seems similar to what I'm doing. I learned today that I can only stream with the ATV when iTunes is running on a mac. Is this true? could I stream from the linux box I want to build?
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seems similar to what I'm doing. I learned today that I can only stream with the ATV when iTunes is running on a mac. Is this true? could I stream from the linux box I want to build?
As I understand, to be able to stream iTunes content from a device, you must have the iTunes application running on the device and the AppleTV must be able to communicate with the device. If Apple adds a chip to the Time Capsule (so that it becomes a mini computer) and makes it run the iTunes application, then you can stream iTunes content from the Time Capsule.
There was a rumor about Apple putting an A5 chip into the Time Capsule before it was refreshed. However, from the specifications of the Time Capsule available online, one can't tell if Apple has done that. I wish that Apple had done that!
Internet:
- Get the fastest connection that you can afford per month. This will help for downloading and streaming over the Internet.
Home Networking:
- Go with 1000Mbps minimum (aka Gigabit Ethernet or Gig-E)
- D-link have a new line of Gig-E consumer switches that are green. I just updated all of my switches with them. They basically reduce the power consumption based on port usage. Very cool concept, IMO.
- Cat6 cabling will ensure future proofing of network capabilities
- 802.11n should be the defacto for your wi-fi now a days. All Apple products support. I use a Cisco dual antenna router in my setup. This way I can have certain devices on 802.11n and other devices on 802.11g. I also have another wi-fi access point for my work network (running on its own subnet which is different than my home subnet.
Network Security:
- use static IP address and turn off DHCP on your router and/or wi-fi access points
- on Wi-Fi, turn off SSID broadcast and only allow the MAC addresses of the devices you own.
Entertainment:
I want to preface that budget plays a HUGE part in component selection. You can get a complete setup for as little as a a couple thousand to hundreds of thousands or more.
- TV: I prefer plasma TV's over other types, but this is very personal and dependent on your room and the amount of light you have coming into it. Plasma's have a very glossy front so they are prone to reflections and deteriorated picture when the room is too bright such as mid day with direct sunlight coming in. Room lighting not so much. Budget about $1500-2000 for a decent to higher quality TV.
- Speakers: Again, another personal choice. Speakers can sound different to different people. The very "forward" sounding speakers where the highs are over powering, "laid-back" speakers where the highs are over powered by the miss and lows, and then "Neutral" speakers where everything just sort of sound equal across all speakers. Then you have size. The are satellite speaker such as the Bose or HTiB (Home Theater in a Box), bookshelves (which are larger cabinet based speakers and usually only have a single tweeter and a single woofer for a shard mid-range and bass production), and then finally floor-standing, which are the larger speakers where you often have at least a dedicated speaker for highs, miss, and lows (there are exceptions, though). Budget can depend on a lot, but I have seen some decent 5.1 setups for about $2000 or so.
- Source: You need some sort of hub. This is where everything plugs into and sound and picture can be distributed from a number of devices to a single TV and set of speakers. This choice needs to be made very carefully. You need to know number of inputs required (both now and in future), types of inputs, processing requirements (audio and or video), whether it will have a built-in amp or require and external amp (if internal amp, does it allow connections to an external amp for future growth), what additional features do you want (HD Radio, XM, Sirius, Pandora, etc.).
- Video and or Audio playback: Are you into Blu-ray, DVD, SACD, CD, DVD-Audio? All of these need to be taken into consideration when choosing a player. Do you want separate devices or an all in one? Budget for separate ones can be had for $100-200 easily. A good all-in-one for around $500 (oppodigital.com).
-Streaming: I like the idea of a Mac Mini being a hub device. This allows you to have a central repository for all media content and you can stream it via hardwire or wireless. Whether you use Plex, or just the Apple Remote paired with an Apple TV is your choice. I think both work very well.
- Backup: I use a NetGear ReadyNAS NV+ with 4GB RAID setup. It backups up ALL of my computers on their own dedicated shares, supports TimeMachine, also allows backups to be configured on it versus on the host machine. Very sturdy and well made. You could also build you own, but I am too lazy for that.
- Printing: depends on what you are looking for. I have a hardwired printer that does pruning, scanning, faxing, photo printing.
- Cabling: Get as much as you can from Monoprice or Blue Jean Cables. They are better priced and just as good or better than some of the crap they try to sell you in the big box stores for hundreds of dollars.
I subscribed to your thread so reply or PM me with any questions. Home theater and music are one of my hobbies I am very passionate about.
One last thing...
Don't be afraid to build this in phases so you can get better equipment. Many people want to have a full system right away and then end up spending more in the long run because they start to replace things. Even reselling will never get what you paid originally. Just something to keep in mind.
- Get the fastest connection that you can afford per month. This will help for downloading and streaming over the Internet.
Home Networking:
- Go with 1000Mbps minimum (aka Gigabit Ethernet or Gig-E)
- D-link have a new line of Gig-E consumer switches that are green. I just updated all of my switches with them. They basically reduce the power consumption based on port usage. Very cool concept, IMO.
- Cat6 cabling will ensure future proofing of network capabilities
- 802.11n should be the defacto for your wi-fi now a days. All Apple products support. I use a Cisco dual antenna router in my setup. This way I can have certain devices on 802.11n and other devices on 802.11g. I also have another wi-fi access point for my work network (running on its own subnet which is different than my home subnet.
Network Security:
- use static IP address and turn off DHCP on your router and/or wi-fi access points
- on Wi-Fi, turn off SSID broadcast and only allow the MAC addresses of the devices you own.
Entertainment:
I want to preface that budget plays a HUGE part in component selection. You can get a complete setup for as little as a a couple thousand to hundreds of thousands or more.
- TV: I prefer plasma TV's over other types, but this is very personal and dependent on your room and the amount of light you have coming into it. Plasma's have a very glossy front so they are prone to reflections and deteriorated picture when the room is too bright such as mid day with direct sunlight coming in. Room lighting not so much. Budget about $1500-2000 for a decent to higher quality TV.
- Speakers: Again, another personal choice. Speakers can sound different to different people. The very "forward" sounding speakers where the highs are over powering, "laid-back" speakers where the highs are over powered by the miss and lows, and then "Neutral" speakers where everything just sort of sound equal across all speakers. Then you have size. The are satellite speaker such as the Bose or HTiB (Home Theater in a Box), bookshelves (which are larger cabinet based speakers and usually only have a single tweeter and a single woofer for a shard mid-range and bass production), and then finally floor-standing, which are the larger speakers where you often have at least a dedicated speaker for highs, miss, and lows (there are exceptions, though). Budget can depend on a lot, but I have seen some decent 5.1 setups for about $2000 or so.
- Source: You need some sort of hub. This is where everything plugs into and sound and picture can be distributed from a number of devices to a single TV and set of speakers. This choice needs to be made very carefully. You need to know number of inputs required (both now and in future), types of inputs, processing requirements (audio and or video), whether it will have a built-in amp or require and external amp (if internal amp, does it allow connections to an external amp for future growth), what additional features do you want (HD Radio, XM, Sirius, Pandora, etc.).
- Video and or Audio playback: Are you into Blu-ray, DVD, SACD, CD, DVD-Audio? All of these need to be taken into consideration when choosing a player. Do you want separate devices or an all in one? Budget for separate ones can be had for $100-200 easily. A good all-in-one for around $500 (oppodigital.com).
-Streaming: I like the idea of a Mac Mini being a hub device. This allows you to have a central repository for all media content and you can stream it via hardwire or wireless. Whether you use Plex, or just the Apple Remote paired with an Apple TV is your choice. I think both work very well.
- Backup: I use a NetGear ReadyNAS NV+ with 4GB RAID setup. It backups up ALL of my computers on their own dedicated shares, supports TimeMachine, also allows backups to be configured on it versus on the host machine. Very sturdy and well made. You could also build you own, but I am too lazy for that.
- Printing: depends on what you are looking for. I have a hardwired printer that does pruning, scanning, faxing, photo printing.
- Cabling: Get as much as you can from Monoprice or Blue Jean Cables. They are better priced and just as good or better than some of the crap they try to sell you in the big box stores for hundreds of dollars.
I subscribed to your thread so reply or PM me with any questions. Home theater and music are one of my hobbies I am very passionate about.
One last thing...
Don't be afraid to build this in phases so you can get better equipment. Many people want to have a full system right away and then end up spending more in the long run because they start to replace things. Even reselling will never get what you paid originally. Just something to keep in mind.
First off thanks for the reply I thought this thread would die
static ip would be good for a server or something otherwise I don't see why I would go this route. MAC address filtering seems a bit too much. I like that on the AEBS you can have a home network and a guest network I was thinking of doing that. The Main network would have MAC filtering and virtually all access to the internet. The guest network on the other hand would be very limited to what it could do on the home network.
Thanks alot I'll probably start off small and work my way up.
Which switch is this? Initially I was set on have the most Apple hardware but I realize it isn't always possible.
static ip would be good for a server or something otherwise I don't see why I would go this route. MAC address filtering seems a bit too much. I like that on the AEBS you can have a home network and a guest network I was thinking of doing that. The Main network would have MAC filtering and virtually all access to the internet. The guest network on the other hand would be very limited to what it could do on the home network.
Can an Amp only play out to one tv or set of speakers? DO I need a seperate amo for every set of speakers ?
For the past few years I have driven away from physical media. The future will be the same for me however I might get back into records.
If I go the mac mini route I will definitely need external storage. I like the plex UI, I haven't tried the ATV UI much.
Do you have any suggestions as to how to proceed to build my own. If I will be downloading constantly is it best to do this via the mac mini or a NAS?- Backup: I use a NetGear ReadyNAS NV+ with 4GB RAID setup. It backups up ALL of my computers on their own dedicated shares, supports TimeMachine, also allows backups to be configured on it versus on the host machine. Very sturdy and well made. You could also build you own, but I am too lazy for that.
What about making my own ethernet cables?
I subscribed to your thread so reply or PM me with any questions. Home theater and music are one of my hobbies I am very passionate about.
One last thing...
Don't be afraid to build this in phases so you can get better equipment. Many people want to have a full system right away and then end up spending more in the long run because they start to replace things. Even reselling will never get what you paid originally. Just something to keep in mind.
Thanks alot I'll probably start off small and work my way up.
I wish I had seen this back in July. I don't know if my Apple environment is "ultimate" but it works very well for me.
Central Components
Remote Components
Central Components
- Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server -- does typical server chores: DHCP, DNS, file sharing, TimeMachine for other Macs, Plex server, address book and calandar sync, VPN for remote access to LAN, printer server (printers don't use WiFi here)
- Airport Extreme Base Station -- used in bridge mode, so it is an access point only. Also proxies wake-on-LAN for Macs that need it for remote access.
- Linksys gigabit switch -- because I'v'e got more systems than the switch in the AEBS will handle.
- Actiontec Router -- keeps my ISP happy to use their gateway.
Remote Components
- Two Mac minis acting as media servers (one in family room, one by treadmill) that run only Plex. These are old-style, base level, refurbished units.
- An 8 year old Dell Optiplex computer as a music server for the living room. It runs only iTunes.
- Various Macs and iOS devices. Occasional guests as well.
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First off thanks for the reply I thought this thread would die
Which switch is this? Initially I was set on have the most Apple hardware but I realize it isn't always possible.
I have the previous model (DGS-2208), but the DGS-1008G are nice consumer switches. I prefer the older ones since they can be stacked. I have two stacked in my office, one in my media cabinet and one in my kids gaming setup. Everything is wired in my house except one AirPort Express (for our piano) and 7 laptops, two iPads, three iPhones, iPod touch, five various DSi's, and two PSPs.
Static IP addresses and no DHCP ensures no one jumps on your network. I do Government work so I feel NOTHING is overkill.
Yes, an amp can only power a single set of speakers. Depending how you have things setup from a receiver or pre-amp/processor (pre/pro), you could have separate zones. Some recovers with a built-in amp can power a zone 1 and 2. Zone 3 usually requires an external amp. Also, if you go the receiver with an internal amp, Zone two is usually only two channel and takes away from your zone 1 channels. For example, a 7.1 receiver will do 5.1 to Zone 1 and 2.0 to Zone 2.
A TV is considered an input device, so an amp will not push sound to the TV. A receiver or pre/pro could have the capability to have dual video outputs. This is usually used for a flat screen and projector setup in the same room or a Zone 1 and Zone 2 setup where both have TV's.
Works for me. I just prefer Blu-ray over any downloadable or streaming video services. Audio, I also have digital formats. I still get the occasional SACD or BD-Audio disc, but HDTracks.com suffices most of my music tastes with HD audio.
I have a Iomega FW800 drive (the one with the same footprint as the 2009 version of the Mac Mini) connected directly to my Mac mini. All media is then backed up to a NAS device. I try not to access or use any files directly off my NAS. I see it solely as a backup storage device not an active usable storage device.
If you have the know-how and desire to do so, I have no issues with that. I've made a few where I added Flex wrap over the cable and used some heat shrink. This was for a cable that could not be hidden at the time. Made it a little nicer than a yellow cable lying on the ground.
Smart move! Good luck!
It's overkill once you cross the line of inconveniencing your user without adding any additional security.Static IP addresses and no DHCP ensures no one jumps on your network. I do Government work so I feel NOTHING is overkill.
SSID hiding: not even a slight deterrent. Only stops casual scans
Static IP: If they got far enough to access your network traffic, you've already lost. It's easy to scan traffic for valid ranges and supply correct values.
MAC filtering: Very slight security improvement. Valid MAC address can be easily captured and spoofed, however you may get lucky and receive a warning message about duplicate addresses alerting you of the intruder.
All of these measures add a false sense of security. Anybody that you need to worry about will step right over these w/o a second thought. The unfortunate fact is that there is little you can do to improve security beyond WPA2 with a strong password and using SSL for as much traffic as possible.
You've got so many gadgets
you lost me
Sweet I'll look into HDtracks.
So all your media is on a drive connected to your mac mini and everything is backed up to your NAS?
Do you agree Hammie?
You sound like my wife...
In home theater setups, you can have multiple zones. Your primary zone is always 1, you can have secondary and smetimes a third one. Depending on the device you get, you have multiple options
At a minimum, I would get something that will allow you to add an external amplifier in the future. The device will have a section of output ports called "Pre Out."
[QUOTESweet I'll look into HDtracks.[/QUOTE]
Yes, that is correct. Although in a small network like a home one, latency will be minimal, streaming music from a NAS over an Ethernet network to the Mac Mini runnig iTunes and then back out to the music player could affect quality of the music and video being played. Probably moreso the video because you can see it.
Everything stated cannot be debunked. However, someone with those skills (and yes, I know script kiddies can find all of this on the Internet) are probably going to focus on something with a little more substance.
The only thing I can think of is if someone wanted to place a botnet on your network or use your connection to attack someone else. However, most competent hackers can easily spoof any address they want. Hope that I did not scare you too much...
You sound like my wife...
facepalm
cool
still a bit lost I can connect two amps together?
seems like a plan
Everything stated cannot be debunked. However, someone with those skills (and yes, I know script kiddies can find all of this on the Internet) are probably going to focus on something with a little more substance.
The only thing I can think of is if someone wanted to place a botnet on your network or use your connection to attack someone else. However, most competent hackers can easily spoof any address they want. Hope that I did not scare you too much...
Nah not scared at all I have some background in networking and some of my friends have or are working on obtaining there CCNP. I think I can cover the basics.
That was really my poing. Getting past WPA2 will require significant skill, time and effort. Far more then it takes to get around SSID hiding, MAC filtering and static IPs.
As of right now the only way to circumvent WPA2 is by brute force. The is simply no practically way of doing it today. No script kiddie will have access to sufficent hardware.
SSID and MAC filtering is like wrapping a steel safe in paper. The added security is inconsequential next the the safe itself.
Typically, you connect one or more amps to a receiver or preamplifier/processor unit. There are ports on the back of the unit that look like this:
In this case, you would plug an RCA cable between the receiver and the corresponding channel of the amplifier. You can have a single amplifier per speaker or a multi-channel amplifier for all speakers. In both cases, you will connect the speakers to the amplifiers channel for that speaker.
Here is an example of one channel:
Receiver Front right preout --RCA Cable--> amplifier front right channel --Speaker Cable--> front right speaker.
Every other channel will follow the same concept.
Sorry if I am not making it clear, but this is as simple as I can describe it without actually being there to show you in person.
I love my setup:
In the office room I have my 2009 iMac I5 27 inch booting from an external SSD (this way I can work with a silent computer), my wireless all-in-one printer/scanner/fax (really really cool machine), the router + gigabit switch 8 ports and my 6 months old first time NAS Synology DS1511+ (love this thing. All my movies and TV shows are stored on this).
In the living room Ive got my 47 inch HDTV connected to my 2010 Mac Mini (for Plex. Its connected via ethernet so it can access Internet and the NAS), apple remote and PS3 for gaming (not too much anymore). Plus my iPad 1 16GB WIFI that I use to quick look web pages and to connect wirelessly to my NAS to shut it down whenever Im leaving to bed or whatever.
I always wanted to buy a macbook air but having the iPad is more useful for me to look the web and little more. If I were to buy it I fear I would start using less my iMac, which is a very powerful machine for my needs. iPad costs a lot less and I can take it to bed to read PDFs and other stuff.
Im very happy with my setup. I would even love it more if I where to buy a 3D TV Philips with Ambilight (awesome for watching movies), but my 47 inch TV is more than enough for many more years (I bought it 5 years ago).
In the office room I have my 2009 iMac I5 27 inch booting from an external SSD (this way I can work with a silent computer), my wireless all-in-one printer/scanner/fax (really really cool machine), the router + gigabit switch 8 ports and my 6 months old first time NAS Synology DS1511+ (love this thing. All my movies and TV shows are stored on this).
In the living room Ive got my 47 inch HDTV connected to my 2010 Mac Mini (for Plex. Its connected via ethernet so it can access Internet and the NAS), apple remote and PS3 for gaming (not too much anymore). Plus my iPad 1 16GB WIFI that I use to quick look web pages and to connect wirelessly to my NAS to shut it down whenever Im leaving to bed or whatever.
I always wanted to buy a macbook air but having the iPad is more useful for me to look the web and little more. If I were to buy it I fear I would start using less my iMac, which is a very powerful machine for my needs. iPad costs a lot less and I can take it to bed to read PDFs and other stuff.
Im very happy with my setup. I would even love it more if I where to buy a 3D TV Philips with Ambilight (awesome for watching movies), but my 47 inch TV is more than enough for many more years (I bought it 5 years ago).
All,
Glad i came across this thread.
I am active duty military and will be returning home soon, looking to bolster my home entertainment. I have decided to not get cable TV/satellite when I get back, I rarely watched it before i left and figure between ATV/netflix, and my movie/blu-ray collection. i will be more than entertained. My ultimate goal is to have all of my media in 1 central location that can be accessed from multiple devices.
Here are the components i have, and what I am looking to add. Please add suggestions as you see fit:
what i have:
Airport Extreme router
2010 macbook pro 13"
PS3
Sony 46" LCD TV (cant remember the model, but its 2 years old)
Ipad 2 (16 gig)
Iphone 4 (32 gig)
What I am thinking:
mac mini (ehternet or wireless? using my TV as a display)
A good sized external storage device attached to the mini (would love to use the new mini's thunderbolt connection for this)
ATV
some type of nice reciever/surround sound setup(suggestions)
I like to think of myself as tech savy, but after reading this thread I realize I have much to learn. I look forward to your replies!
Glad i came across this thread.
I am active duty military and will be returning home soon, looking to bolster my home entertainment. I have decided to not get cable TV/satellite when I get back, I rarely watched it before i left and figure between ATV/netflix, and my movie/blu-ray collection. i will be more than entertained. My ultimate goal is to have all of my media in 1 central location that can be accessed from multiple devices.
Here are the components i have, and what I am looking to add. Please add suggestions as you see fit:
what i have:
Airport Extreme router
2010 macbook pro 13"
PS3
Sony 46" LCD TV (cant remember the model, but its 2 years old)
Ipad 2 (16 gig)
Iphone 4 (32 gig)
What I am thinking:
mac mini (ehternet or wireless? using my TV as a display)
A good sized external storage device attached to the mini (would love to use the new mini's thunderbolt connection for this)
ATV
some type of nice reciever/surround sound setup(suggestions)
I like to think of myself as tech savy, but after reading this thread I realize I have much to learn. I look forward to your replies!
I disagree, I think airplay could be nicely implemented if you have lots of speakers setup. Also you would need some apple tvs' IMO to really experience airplay
Air play will be a must I haven't decided where yet where my content will be but ideally centralised.
Sorry for the late reply.
Here's what I would recommend,
mac mini connected to your network with Ethernet for the best throughput while streaming.
For the storage device, look into expandability, your best bet is a NAS or multi-bay enclosure. Then as you need more space you can just add another drive.
Get a receiver with airplay and an optical out to connect your speakers
connect your TV to the Mini via HDMI
with the remote app you can control everything from your iphone/ipad
ATV will be handy in other rooms where you want to use airplay with another TV
Speakers are to your choice
Hope I didn't miss anything
Thanks in advance for talking the time to help me out.
Here is the updated setup I have in mind.
Computer
Base Model 27" iMac
Networking
hardwired with powerline (already purchased)
Belkin N600DB as main router (purchased)
Belkin F5D8233-4V3 as a wap (purchased I'm not sure how to connect this)
Backup
Backup my iMac to a NAS directly connected to the iMac
NAS options are Synology DS1511+ or DS411+II (I'm leaning towards the DS1511+ because of the extra bay, hot-swappable drives and the expansion units.
The NAS will be used to store all my media, backup a MBP and the iMac. (not sure if this is possible)
will I be able to use iTunes and Plex if my media is stored on the NAS?
I also want to use it the NAS to do all my download work. (not sure how to set this up)
Can the NAS be directly connected to my iMac?
Speakers/Audio
I have an older version of logitec Z506 speakers. They have 3 jacks to connect. Do I need a Digital to analog converter to use these? (if so what do you recommend?)
Would the uDAC 2 work?
Peripherals
apple wireless keyboard
magic trackpad
bluetooth mouse for Windows 7
iPad (already own)
Apple Remote (Already own)
iPhone (Already own)
Apps
iTunes: For audio files
Plex: for managing video files
Virtual DJ: For mixes
iDupe: find and delete duplicate files
Transmission: To download content (or do it directly from NAS)
Did I miss something?
Here is the updated setup I have in mind.
Computer
Base Model 27" iMac
Networking
hardwired with powerline (already purchased)
Belkin N600DB as main router (purchased)
Belkin F5D8233-4V3 as a wap (purchased I'm not sure how to connect this)
Backup
Backup my iMac to a NAS directly connected to the iMac
NAS options are Synology DS1511+ or DS411+II (I'm leaning towards the DS1511+ because of the extra bay, hot-swappable drives and the expansion units.
The NAS will be used to store all my media, backup a MBP and the iMac. (not sure if this is possible)
will I be able to use iTunes and Plex if my media is stored on the NAS?
I also want to use it the NAS to do all my download work. (not sure how to set this up)
Can the NAS be directly connected to my iMac?
Speakers/Audio
I have an older version of logitec Z506 speakers. They have 3 jacks to connect. Do I need a Digital to analog converter to use these? (if so what do you recommend?)
Would the uDAC 2 work?
Peripherals
apple wireless keyboard
magic trackpad
bluetooth mouse for Windows 7
iPad (already own)
Apple Remote (Already own)
iPhone (Already own)
Apps
iTunes: For audio files
Plex: for managing video files
Virtual DJ: For mixes
iDupe: find and delete duplicate files
Transmission: To download content (or do it directly from NAS)
Did I miss something?
Last edited:
NAS = Network Attached Storage. It is connected via ethernet just like a computer. Drives on the NAS appear as shares on your system. If your iMac will be on all the time that you might want to access the NAS from your MBP then you should attach external drives directly to your iMac (FW800 now, Thunderbolt when it is cost effective).
You can set up iTunes and Plex to use media on shares. The capabilities of the NAS vary, basically they are server computers with a limited number of capabilities but easier configuration and lower cost (as well as generally lower performance).
I also noticed that you haven't allowed for backup of the media nor for off-site backup of the computers. You really need both. Make sure that any NAS you get can be easily backed up to external drives that you can store at another location.
So it seems my best solution in this case is to use the NAS for backup and get a 2 bay enclosure to store my media.
Then could I backup the iMac and the attached drive to the NAS which I assume has to be connected either to my iMac or my router.
Is the correct?
I'd say not. Using external drives for media or using a NAS is one question (use a NAS if you want access from the MBP while the iMac is off, or you can use external drives if the iMac will be on all the time you want to access data on the drives). The separate question is backup. Since in order to be safe from natural disasters or theft the backup needs to be off site, you wouldn't spend the extra money on NASes (you need two sets of backup BTW) for that. You would use external drives connected to your iMac (if you have no NAS) or your NAS. You should check what is provided with the NAS to facilitate backup. On the iMac it's easiest to do disk cloning using Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper!.
I use a Mac mini server, which can be considered as a NAS for this discussion. It's shown in the attached image. It has 1TB internal storage plus three of the externals hold media files and TimeMachine backups for four other systems. The fourth cased external drive is a backup of the internal server drives and the cloning happens on an automatic schedule. I regularly exchange that drive for a second one I keep off-site. The bare drive in the "toaster" is one of six I use to back-up the three external drives with media and TimeMachine. Because these change slowly and aren't as critical I back up less frequently. Doing a "smart" backup of a 2TB drive with SuperDuper! takes 15-30 minutes, typically.
Attachments
For off site backup I have a 1tb drive and a few flash drives I could use. That said is it best to use the NAS to store my media and have a backup of the imac/MBP? The macbook pro does not need to access my media.