"Mini" to Optical for Airport Express

fishbone, Since you are asking for a "to an optical" I have to assume (yikes) that you don't have a mini 3.5mm input on your preamp.
Therefore, I gather that you are trying to use the 3.5mm output of the AE and the optical input on your Preamp. If yes, then read on.... The good thing is that the 3.5mm output on the AE is in fact an optical output. What you need is a small adaptor that fits over the end of a standard TOSlink cable to allow you to connect it to the AE.

Or Some cables from monoprice have mini-toslink to standard toslink which would not need the adapter.

If you are trying to do this with a high-end glass TOSlink I don't have info on that.

Okay...so we have established that such an animal exists. Now the question is, sonically, am I better off using the analog out of the AE and the analog in of my preamp OR the digital out of the AE and the digital in of my preamp?

Thanks,

Lawrence.

The only way to know is to listen to both. How good is the DAC in your preamp?

Assuming your preamp is expensive you may likely benefit most by using the digital out from the AE, however, in practice you might not be able to hear a difference (with the volume levels correctly matched.)

08-27-07: Fishbone222
Okay...so we have established that such an animal exists. Now the question is, sonically, am I better off using the analog out of the AE and the analog in of my preamp OR the digital out of the AE and the digital in of my preamp?

Thanks,

Lawrence.

Essentially that would be comparing the internal DAC of the Airport Express (used with the analog to analog) to the DAC in your (unidentified)pre-amp. The internal DAC of the AE gets the job done but there are better (and probably worse too!) I can't make that quality call -even if you told me your pre-amp model.

I have used the AE's mini-Toslink output into my Denon receiver's TOSlink input and was satisfied with the sound. I am now experimenting with an external DAC. I think the quality of the connection type is very relative to your system components (eg their ability to expose the upstream signals). Check out monoprice[dot]com for inexpensive TOSlink cables so you can give it try for under $10.

enjoy your music ~ed