The Hammer610
Level 2 (285 points)

Q: Airplay audio only iMac Intel Core 2 Duo 3.06 GHz

I have been researching this question.....

 

I have a iMac Intel Core 2 Duo 3.06 GHz running OS 10.6.   I have not yet purchased an Apple TV but want to know if it is worth it.

 

I am not going to try to do any video via the iMac and the Apple TV - yes I realize I have hardware limitations.

 

I only want to stream audio from iTunes.   I figure I can try AirParrot and stay with OS 10.6 while adding the AppleTV.  

 

Or upgrade to OS 10.8 (and hope my other software works).  Then, if I understand correctly, AirPlay audio will work on my ancient Mac.  Correct?

 

I guess I could do this via AirPort Express, but if I am going to spend $100, I might as well get the benefits of AppleTV.

 

Anyone have any other suggestions?

3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.4), G5 1.8 GHz and iBook 10.4 - both 10.4.11

Posted on Oct 10, 2013 7:51 PM

by thanksgumnut,Solvedanswer
thanksgumnut thanksgumnut
Level 1 (10 points)
A:

The answer is yes.  You can do the airplay audio streaming from a core 2 duo running OSX 10.6 and an older version of itunes to an apple tv.  I've been doing it no problem.  As you suggest, you could also pick up a used airport express for next to nothing and do the same thing, if you don't have any interest in the "tv" capabilities of an apple tv.

Posted on Jan 22, 2014 10:13 AM

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The Hammer610

Q: Airplay audio only iMac Intel Core 2 Duo 3.06 GHz

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Tlix,

    Tlix Tlix Oct 10, 2013 10:48 PM in response to The Hammer610
    Level 4 (1,420 points)
    Oct 10, 2013 10:48 PM in response to The Hammer610

    The requirements for AirPlay is iTunes 10.2 and above. That means that it should work with Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6. This article has more information http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5922.

     

    Get an Apple TV that way you can use AirPlay and you may even decide to stream video through Home Sharing.

  • by The Hammer610,

    The Hammer610 The Hammer610 Oct 11, 2013 7:39 AM in response to Tlix
    Level 2 (285 points)
    Oct 11, 2013 7:39 AM in response to Tlix

    I might be confused with AirPlay vs. AirPlay mirroring.  I am not certain that I understand the difference.

     

    I want to be able to play the audio output of iTunes, to take advantage of the extensive categorizing and rating of the songs that I have worked on for many years.

     

    Unfortunately, that link says nothing of the hardware requirements.  Plus Apple says I need to upgrade to OS 10.8 (online discussion).

     

    My iMac Intel Core 2 Duo 3.06 GHz will apparently not support videos.  "iMac (Mid 2011 or newer)" for AirPlay mirroring, if that is what is required for videos.

     

    However, it is not clear if audio - output of iTunes - alone will work with my iMac and AirPlay.  I do not see the AirPlay icon on my iTunes, so something is not enabled.

     

    Yes, I know I could try AirParrot to see how much it might load down my CPU, prior to purchasing an AppleTV.

  • by Rudegar,

    Rudegar Rudegar Oct 11, 2013 7:49 AM in response to The Hammer610
    Level 7 (28,980 points)
    Apple TV
    Oct 11, 2013 7:49 AM in response to The Hammer610

    airparrot is an alt to airplay mirror

     

    airplay mirror is cloning what you see and hear on the mac to the tv over the appletv

     

    airplay audio is using airport express and appletv as remote speakers one can use multiple at the same time

     

    I have an appletv 1g the old alu one and an airport express so under my airplay icon right of the volume bar in the top of itunes 11.1.1 I have the options

    computer

    appletv

    airport express

     

    if you don't have the icon looks like this

    http://cdn.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/itunes11airplaymultiplecontr ol1.jpg

     

    then maybe your itunes is too old

    or the appletv is not present on the same subnetwork as the computer some routers keep 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz and ethernet on seperate networks and one have to bridge them

     

    sometimes if my appletv don't want to show up on the list I can get it to by on the appletv starting a song and then stopping it again

     

    my imac is 21.5" mid2011

    and it also works fine with wifes macbook pro 13" from 2009 or something along those lines

  • by The Hammer610,

    The Hammer610 The Hammer610 Oct 12, 2013 10:14 AM in response to Rudegar
    Level 2 (285 points)
    Oct 12, 2013 10:14 AM in response to Rudegar

    I should have said that I am using iTunes 11.

     

    I do not yet have an AppleTV.

     

    Will the AirPlay icon show up in iTunes if I do not have an AirPlay compatible device?

     

    What I am trying to get at, will my older iMac work with iTunes AirPlay for music only?   I know it is too old for video.  And the OS is 10.6.

     

    iMac Intel Core 2 Duo 3.06 GHz running OS 10.6

     

    I do not want to invest in a AppleTV if I cannot use this iMac to get music playing on my iTunes to the AppleTV.  No, I do not want to share the music library - I want the output of the iTunes.

  • by thanksgumnut,Solvedanswer

    thanksgumnut thanksgumnut Jan 22, 2014 10:13 AM in response to The Hammer610
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jan 22, 2014 10:13 AM in response to The Hammer610

    The answer is yes.  You can do the airplay audio streaming from a core 2 duo running OSX 10.6 and an older version of itunes to an apple tv.  I've been doing it no problem.  As you suggest, you could also pick up a used airport express for next to nothing and do the same thing, if you don't have any interest in the "tv" capabilities of an apple tv.