Moving away from iTunes on a Mac

[Nick Armstrong]

I have just realised that it can't be used with AirPort Express!!!

Not looking good for Audirvana.

Yes I worked that out when it was first mentioned some while back - non-starter for me.

[Beef Oven!]

Yes I worked that out when it was first mentioned some while back - non-starter for me.

I must have missed that.

It's not a show-stopper, because I listen to music through my table-top monitors (Genelec - an excellent MrGG suggestion) just as much as I listen through the Naim system.

I have listened to a fair bit of music with Audirvana over the last few days, including today - M1 (Bernstein CBS), DSCH 9 (Barshai) and Led Zeppelin I. I really want to hear an improvement and convince myself I need this, but I really can't hear any difference.

[Nick Armstrong]

I must have missed that.

It's not a show-stopper, because I listen to music through my table-top monitors (Genelec - an excellent MrGG suggestion) just as much as I listen through the Naim system.

I have listened to a fair bit of music with Audirvana over the last few days, including today - M1 (Bernstein CBS), DSCH 9 (Barshai) and Led Zeppelin I. I really want to hear an improvement and convince myself I need this, but I really can't hear any difference.

I'm only really interested in options if it means I can crank it out through the Naim-Cabasse combo.

There's also the question of wanting ease of access to the collection (inc podcasts) in the car. Currently iPods/iTunes provides the perfect all-round service for me.

Listened to the new Erato Shostakovich Cello Concertos recording (Capuçon/Gergiev) - the sound is absolutely tremendous via the Airport Express, I have no complaints on that ground leading me to want to change.

[Beef Oven!]

I'm only really interested in options if it means I can crank it out through the Naim-Cabasse combo.

There's also the question of wanting ease of access to the collection (inc podcasts) in the car. Currently iPods/iTunes provides the perfect all-round service for me.

Listened to the new Erato Shostakovich Cello Concertos recording (Capuçon/Gergiev) - the sound is absolutely tremendous via the Airport Express, I have no complaints on that ground leading me to want to change.

I'm coming around to a similar view, although I would recommend that you invest in an iPhone - it's amazing to be able to have the entire Apple Music library available on your phone, which you can Bluetooth to your car hi-fi system (or your living room system, if you can't be bothered to turn your Mac on!). This morning I was driving back from North Hertfordshire and I just 'dialled' Mahler 7 Abbado CSO on my phone and was listening down the motorway (I didn't stop for any Highland Black!).

[Nick Armstrong]

I'm coming around to a similar view, although I would recommend that you invest in an iPhone - it's amazing to be able to have the entire Apple Music library available on your phone, which you can Bluetooth to your car hi-fi system (or your living room system, if you can't be bothered to turn your Mac on!).

That is very germane as when I leave the groves of professional life and hand back the various bits of kit, I have to decide which portable communication device I get....

[teamsaint]

How difficult is it to turn a mac on?
My ipad seems easy enough.......

[Beef Oven!]

That is very germane as when I leave the groves of professional life and hand back the various bits of kit, I have to decide which portable communication device I get....

Simple - You either jump right in with the iPhone 6, or wait until the 7 comes out.

[Beef Oven!]

How difficult is it to turn a mac on?
My ipad seems easy enough.......

When you retire, you get a double-dose of Parkinson's Law - you don't have time to waste on switching machines on, all the time. You'll find out, one day.

[Nick Armstrong]

Simple - You either jump right in with the iPhone 6, or wait until the 7 comes out.

I am in fact not a smartphone fan - my current plan is to retain my retro Sony Ericsson (750i, 2005 vintage - brilliant phone, a battery charge lasts most of a week, great FM, strong as anything if you drop it etc, and tiny so it fits anywhere).... I have actually sourced and bought another new one on eBay, still boxed and pristine, as back up if this one fails.

So the 'phone' aspect of the iPhone I'm not that interested in. Which makes getting one rather absurd in my mind.

But presumably, the same could be achieved re: Apple Music, portability, in-car use etc, by acquiring an iPad - without the concomitant uselessness of the telephonic aspect of the gadget?

[Beef Oven!]

I am in fact not a smartphone fan - my current plan is to retain my retro Sony Ericsson (750i, 2005 vintage - brilliant phone, a battery charge lasts most of a week, great FM, strong as anything if you drop it etc, and tiny so it fits anywhere).... I have actually sourced and bought another new one on eBay, still boxed and pristine, as back up if this one fails.

So the 'phone' aspect of the iPhone I'm not that interested in. Which makes getting one rather absurd in my mind.

But presumably, the same could be achieved re: Apple Music, portability, in-car use etc, by acquiring an iPad - without the concomitant uselessness of the telephonic aspect of the gadget?

Yes, an iPad will work in the same way.

[Nick Armstrong]

Yes, an iPad will work in the same way.

Does one need a SIM card to make the whole iOS jazz work, notwithstanding that it's not going to be used as a phone?

[Anastasius]

Does one need a SIM card to make the whole iOS jazz work, notwithstanding that it's not going to be used as a phone?

No provided you get the right version iPad.

[Dave2002]

No provided you get the right version iPad.

But it might be worth getting one with the sim and 4G capability anyway. I use mine a lot more than I expected to, for example for maps. It's not possible to upgrade to the 4G/GPS but it is possible to "downgrade" a 4G/GPS model simply by not installing a sim card until you feel you need one. The all singing and dancing versions are usually only about £100 more. It's also (IMO) not worth trying to economise and get a device with too small a main memory. Go for the max, if you can afford it. We did that with one (too small memory) total disaster! A younger member keeps reminding us about the chopping board.

Also, there are merits in the different sizes. I have a regular size and an iPad Pro. Some people find the Mini size useful. It fits fairly easily in a handbag, I'm told.

If by any chance you end up doing any kind of voluntary or society work you might find the larger sizes are much better for reading and managing documents, though the Pro versions are completely unwieldy for use as cameras, though good for watching films on. You can store quite a lot of CD equivalents on a 128 Gbyte machine. There are ways of controlling hi-fi and speakers, either wifi or bluetooth.

[Beef Oven!]

Does one need a SIM card to make the whole iOS jazz work, notwithstanding that it's not going to be used as a phone?

No, you don't need SIM-type iPad. I have a 2013 model that has no SIM facility and it works fine with everything. But check out what Anastasia's saying about the 'right version' iPad (I don't know what that's about).

[Beef Oven!]

But it might be worth getting one with the sim and 4G capability anyway. I use mine a lot more than I expected to, for example for maps. It's not possible to upgrade to the 4G/GPS but it is possible to "downgrade" a 4G/GPS model simply by not installing a sim card until you feel you need one. The all singing and dancing versions are usually only about £100 more. It's also (IMO) not worth trying to economise and get a device with too small a main memory. Go for the max, if you can afford it. We did that with one (too small memory) total disaster! A younger member keeps reminding us about the chopping board.

Also, there are merits in the different sizes. I have a regular size and an iPad Pro. Some people find the Mini size useful. It fits fairly easily in a handbag, I'm told.

If by any chance you end up doing any kind of voluntary or society work you might find the larger sizes are much better for reading and managing documents, though the Pro versions are completely unwieldy for use as cameras, though good for watching films on. You can store quite a lot of CD equivalents on a 128 Gbyte machine. There are ways of controlling hi-fi and speakers, either wifi or bluetooth.

I've had 32g non-SIM iPad for 3 years and it's been fine for everything I've used it for. Before Apple Music, I was using iTunes Match, so all my music is in the cloud - in fact everything is in the cloud and I never reach capacity on the iPad. I even have a fair few photos and videos stored on it. Wi-Fi is available almost everywhere these days,so this has meant I've never had a problem with not having a SIM.

I suppose it's all according to individual use. Regarding my MacBook, I've had to increase my HD to 2TB on account of my iTunes library, which my iPad has remote access to.