Airport Express "local clock" issue?

I'm using an MHDT Paradisea that doesn't have this problem.

My Benchmark DAC1 doesn't have this problem either.

It seems your DAC is "slow to lift mute" from a no signal condition. To determine if it's your DAC or if it's the AE/Mac combo moving betwee songs, enable crossfading or whatever it's called. This way the "song" never ends, it fades in to the next song.

If the music never stops, then it's your DAC. If the music pauses between songs anyway, then it's the AE/Mac combo not being able to move from one song to the next, but that's highly unlikely.

Good excuse to grab a new DAC!

It is definitely the dac. I have had this problem with more than just the AE. Using my blu-Ray player as a transport results in the same delay. I am very interested in the Cambridge dacmagic as a solution, because I would like the two switchable inputs. Any other dac I should be considering that has two optical inputs?

Personally, I use a Benchmark DAC1 and I'm pretty happy with it. It doesn't have the local clock issue and plays the AE perfectly. That's actually the way I listen to music most of the time.