Digital / NAS / Apple......ideal setup?

[fergs]

I would like to incorporate my entire music collection +250 cds +400 itunes into one storage platform. Ideally the music could be referenced through my lcd and played through my current hifi. Is there a recognised 'default' set up for this? I want to shift my itunes collection off my PC which is currently in a seperate room and into my listening/front room. I think my options are:
1. Apple TV
2. Laptop - DAC
3. Sonos or a n other...
4. NAS or external drive??

Anyone got any strong recommendations based on experience?? Many thanks.

[bogie]

firstly, get a NAS, so you have everything in one place, reachable by everything on the network

then its just a case of client devices to play the music - I have a mix: AV receiver plays them through the hi-fi, my EVA media player will too (better GUI) and for multi room I have a couple of Logitech squeezeboxes ...all of this just runs from a "my music" folder on the Readynas box

...thats presuming you have a router that you can connect the NAS too, that all your other stuff will connect to...in other words, a home network

[fergs]

thanks, i have a router, what NAS is leading the way at the moment?? and what would you 'now' go for regarding the delivery to the DAC???

[bogie]

well Netgear are the market leaders for SME/consumer NAS, but not cheap - an NV+ withough disks is about £500

to deliver it to your clients, then for music streaming, wi-fi is fine via your router, for video then ethernnet cables are still best, after that then powerline adapters are pretty good

[navier_stokes]

What's your budget?

If you're into your macs already and like the interface I'd go with something like a Mac Mini, permanatly on with a squeezebox classic. Mac mini's are just as efficient as NASs and a hell of a lot more powerful; I've read a few pieces about a lot of NAS not being able to cope with some streaming applications - drop outs etc.

The benefit of this is you can also hook it up to your tv for any hi def stuff and you can set it up so you can shove a CD in, it'll burn it and eject without having to switch it on.

Maybe you'll not like the mac mini suggestion, it's a bit expensive for what it is, but I'd definitely go down the squeezebox root as your front end....

Edited to add, I wouldn't bother with apple TV, it's neither here or there.

Edited by navier_stokes on Tuesday 9th June 19:07

[fergs]

thanks, my budget is upto £1k no more. Hadnt considered the macmini will now do my research, please keep the ideas coming....I currently only have the hifi end sorted ie. beresford dac,integrated amp and passive speakers. ideally would like a multimedia solution just dont know enough on the server/client set ups....Thoughts Please....???