Since this topic started on list, I am reactivating the original topic for broader discussion by others.
I have mine working now and I’m very happy with it. I did, believe e it or not, know most everything about the system before I bought it. After all, the concept of Apple TV is hardly new. But the implementation has changed significantly. For a start, the device acts as an air-play centre, IN EFFECT, for MY network. Now, I can stream from my computer, for example, to my HD/3D TV here in the lounge, using AppleTV as a hub for the video or audio material. Because the device itself is totally accessible, and can use your iTunes library, all of the data stored in that library when home sharing is enabled is accessible to me on the AppleTV regardless of its content. No need for AirFoil or any other third-party utility. Of course, I am very aware that the iTunes system does present some very obvious disadvantages, and yes, I am mindful of those. However, in my case, they don’t affect me too much at the moment since I have other avenues to explore which give me access to those formats and that content which iTunes does not support When I chose my model, I opted, quite deliberately, for the 64GB model. Given the difference in price between the two options, I considered it better value for money than the 32GB model. The 32GB model is priced in the UK at £139.99 Sterling. The 64GB model is priced at £179.99 Sterling. Therefore, there’s not a lot of point buying the 32GB model in my humble opinion. Regarding research etc., yes, you were fortunate. Not everybody is quite so, so they have to do the best they can. In my own case, I was aware of most all information regarding my Sound Bar before I bought it. Yes, UI asked questions of people I know, and I did a little bit of net research myself. I went to my local store and had a look at their offerings. The Samsung sound bar I bought appealed to me particularly even though the salesman thought I should buy the Panasonic equipment. The reason? Well, put simply, the Panasonic TV talks, whilst the Samsung does not. However, the speech on the Panasonic system is limited, sluggish, not at all responsive and in some places doesn’t ’t work at all. Functionally, the Panasonic doesn’t allow for much expansion. You also have to use their equipment, and there are other drawbacks, as I see things. Therefore, I opted to go online and buy the system I wanted. Yes, it is true that it doesn’t all have accessible setup, not as far as I’m aware, at any rate. But the sound bar is simple enough to use without the need for all the additional stuff. I confess my ignorance regarding to one issue, and that being the answer to a quite simple question. Why would a receiver such as you referenced in your original post be of more benefit than a system such as mine? I personally have absolutely no regrets whatever regarding my purchase. The only item I haven’t been able to get going yet is my Neo box. Somebody recommended that b box as an accessible solution. Once I get Voice Assistant installed, and I think I know how to do that now actually, then I should be almost ready to go. I’m not suggesting that will give me total access, but it certainly won’t do any harm. ;-) But again, why mess around with all that extra connectivity if I don’t need it? Actually, if I do need additional HDMI connectivity, no problem, I have a four-port HDMI buffered switch which would work just fine. But since my TV and Sound Bar talk to each other without the need for HDMI or any other wired connectivity, and since my DVD player/HD recorder/BluRay player joins the party as a wireless device as well, the only reason I need HDmI at all is for the satellite box and the AppleTV. Given that, when I turn on the AppleTV, it switches my TV to that HDMI port, and the TV relays the signal to the Sound Bar, no need for additional cables there either. I confess that a LAN connectivity solution would benefit me greatly here in the lounge, and that’s something I’m working to rectify. My player also handles “SACD” content, and also it is possible to connect my Samsung phones to all of the Samsung devices. I haven’t explored that yet but I’m told that there is an app in the Play Store which would effectively turn my phones into talking remotes. So, now to address the only real remaining issue, as I see it. That being the interface to the Neo box. I’m hopeful that I’ll have that sorted within the not too distant future. But even if I don’t, it won’t break my heart. ;-) The remote for the AppleTV is a real step forwards in the case of Apple. The remote, as well as the unit itself, has a microphone, so one can use the BlueTooth 4.0 technology to take advantage of SIRI and once you learn the command set, (which is another task I think I’ll have nailed down soon) one can browse one’s content just by pressing and holding a button on the remote, and talking to it, all from the comfort of one’s luxurious leather reclining armchair, in my case. Also, I think it is possible to interface an Apple keyboard to the device via BlueTooth. That will allow for more convenient input when the need arises. I confess that I don’t much enjoy using the point’n’click interface. Not, at least, for entering text. I can do it, don’t get me wrong. But I often find it tedious to use that kind of keyboard if there’s a conventional option available. So, anyway, once I get to grips with the above-mentioned tasks, I should have a system which does everything I would ask of it, with the one exception. That being the lack of an accessible recorder. That said, using the iOS or Android-based “Sky Go” application, it is possible to access the sky box. So maybe even that goal isn’t too far out of my reach either. But I confess that it would have been excellent had the Samsung DVD/BluRayt system I have had presented an accessible interface. But again, that said, the way we watch TV over here in the UK has changed radically over the last couple of years, especially since everything went digital. Most people now have some kind of catch-up TV or on-demand TV system. All UK channels now offer that kind of online access, including the BBC and ITV networks. Another option I’m looking at is a system called “FreeSat”. Basically it is a free-to-air satellite system. There are a lot of services available on FreeSat these days which is why I’m interested. Now that I have the sole use of my lounge, I may consider installing a FreeSat dish on the external wall, which would give me that facility as well. So the world of TV is a big wide market place these days here in the UK. HD and 3D TV is also a reality, although the latter does not present any appeal to me since it’s only a visual attribute. That having been said, I’m given to understand that there are developments in the pipeline which will, if rolled out, give us 3D audio as well as video. From what I’m told, 3D audio would surpass quite easily the kind of surround sound systems we have today. Actually, I’m told that surround sound receivers are a bit old hat these days. Anyway, enough waffle. ====================================== My compliments and kindest regards Gordon Smith: <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> Accessibility & Information Technology Support Specialist. Mobile/SMS: +44 (0)7907 823971 ———————————————————— > On 20 Sep 2016, at 01:24, Dane Trethowan <[email protected]> wrote: > > the below message illustrates the point I think as to how very important it > is that we research the equipment as best as is possible before we buy. > > I have a Denon AVR-2113 Surround-Sound receiver here and I know what every > button on that receiver does, I know where every HDMI or other input > connections are but more importantly I know just how to activate those > connections so - whatever device I connect - I can get that device going. > > Of course I was particularly lucky, the store I bught my Denon from offered > me 3 hours with a professional installer so I took the opportunity to have > him show me everything about the receiver and I asked every question I could > possibly think of asking whilst taking notes. > > My receiver is one of those with a HTML Interface that gives me complete > control over the receivers configuration and I'll explain some aspects of > this as best I can. > > The receiver has quite a few inputs, 6 HDMI, 2 Digital Audio and 4 analogue > type inputs, not much by today's standards but enough for most people. > > Now suppose I select Input 1 from the remote controller, I can then go into > the Configuration and actually configure the receiver and tell it what ports > to assign to input 1, say HDMI port number two, Digital Input 1 and Analogue > Input 3 thus if there's no signal from HDMI port 2 the input then switches to > Digital Input 1 and if there's no signal there then Input number one then > switches to Analog Input 3. > > You can go further by assigning a name for input number one, you ccould call > it something meaningful like "Apple TV". You can also adjust the levels of > input number one if required but I won't make this sound any more complex > that it may be sounding right now <smile>. > > So what this all means is that if I have a device like a Neo or Apple TV > connected I know exactly what buttons to press to gain access to that device. > > Another trick I normally employ - just to set up a device or make sure its > working correctly - is to use the Aux port on the front of my receiver for > first time connections, once I'm sure everything is working with an Apple TV > for example I connect it to one of the main ports of the receiver. > > Just my two cents worth on this. >
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