum to run a HTPC.
I know one can upgrade the processor, but I'm not sure I'm ready to tackle that project. Perhaps one day, but for now is this mini is good enough to stream 720p and run Plex with decent results (i.e. no stuttering)?
Maybe... maybe not. That's right on the edge of too slow, in my opinion. For comparison, I have a 2007 Core2Duo 1.83 with 4GB RAM, and local files play very well, but 720p streaming stutters a lot. Most streaming sites use Flash or Silverlight which means additional work for the processor to do. If you intend to mostly play locally stored files with only a little bit of streaming, you may be okay. If you want to do mostly streaming, get something better. At the very least, upgrade the RAM to 2 or 4 gigs, it's pretty cheap and easy to do.
Thanks. Good to know. I think I may pass on that mini then.
Yes, I was going to stream local files, but was also hoping to stream Netflix through a VPN so I could access programs from various countries.
From the sounds of it, this may not work too well.
Happy to report that when I plugged my speakers in Audio Out, OSX will default to this port. I don't have to do anything.
You certainly can select audio output by this simple method. Much easier than in Windows. I saw an HDMI Sound option but I won't touch it. Heh heh.
You certainly can select audio output by this simple method. Much easier than in Windows. I saw an HDMI Sound option but I won't touch it. Heh heh.
Are there any workarounds for tiny text on a 1080p screen? My solution has always been to run at 720p, but I hate wasting all that resolution. This is one of the things that drives me nuts about OS X.
talmy
macrumors 601
No real solution, but you can install the app Display Menu (free) to be able to quickly switch resolutions.
Mac mini late 2009 optical 5.1 Surround
Hi guys, i've read the thread and saw you have working mac mini setup's, i have a mac mini late 2009 which i hook up to my receiver through optical en mini-dvi to HDMI. I use Plex Home theatre (latest version) and have Mavericks latest version installed on it. I have tried everything to make my 5.1 system work again but since updating mavericks of going from plex 9 to PHT something must have gone wrong and i don't get any sound in my rear boxes. I have an Onkyo receiver (TX-SR308) and he can handle dts, dolby true hd, 3D etc... I also have Perian installed this is set to stereo. I read you need to use passthrough with the mac mini and let the receiver do the transcoding? My sound is set to Digital Output 48000,0Hz and 2channel 24bits. When i try to configure my speakers al i get is Stereo (5.1, 6.1, 7.1 is greyed out) so i leave it at that. I've tested avi's, mkv's with AAC or AC3 but nothing worked so far, i only have sound through my front 3 boxes and bass. Hope somebody can help me out!
Hi guys, i've read the thread and saw you have working mac mini setup's, i have a mac mini late 2009 which i hook up to my receiver through optical en mini-dvi to HDMI. I use Plex Home theatre (latest version) and have Mavericks latest version installed on it. I have tried everything to make my 5.1 system work again but since updating mavericks of going from plex 9 to PHT something must have gone wrong and i don't get any sound in my rear boxes. I have an Onkyo receiver (TX-SR308) and he can handle dts, dolby true hd, 3D etc... I also have Perian installed this is set to stereo. I read you need to use passthrough with the mac mini and let the receiver do the transcoding? My sound is set to Digital Output 48000,0Hz and 2channel 24bits. When i try to configure my speakers al i get is Stereo (5.1, 6.1, 7.1 is greyed out) so i leave it at that. I've tested avi's, mkv's with AAC or AC3 but nothing worked so far, i only have sound through my front 3 boxes and bass. Hope somebody can help me out!
I use old Mac Mini 1.1, updated to C2Duo 2,16 GHz, max RAM (3GB is read by system),
PLEX server installed, Plex Home Theater also. For music I use HRT MUSIC Streamer II (USB) connected to Marantz amp, as a remote PS3 Bluetooth Remote and Remote Buddy. As mac mini is Plex server it is used also for transcoding to iOS devices. Storage is Synology DS211+ with 2TB RAID 1 connected via Gigabit ethernet. Could be faster but it is working well. There are problems under iOS 8, unfortunately. 🙁 Screen is old Cinema Display 20".
PLEX server installed, Plex Home Theater also. For music I use HRT MUSIC Streamer II (USB) connected to Marantz amp, as a remote PS3 Bluetooth Remote and Remote Buddy. As mac mini is Plex server it is used also for transcoding to iOS devices. Storage is Synology DS211+ with 2TB RAID 1 connected via Gigabit ethernet. Could be faster but it is working well. There are problems under iOS 8, unfortunately. 🙁 Screen is old Cinema Display 20".
ajumbaje
macrumors 6502
so the base model mac mini (1.4ghz i5, 4gb memory, 500gb hard drive, and intel HD graphics 5000) would work for things like the following:
streaming sports games on chrome or safari
watching 1080p movies and tv shows
blu-ray movies via external disc drive
would that basic setup work? Should I upgrade the ram? $90 to bump up to 8gb and $180 from 8 to 16gb
hard drive upgrade would be subjective to the user. I would have to check the size of my movie collection. upgrade to 1tb would be $225
streaming sports games on chrome or safari
watching 1080p movies and tv shows
blu-ray movies via external disc drive
would that basic setup work? Should I upgrade the ram? $90 to bump up to 8gb and $180 from 8 to 16gb
hard drive upgrade would be subjective to the user. I would have to check the size of my movie collection. upgrade to 1tb would be $225
talmy
macrumors 601
It would work fine. No need to upgrade the RAM for this use (2GB would actually suffice!).
You aren't dealing with a portable computer so going external is viable and much less expensive.
ajumbaje
macrumors 6502
good to know! I may be able to work with 500gb. Also would like to find a way to rip blu-rays(that I own ;P) onto the computer also. Problem then is just the clutter in the setup:
mac mini
external hd
external disc drive
talmy
macrumors 601
Yes, it isn't all in one box, but you can stack the boxes and keep all the wires in the back. There are portable blu-ray drives you can buy and use for ripping the disks.
It is also a good idea to keep Safari or any browser to manage Plex. Although you could do it remotely i find it easier to do it on the HTPC. In my case I also use it to manage a NAS.
Actually there is an App you can run on any Mac that allows you to airplay to a mac. It is called airserver and I have used it quite successfully to airplay from iphone and Ipads.
Here is a link to the site.
http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/38709/airserver
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Hi what version of OSX are you running. I have a 2010 mac mini as my HTPC and when I upgraded to Mavericks got lots of spinning beach balls until I upgraded from 2Gig to 4Gig. I recently upgraded to Yosemite and getting the spinning beach balls again and about to upgrade Ram to 8Gig.
ajumbaje
macrumors 6502
talmy
macrumors 601
All the minis here used as HTPCs (2 2009 base models and a 2012 base model) have 4GB now. The 2009s came with 2GB. When I had a disk drive fail, I upgraded the RAM in both at the same time. They were running Mountain Lion at the time. All systems now run Yosemite. I've never had a problem with beach balls. Plex starts in 4 seconds on the 2012 mini (just measured it).