Airplay Transmitters?

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Level 1

9 points

Airplay Transmitters?

Hello all, I basically have a small record shop where I have incoming records and outgoing records. I need to listen to the incoming records to make sure I haven’t been sold a skipping record, and sometimes I need to do this while I am looking for records that are supposed to be going out. Problem is that the storage room and the listening room are separated by a hallway, so I either have to do a long cable run to a set of speakers in there, or I could use Airplay I thought since I have so much apple stuff. There’s an Apple TV 4K right next to where I need to be!

So far I have 3 options I’ve found:

Long cable run. I could snake a TRS cable pair through walls and in and out of utility closets to get a connection on the other end. This would be expensive and time consuming but probably give the best results. However if I want to switch things to a different room someday I will have to redo this whole thing and it would be a nightmare.
I found I can use an old audio interface with my iPad to get the audio into an app called AirChord and then use my iPad as an airplay transmitter. This works pretty well and it’s practically free, but it does have moments of audio drop out and the audio isn’t super high quality. It does work though.
I’ve found a device that has an airplay transmitter in it, made by TIC for outdoor speaker systems, my plan was to use it as an airplay transmitter and receive the signal on the Apple TV that’s right there, but that doesn’t work and the transmitter can only be received by another TIC device, so I’m having to buy another one just to test it. So far the cost of this method will be about $450 so pretty expensive, but if it works it should be pretty good and easy to use and set up. The downside to this is it does communicate via airplay somehow, but I can’t simply play the transmitter’s output through airplay.

As you can see I’m in a weird situation, and I am really surprised Apple hasn’t simply made a professional level Airplay transmitter since they have so many other devices for HomeKit. We have tons of them! I love it all! I’m a total apple fanboy. Just really wish I could have a simple fix for this problem. I’d pay a premium for this device! Please Apple either make one or make airplay more accessible somehow! Thanks very much!

If anyone has any other ideas besides 1,2, or 3, I would LOVE to hear them

Thanks in advance and Happy New Year!

Apple TV 4K, tvOS 15

Posted on Jan 6, 2022 2:26 PM

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Answer 1

Ataraxy01

Level 2

179 points

Jan 10, 2022 1:10 PM in response to ScottFerg

Ran across this: https://9to5mac.com/2019/01/16/how-to-play-vinyls-with-airplay-or-bluetooth-to-homepod-headphones-and-more/

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Answer 2

Rudegar

Level 10

180,036 points

Jan 7, 2022 2:42 AM in response to ScottFerg

if it was me then I would be sure to give them your wish as feedback

Product Feedback - Apple

as far as I know apple only moderate these forums they don't scan them for suggestions or complaints

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Answer 3

Ataraxy01

Level 2

179 points

Jan 8, 2022 5:59 AM in response to ScottFerg

Airplay will always come from a digital device made by Apple. Apple is totally out of the analog connector game.

At this point, just run cable and be done with it.

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Answer 4

ScottFerg Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 7, 2022 10:15 AM in response to Rudegar

Thanks! Great idea, I didn’t know that feedback section existed! Unfortunately looks like there isn’t a separate topic for Airplay but I gave it to the Apple TV people. Hopefully it gets to someone somewhere who likes it. :)

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Answer 5

Ataraxy01

Level 2

179 points

Jan 7, 2022 8:15 PM in response to ScottFerg

I am unclear on what you need so, I’ll toss out a few things.

A cheap, used iPhone?

A Bluesound device of some kind might also work.

But this Belkin thing is cheaper. https://www.belkin.com/us/speakers-headphones/speakers/soundform-connect-audio-adapter-with-airplay-2/p/p-auz002/

Another one is the Andover Audio Song bird. There is a third one from China. I forget the name.

Also consider an Amaz Echo Link, which can transmit RCA to an Amaz Echo device (if that is what you mean?)

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Answer 6

ScottFerg Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 7, 2022 8:52 PM in response to Ataraxy01

I considered an old iPhone running that app instead of my iPad, is that what you meant? That still seems less elegant of a solution than I'm looking for. The reason I don't like option number 2 in my post is that it is clunky and I'd rather just have it be a thing happening behind the scenes I never have to mess with.

The other options you mention seem to be devices which will do kind of the opposite of what I need. From what I see those will allow you to receive a streaming signal or stream an internal digital signal but I need something like the last option you mention but for Apple Airplay. Seems wasteful to have to buy a whole other ecosystem when I'm already all Apple. That's basically what I'm already having to do in option 3 that's cool it's cheaper but I am already waiting on the second unit from the other company to test method 3. I just wish Apple or an Apple accessory company like Belkin would make a device similar to that Echo Link but compatible with Airplay so that I can easily choose the Apple TV right there as the destination. It would just be so perfect since the whole system is already there. I will keep that Echo link in mind though, thanks for the suggestion!

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Airplay Transmitters?

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