I belong to several audio forums and I see some people are using their iPad/iPod Touch or iPhone to feed audio directly into their stereos using the headphone output and are looking for a better way to get music into their stereos.

My answer to this problem is typically to suggest that they add an Airport Express to the setup  (or AppleTV if they also want video) and to AirPlay audio from the iDevice to the Airport Express.  My Sonos vs Airplay article can be found here.  However, some people have a $350 budget and are bound and determined to spend it.  They apparently don't realize that Airport Express is bit perfect with CD quality (16/44.1) audio.

For those that want to spend more, the Sonos Connect is often brought up as a solution.  If you are using it for multiple rooms, it might make sense to go that route, but my suggestion for the one room scenario would be to pick up a used 2010 Mac Mini and add a couple programs to increase your options across the board.

Below is a few features of the Mac Mini and how they compare to the Sonos Connect:

1.  Outputs - the 2010 Mac Mini has several outputs: 4 USB 2.0, optical, analog, HDMI, and FireWire.

The Sonos Connect has analog, optical, and coax.

Winner:  Mac Mini (USB alone works with many more DACs)

2.  Ripping and playing CDs/DVDs - the 2010 Mac Mini has a 8x slot-loading SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW).  You can also add BluRay via an inexpensive USB BluRay Drive.

The Sonos Connect has no way to play or rip discs.

Winner: Mac Mini

3. Formats - the Mac Mini has the ability to play many formats ( excluding some of the High Rez movie formats).  It will play DSD, 24/96, 24/192, FLAC, AIFF, ALAC, DD5.1, etc..
 
Sonos Connect is compatible to only 2 channel - 48khz with a smaller list of Codecs.

Winner: Mac Mini

4.  Storage -Mac Mini can store media files on the internal drive or a connected drive and serve it to other devices.

Sonos Connect has no storage and no way to directly connect storage.

Winner: Mac Mini

5.  Airplay - Airfoil ($29) can be installed on the Mini. This gives it the ability to receive an AirPlay audio signal or send out an AirPlay audio signal.  Very convenient for iOS device owners.  It can play and distribute audio directly from storage, CD player, AirPlay, and directly from the web with a huge list of third party apps. 

Sonos receives a signal via the web or storage attached to the network.  It works with a much shorter list of services.  You can add an Airport Express to its analog inputs, but that would cost more money.

Winner: Mac Mini

6.  Remote Features - You can control the Mac Mini with apps from JRiver, Fidelia, Apple Remote, Spotify Connect, Rdio app, etc..  You can also take over the desktop with apps like Teamviewer or Splashtop Personal.  Additionally, you can control it with a keyboard and mouse or apps like Rowmote if the mini is attached to a display.

The Sonos Connect can be controlled via the Sonos app.  Instead of using the app designed by the streaming company, most apps have to fit in the Sonos walled garden.  This means that features of the streaming service are often missing.

Winner :  Mac Mini

7.   Apps - You can install apps like Amarra SQ+ ( ~$45 - filters noise, dither control, and gives you numerous EQ options), record from vinyl with apps like Audacity, give headphones better SQ with apps like Fidelia and JRiver, stream media wherever you are with apps like Plex. The list goes on and on.

The Sonos Connect is simply a receiving device for audio streams at home.  It works with the Sonos app.

Winner: Mac Mini

8.  Video - the Mac Mini can play and rip DVDs for watching in DD 5.1.  It also has numerous photo viewing and editing apps available.  Not a big deal if you don't have a monitor, but needs to be mentioned for those that do.  You can also watch numerous Internet video sources , like Netflix and YouTube, with it, and mirror or stream video to AppleTVs, Roku's, etc.

No video capabilities on the Sonos Connect.

Winner: Mac Mini

9.  Multi-room -  Multi zone audio works with any app using Airfoil.  You can steam to any/all Airplay receiver(s) or to any iOS device (you can control it directly on the Mac or with AFRemote app on the iPhone).  You cannot send different streams to different devices, but I feel that this is a rare need for most people.  You can also use apps like Plex to stream audio and video to Roku, Firetv, IOS, Android, PS3, or to any mobile device that has cellular or wifi access.  Note: The Mac Mini is compatible with wireless N (5Ghz).  

The Sonos Connect can stream audio from specific streaming services or via a source that is hooked up to its analog inputs.  The unique feature is that Sonos will stream different audio to multiple Sonos devices, simultaneously.  The Sonos Connect is compatible with 2.4Ghz wifi, but gives you the option to use their "mesh" network.

Winner:  Toss up depending on whether having more streaming sources available outweighs multi-zone streaming to multiple Sonos devices.  

10.  Appearance- the Mac Mini is a sleek device made of silver recyclable aluminum.  Its dimensions are 1.4 x 7.7 inch x 7.7.

Sonos Connect is a chunky plastic box ("White / high-quality polycarbonate material").  It is 2.91 x 5.35 x 5.51.  


Winner:  Mac Mini 

11.  Bluetooth - The Mini also incorporates Bluetooth technology.  Bluetooth can be used for keyboards and mouses/mice, but it can also be used to send an audio signal wirelessly to compatible speakers and headphones.

The Sonos does not have Bluetooth capability.

Winner: Mac Mini

Okay, so I much prefer the Mac Mini and it obviously does many other things I didn't even mention.  I picked the (mid year) 2010 Mini for this comparison because it can typically be found on eBay between $225 - 300, so it is often cheaper than a Sonos Connect (they typically sell for more than the 2010 Mini, even on eBay).  I would recommend Sonos over the Mini for those that favor easy muti-zone audio, especially streaming different audio using one controller, at the expense of the other features.  I might also recommend it to someone that is a completely clueless about tech (never used a laptop, for example) because it may be easier to setup due to its walled garden approach.  Who knew Apple would be the more open design in the comparison?  Heck, Apple even makes it easy to run Windows 7 on the Mac Mini via Bootcamp if you favor apps like Foobar2000 or Windows Media Center.   With VMWare Fusion or Parallels, you can actually run Windows and OS X on the same computer at the same time. 

NOTE: You can get a brand new Mini for $499 (check the refurb store for possible bargains), if you want the most up to date option available, but keep in mind that it no longer has a DVD/CD player installed, but it and Blu-ray can easily be added with USB.  There are a lot of benefits of buying new, including being able to buy Applecare, but it would get the price up over the $350 barrier I started with.

Microsoft has been working on an operating system that works across all of their platforms.  The Surface is similar to a tablet that runs the full Windows 8 and later operating systems.  I still think it is a bit awkward to use as a main laptop because the cover/keyboard is not up to the same quality as a typical keyboard.  Also, it is a bit more awkward to use in the lap.  I am also not a big fan of the way that it jumps from the newish tiled “metro” interface into the old-school desktop, either.  However, it is giving people an ultra portable laptop that doubles as a decent, if not perfect, tablet.  For many, this is all they need.

Let me say that I believe Apple should continue to sell a true iPad tablet.  First of all, a true tablet will be cheaper and be an option for people that have to use Windows for work (as one example) and just want a fantastic device for reading magazines, comics, surfing the web, videos, etc.  However, I think they need a new hybrid device that runs (at least) two separate operating systems.  While OS X and iOS share many features, the fact is that some things still can’t be done with just an iPad or they are harder to do with an iPad.  I remember my 3rd Generation iPad having an issue when installing iOS7.  No matter what I did, I could not get it to boot after the update.  As a result, I got on the web and read that I had to plug it into a computer and launch iTunes.  It definitely didn’t feel like a stand alone device.  While Apple has continued to open up iOS to apps like IFTT and Workflow that give it more automation, it still feels limited compared to OSX

First off, the hybrid device would need to have a 10-13 inch (my preference would be for a 12 inch display similar to the MacBook) touchscreen with similar capabilities to the iPad's screen.  Obviously, using it in tablet mode would require a touchscreen, but it might come in handy for drawing or taking notes right into OS X apps like Pages or Notes.  For some reason, Apple has resisted putting a touchscreen on OS X because it isn’t built around touch.  However, they could still make it available in OS X without changing much of the interface.  Just give it the same access that they give Wacom devices now when you use pen input.  They could have it off in OS X by default and when you open the system properties to turn it on, give you the same type of access as Wacom’s tablets*.

* For those unaware of Wacom, it is a device that typically hooks up to your computer via USB.  It is a flat tablet that enables pen input into programs like Photoshop and Illustrator.   

I don’t know if you have heard of BlueStacks, but it will enable you to run Android OS in OS X via and Android emulator.  If I can run Android on the Mac, then I should also be able to just toggle iOS and OS X modes through a “gesture”.  For example, a four finger swipe down on the screen could take you from iOS to OS X and back.  

I am not a fan of the keyboard that the Surface uses, but Apple could use a detachable keyboard similar to the MacBook’s keyboard.  It might be slightly heavier, but it would be much more usable, which to me is more important than a few ounces.

What I want and what it would take for me to buy a new AppleTV are different. If it did everything it does now with a faster processor, I would buy one.

What I want are:

1. Native support of bitrates outside of 48khz. Not just hi rez, but CD format (16/44.1) for lossless bit-perfect streaming of Redbook CD quality would be nice.

2. App store - Obviously, it would need to be full featured and have apps like Plex, Amazon, Lynda, and Vudu. 

3. 4k - I would love to see this since this is where things are headed, especially, since they make seldom hardware changes to the AppleTV.

4. Siri control - I want to be able to control all of the features right from Siri, preferably with an option for an always on mic (like Amazon Echo), but I would settle for Siri iPhone control.

5. More support for different codecs - I wouldn't need Plex if iTunes/AppleTV supported more formats.

6. Multi-room Airplay features - Right now, you can select to send the audio to one Airplay device. I would prefer if I could send it to any or all devices like iTunes and still have the ability to play directly from the AppleTV, simultaneously.

7. Direct streaming from the web, similar to Chromecast - I should be able to start a program or album from my iPhone, send it to the AppleTV, and then turn the iPhone off.

8. Remote - I want the box to continue to support IR. I don't want another PS3 situation where I have to have an adapter or a Bluetooth remote sitting around because I can't use my Harmony remote with it.

9. I want an Ethernet port like we have now and a separate optical output like we have now. It means I don't have to rely on wifi and I can use the AppleTV in an audio only setup later.

10. I think it needs a video camera for homekit features and facetime.

11.  I still want Airplay and Airplay mirroring and many of the apps we have now (Podcasts, iTunes, etc..).  However, AppleMusic should be available. 

In a perfect world, I would also love to see an Apple branded home theater receiver with full Siri/voic control, Homekit, and AppleTV/Airplay features. However, I don't see that happening.

Did I miss anything you want to see?  Leave a comment or send me an email with your suggestions.

All things being equal, I will take lossless audio over lossy audio.

Note:  For the purpose of this article, when I refer to lossless, I am talking about Redbook CD 16/44.1 quality audio.

As I have mentioned in a prior post, I am switching to Apple Music because all things aren't equal.  

I have seen several articles about Apple's decision to use 256k AAC files.  Some are fine with compressed lossy files, some think they should have used lossless formats instead, and some think they should have a premium tier for those that want lossless.  I agree with those that would wish for at least a premium, lossless tier.

One of the most memorable and discussed parts of Walt Isaacson's Steve Jobs Biography was the part where Steve Jobs was talking about the lessons he learned from his father.  To quote the book:

"He loved doing things right. He even cared about the look of the parts you couldn’t see.”

To me, this represents Apple's brand and image more than anything else I have read or heard.  

With that note, I realize that Apple started with 128 Kbps files on iTunes and have since increased their bit rates to 256k AAC files.  In the past, I have always thought that these lossy bit rates were a necessary trade off to work with slow internet and cellular speeds and caps. 

With Tidal (and Deezer on Sonos) proving that a modern service can offer lossless format streaming and HD Tracks showing us that high resolution downloads are possible, it begs the question of why Apple doesn't have a premium tier for downloads or streaming?

One person offered the point that it would be more expensive for Apple to offer lossless because their potential user base is larger than Tidal's.  I don't believe it.  As more users pay a premium, theoretically, the fixed costs (the price to house the 30 million lossless files) should get cheaper on a per person basis.  The bandwidth required would go up, but I can't imagine a situation where Apple couldn't handle the bandwidth, not to mention that the extra users should easily cover the extra cost.  Apple is the same company telling us that 16 GB iPhones have enough memory because we can store all of our files in the cloud.  iTunes also streams 1080p movies with Dolby Digital soundtracks.  I don't believe bandwidth is the issue.

The other point is that "people can't appreciate or hear the difference".  First of all, I am waiting for any test that provides absolute proof of this assertion.  I have yet to read any test results that have conclusively shown that we can't hear a difference.  Most tests are set up based on statistical results of whether we can conclusively hear a difference. 

Just a quick analogy: I have two small chocolate milkshakes available and one has a giant cockroach mixed in and the other doesn't.  Next, I told you that we did a "blind test" and 8 out of 10 times our test subjects said they could taste the difference between the shake with the cockroach and the shake without the cockroach...inconclusive results under the typical audio ABX methodology.  

"Typically, a 95% confidence level is sufficient for psychoacoustic experiments. In other words, we want to be confident that less than 5% of completely random test results would indicate a perceptible difference.
http://lsbaudio.com/publications/AES127_ABX.pdf

Which milkshake would you drink if you had the option?  Most, I suspect, would choose the shake without the cockroach.  Why?  There is no conclusive test showing that a difference in taste exists.  It is because they know there is a difference between the two milkshakes.  If Baskin Robbins said that they had cockroaches in every milkshake, but it was inconclusive through ABX testing that you would actually taste the cockroach, how long would they be in business?  Do you think it would damage their brand?

In the Steve Jobs quote above, he doesn't seem to be professing that Apple doesn't care about the inside of a MacBook case because most people, under most circumstances, wouldn't notice a difference or care.  However, with audio they are taking the original file, removing bits, and hoping that under most scenarios, most people don't notice a difference or don't care.  Sorry, to these ears, it doesn't sound like the same degree of end-to-end quality is being applied...and I don't need an ABX test to figure that out.

The other issue that I mentioned is cellular caps.  That issue can be easily resolved by having the app default to a lower bit rate and making the user choose higher or lossless codecs.  Every other service, with the exception of Apple Music, that I have used, already gives you that option.

To wrap things up, I think lossless audio fits in with Apple's philosophy of end-to-end premium quality and providing a maximum of 256k lossy files doesn't.  That doesn't mean I will be switching to Tidal, it just means that in my mind, I know I have the equivalent of an unfinished, sloppy Mac enclosure that I have to live with in order to use OSX (Siri).  

If you know of some other reason that Tidal and Deezer can provide lossless streaming and Apple can't, please let me know.  My guess is that they have pushed the "Mastered for iTunes" at 256k for so long that they are ingrained in that bit rate, but I don't know for sure.

I have already written an article about the 20 things I would like to see Apple change with Apple Music, but I have decided to switch subscription streaming from Rdio despite the current issues.  

First off, I should mention that I mainly use iOS (iPhone 6 plus and iPad Air 2) for listening to music (Airplay or Dragonfly DAC at home, Bluetooth at work and in the car), so the switch from Rdio is mostly related to how the app works with iOS.   I do use iTunes on the Mac on occasion and don't have a major problem with it, although I feel the iOS makes better use of the service if only for Siri.  

Below are the main reasons for switching:

1.  Siri - When I was itemizing all of the things Apple Music was missing, I came to the realization that some features are just much more important than others.  There are many features on Rdio that I prefer to Apple Music (continue play, artist radio slider, and the ability to sort albums by different criteria, just to name a few).  However, Siri has made my life so much easier when I don’t want mess with the interface at all.  For example, I may be listening to sports radio in the car because the Griz just signed Marc Gasol.  However, three minutes in, they decided to discuss fishing…yes, fishing.  I decide to listen to music, but I don’t want to mess with the app.  I simply hit one button on the Nav control unit to change to bluetooth audio and one button on the iPhone. Siri then comes up on my car’s bluetooth, I tell "her" to shuffle all of my music and my music starts to play.  

When I am at home and just want to hear an album, I just pick up the iPhone and say "play the album Way out West by Sonny Rollins" or "play something by Sam and Dave" and music just starts playing.  It is great for home, the car, work, etc.

Having Siri integration is a major game changer!

2.  iTunes Match integration - I have been using iTunes Match for years.  The problem is that I would be in the Rdio app, then want to hear The Beatles, and I would need to leave one app and start another.  It was a pain.  Apple Music mingles my music collection with Apple Music and gives me the ability to easily listen to The Beatles or Prince without leaving the app.

NOTE:  Please do not delete your local library after you put your music in the cloud.  That is not a smart thing to do.  

!!!ALWAYS!!! Keep more than one local copy of all  your files.  If Apple somehow messes up every file in the cloud or on iTunes, you can simply delete them and import the files from the backup again (after you create a new backup from the old backup assuming the worst case scenario and all of your old iTunes files are ruined).  I thought this was academic, but I see well respected tech bloggers that haven't figured it out.  Maybe I need a post on that subject ?  Actually, I have written about how I backup up files a couple of times.  Link 1, Link 2.

3. For You - The recommendations are outstanding for when I don’t know what I want to hear or I just want to explore.  I prefer this particular page over any suggestion page available on any other service.  

The playlists introduce you to new artists and they also mingle artists' albums they know you like with albums that they think you will like.   The playlists they recommend are often fantastic with suggestions like  "ON SAX:BOBBY KEYS"....that includes The Stones, Clapton, BB King, Harry Nilsson, and John Lennon.  I would never have the ability to easily put this playlist together myself.  


In fact, I rarely ever use playlists.  I have mainly been more album oriented which is why I like artists like Radiohead, Sinatra, Pink Floyd, etc.   However, Apple has the ability to put together compelling playlists that not only include artists and songs that I would theoretically put in a playlist, but new artists and songs that I may not even know.  This leads to new discoveries, and in short, it is AWESOME!

4.  Car integration - I mentioned Siri above, but there is more.  In fact, I may create a video on just how great this works in my car (2014 BMW).  With Rdio, I had the ability to use Bluetooth audio, album art, and the ability to skip songs (Spotify didn't work properly at all..which is one of the reasons I dumped them).  

With Apple Music, I get several new features like the ability to search for albums, artists, genres, right from the navigation screen.  It has all of my music and any album or song I have moved to my library from Apple Music. It also keeps the playlists that I save and radio stations I have saved.  When I play an album, I can see and select any song on the album from the nav screen or from the heads up display with just the steering wheel controls.  Keep in mind, this is the first version of the app and it is much more integrated than the services that have been around for years.  

5.  New - this fits my needs better than other services, as well.  The ability to see a page with new releases from all genres combined, but also with the ability to find new releases based on genre is perfect for my needs.  If I want to hear new blues albums, I know exactly where I need to go to find the newest releases.  

The "New" page for each genre also contains recommended Playlists like "Blues for the Modern World", "Best of Chicago Blues", etc. (to give you a couple examples from the Blues genre).  Song charts for the genre are also here along with video and album charts in the Top Charts section.

6.  The other features like Radio and Connect aren't game changers for me, but I wouldn't remove them if I had the option.  Sometimes I want to hear ECM Selected Recordings, Mixtape, or other stations I created recently and the Radio section is the place to find them.  I use the Connect page to keep up with new entries from Apple Music genres like Apple Music Jazz, Apple Music Country, Apple Music Classic Rock, etc.  and Beats 1 creators ( even though I rarely ever listen to Beats1).

While I am not saying that Apple Music is perfect, I do feel that even right out of the gate it is the best service for my needs.  Since I use iOS at home and away, the integration with Siri alone could have been enough to get me to switch.  Those that are complaining about the many features and confusion could just as easily hit one button and tell Siri to play something.  It is so easy a 5 year old could do it.  

The complexity comes from it having so many features and the way we interact with the app determines whether we think those features are worthwhile.  Personally, I would keep all of the features, including Beats1 that I could live without.  The reason is that I have always preferred having options available over not having them available.  Maybe I will hit that Beats1 button out of boredom one day and be introduced to an amazing artist.  I just don't want to throw away that option.  

In short, I spent months deciding on which service to switch to when MOG was first bought by Beats.  I compared Rdio to Tidal, Spotify, and Beats and it won in so many categories that I was very happy with the service.  However, Apple Music beats Rdio right out of the gate with convenience (Siri), recommendations (For You), music selection (I have easy access to The Beatles, Prince, and Neil Young albums I own), and it works better in my car (Bluetooth Audio integration with the navigation screen in my car).  Apple isn't perfect at this point, but we are essentially talking about a beta, even if they didn't call it that.  Of course, there are bugs, but I have been using the service for a month and the bugs just aren't enough to make me want to switch back to using Rdio, so I cancelled the Rdio subscription service.  

You may remember I had a pre-launch wish list blog post that I released back in May.  Well, now that I am past the initial thrill of finally having music streaming with Siri integration and having my iTunes Match library merged into a streaming service, I am now ready for an updated wish list.  These are the top twenty things I would like to see addressed in the near future by Apple:

1.  Remote control features - The ability to control a computer app with the iOS app was the main reason I stayed with Rdio when Tidal came out with lossless streaming.  Apple had this built into their Remote app, but you can’t control Apple Music with it.  They need to add the ability ASAP.

2.  Airplay multi-room streaming from iOS.  It can’t be a post-PC world if I have to go to a computer to have access to features that should and can work with iOS. 

3.  Continue play - when an album ends, it should start playing music that it has curated around my tastes or similar music rather than just stopping.  Rdio can do this and Apple needs to do this.

4.  Playlists - you should be able to create a new playlist right from the song/album.  Right now it feels clunky because you have to navigate away from the page, add a new playlist, and make your way back to the song/album (it is easier to do if you started playing the album before navigating away, though). 

5.  Better Siri interaction - When I say “Play Classic Jazz from 1955", the service should know what I want to hear.  Don’t get me wrong, the way Siri works now is amazing, they just need a few tweaks.

6.  Similar Artists - On iOS, sometimes I pull up an artist and look for similar artists.  They have each artist present in a round icon with their photo.  Half the time, I click on it and it does nothing.  Probably a bug, but there is missing links that should be there.

7.  Bugs…  Too many of them.  People should not have to worry about messing up their entire library when installing the new version of iTunes.  When I open the app, I should not get a screen telling me to sign up for Apple Music after I have already signed up.  The iCloud music merging was buggy, as well.  I had to toggle the “switch” back and forth before my library showed up.

8. Better instructions - An explanation of how DRM works with your files that are uploaded, what it means to have the iCloud music library box checked in iTunes preferences, etc.  I think a lot of the stuff you can figure out if you have ever used an app, but these basic features need to be spelled out.

9.  Videos - I should be able to Airplay video to my AppleTV.  Instead, I hit the Airplay button and only get music.    

10.  Video should have a full screen option on the iPad.  Instead, it is in a small box that does’t utilize the entire screen in landscape mode.

11.  Speaking of landscape mode, I got a 6 plus to be able to turn the phone on the side and use it in landscape mode.  In this case, it works for video, but the rest of the app is inexplicably only in portrait.  

12.  AppleTV app - If I can’t Airplay videos, I should be able to play them natively on my AppleTV, but there isn’t an Apple Music app.  The entire point of having an AppleTV instead of a Roku/Fire is that it interacts with Apple stuff.  Not having this capability at launch is a disappointment.

13. An option for lossless or hi-rez versions of the music for an additional fee.  Right now, Tidal has lossless audio that sounds fantastic.  I realize that Apple has “mastered for iTunes” songs that sound great, however, I don’t see a way to know when or if you are getting “mastered for iTunes” quality.  Also, no matter what they do with their lossy compression, lossless has the potential to sound better.  

14.  Speaking of compression, I want the ability to dial down the bitrate from 256k.  AT&T is nice enough to send me a text when I am nearing my monthly data cap.  I would love to be able to tell the app to steam at a lower resolution on cellular only.

15.  Album/Artist Reviews - Rdio uses AllMusic/Rovi reviews to populate their reviews.  Apple apparently has their own method and it is awful.  I thought I would just go to AllMusic’s website to get reviews, but it has pop up ads that steal the audio steam, so your music cuts off.   Apple has spent a lot of time on the “For You” recommendations, but when a new album turns up, you usually have no way to read about it in the app.  

16.  Pick up where you left off - When I close the app, I want the music I was listening to when I closed it to show up in the que when I restart the app.  

17.  Sorting albums by release date, alphabetical, or its popularity.

18.  Search/Listen to music by music label. ECM, a Blue Note, etc.

19.  Bring back Homesharing - I don’t want to waste my data cap streaming from the web when my music is sitting on iTunes in the office.  Also, my music is in lossless formats.  I don’t want to stream in 256k when the lossless file is available.

20.  Instead of putting Beats1 at the top of the page (on iOS) with a huge icon, they need to put “recently played” at the top.  If people are listening to Beats1, it will be in the recently played.  If they aren’t, it should show up below their recently played music.