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Using Airport Express/AirTunes.


I'm interested in trying the Airport Express AirTunes with iMac/iTunes and DAC. What is the best connection/cable (mini-jack to RCA or optical and made by who)? Also, I assume the AE has a D/A. Can it be bypassed or will it convert/compress my Apple Lossless music files?

I need a solution to use iMac/iTunes w/ Reimyo DAP-777 w/o having to spend $1K's more on overpriced USB or FireWire converters, or use a lot of additional devices, cables, and wires. I used a iTransport before. Now trying a Squeezebox Touch but it's having constant "Re-buffering" issues w/ both wireless and ethernet. Need a solution to use iMac/iTunes. What about using an iPad? Is there a way to use that as a streaming device?
sakahara
sakahara OP
181 posts
 
Addendum: Would AppleTV be a better solution to AE?
arni
313 posts
 
The constant rebuffering thing with the Touch may be your router..... I had that very same issue and changed the settings in the router... allowing more bandwith... and no problems since.
czbbcl's avatar
czbbcl
1,752 posts
 
I have an AE connected to my integrated amp utilizing a monster cable with RCA connection. My AE is set up through an existing wireless network . I downloaded i-tunes from the web and it recognized my AE immediately. Yes the AE has a DAC but only does 16/44.1 and yes you can by pass it using the optical out into a DAC.

Chuck
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,428 posts
 
Airport Express has, according to Stereophile review, decent low jitter optical out and less then perfect DAC (what can you expect for $99). It has two problems: Limitation of 16/44.1 and lack of clock between songs resulting in a loss of few seconds of next song when DAC is slow to sync(crossfading in Itunes being remedy for this). My Benchmark DAC1 doesn't do it and all my music is 16/44.1 but when higher resolution downloads will become more popular I might switch to Apple TV (that costs the same) or similar. AFAIK AE uses ALAC format for transmission - that is my storage format. Remember during installation to "join existing network" instead of creating separate network. Also figure out frequency of your microwave (manual) and switch to channel far away - unless, of course, you can use 802.11n that operates at 5MHz. Unfortunately I have old Mac Mini that does not support it.
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