Airport Express + AirTunes

[cwp_sedan]

I was just wondering if anyone is running this? I was thinking about picking one up to stream some music from my Mac to my stereo receiver. I've heard good and bad things about it. Anyone have any feedback?

[The Dude]

It works for me. Connect your amp to your Airport Express. Can be used with your Mac or iPhone. In iTunes, go to Preferences > Devices > Turn on "Look for remote speakers connected with Airplay." Sound quality is pretty good.

[cwp_sedan]

Yeah I don't expect the quality to be amazing since it needs to be compressed a bit to travel over the network. I just would rather have it hooked up to my mac rather than my ipod every time. Easier.

[mcordy]

i have the apple tv hooked up hdmi and optical to my tv/stereo and it's amazing. i can also choose and change songs from my iphone or ipod and the appletv is only 120 now.

[cwp_sedan]

i have the apple tv hooked up hdmi and optical to my tv/stereo and it's amazing. i can also choose and change songs from my iphone or ipod and the appletv is only 120 now.

hmmm, definitely something else to think about.

[mcordy]

hmmm, definitely something else to think about.

I think either way you go you'll be happy with the products

[eguiyab]

do you have an iPhone or iPad?
I run 2 air port express and one apple tv in the house.
I have home sharing enabled on my mac and my wifes so from the apple tv... you can access both libraries.
the sound quality isn't bad really. each airport and apple tv is hooked up to a entertainment system on each floor and the sound is pretty good.
The advantage using a iPhone or iPad is the remote function/app. By using this you essentially have a universal remote for your itunes in your pocket/hands.

when using multiple airports/apple tv's you can stream the same song simultaneously to various sources through the house. worked well during the holidays when people in the basement/living room and upstairs all hear the same song... but not blasting from one common source.

[cwp_sedan]

do you have an iPhone or iPad?
I run 2 air port express and one apple tv in the house.
I have home sharing enabled on my mac and my wifes so from the apple tv... you can access both libraries.
the sound quality isn't bad really. each airport and apple tv is hooked up to a entertainment system on each floor and the sound is pretty good.
The advantage using a iPhone or iPad is the remote function/app. By using this you essentially have a universal remote for your itunes in your pocket/hands.

when using multiple airports/apple tv's you can stream the same song simultaneously to various sources through the house. worked well during the holidays when people in the basement/living room and upstairs all hear the same song... but not blasting from one common source.

Yeah I have my iPhone and already use the remote app which is pretty sweet. I already have an xbox and a WD Live TV unit so I will probably go with the airport express. Still trying to decide though.

Do you guys have any hanging/lag during streaming? My iMac is "n" and the airport express would be "n" as well.

[eguiyab]

nope. no lag that i've noticed.

[cwp_sedan]

nope. no lag that i've noticed.


Cool. Thanks. :)

[mcordy]

no lag but about a 5 sec buffer, I used to stream media through my xbox but the apple tv is the way I go now

[cwp_sedan]

no lag but about a 5 sec buffer, I used to stream media through my xbox but the apple tv is the way I go now

Yeah I do the same thing with my xbox. Usually connect via ethernet though to handle HD content otherwise it just buffers every 10 seconds.

I want something wireless that is flawless once it starts playing. If it takes a couple seconds to start initially that's ok, but if it's every song, that kind of sucks.

[laksman91]

Check out AirFoil, pretty useful app for this setup

[PCLoadLetter]

Does anyone know how to stream avi files or other formats apart from quicktime to appleTV? I have a few movies on my computer that can't be added to itunes, do I have to convert them?

[mcordy]

Does anyone know how to stream avi files or other formats apart from quicktime to appleTV? I have a few movies on my computer that can't be added to itunes, do I have to convert them?

I have an apple script that creates a medialink to the avi's so that you can add them to itunes but i usually convert to mp4 as it's more reliable. I use a mac computer though, donno if it will work with a windows machine.

[dave2010GT]

The next big thing coming out is going to be a tech called "AirPlay" you may have seen some updates in the apple remote app already. Basically receivers, iPod docks, and any other device that can connect with ipods or iphones can now wirelessly connect and you can stream music right from your device without needing a computer on.

So for example if you by an air play receiver with a wireless adapter connect it to your network and then when you come home your iphone or whatever will connect to your network and then you can power on your receiver and play the music wirelessly right from your phone/device and control it. So basically if you keep music on your phone and don't want to access your library all the time you can.

[cwp_sedan]

The next big thing coming out is going to be a tech called "AirPlay" you may have seen some updates in the apple remote app already. Basically receivers, iPod docks, and any other device that can connect with ipods or iphones can now wirelessly connect and you can stream music right from your device without needing a computer on.

So for example if you by an air play receiver with a wireless adapter connect it to your network and then when you come home your iphone or whatever will connect to your network and then you can power on your receiver and play the music wirelessly right from your phone/device and control it. So basically if you keep music on your phone and don't want to access your library all the time you can.

Isn't it just through bluetooth? My pioneer receiver has an add-on adapter you can get for bluetooth streaming.

[PCLoadLetter]

I have an apple script that creates a medialink to the avi's so that you can add them to itunes but i usually convert to mp4 as it's more reliable. I use a mac computer though, donno if it will work with a windows machine.
I made a reference file in quicktime that points to an avi but the sound is all gargly. Looks like I'm just gonna batch convert :)

[cwp_sedan]

I made a reference file in quicktime that points to an avi but the sound is all gargly. Looks like I'm just gonna batch convert :)

HANDBRAKE! :)

[dave2010GT]

No Airplay is done through wi-fi so the sound quality will be almost 100% of the original file with very little compression needed. The current models can only have bluetooth added on but the new models will be wi-fi ready. It's the same with yamaha, denon, onkyo and everyone. Basically you'll open up the remote app and you can either run your music from your phone directly to the receiver or from your library on your computer. The only advantage is you don't need to have you computer on any more if you keep music on your phone. And as you move from room to room you can bring the music with you so to speak. So if your amp is playing airplay in your living room and then you go to your kitchen where you may have an ipod dock or a second set of speakers you can from the phone change to an new device or turn on the speakers in the kitchen.

[cwp_sedan]

Picked up the Airport Express today. Setup was soooooo easy and it works perfectly!!! So glad I got this. Thanks guys. :)