Airplay audio cuts out intermittently

What worked for me, with Airport Express A1264 connected via optical out to Cyrus DAC-XP and experiencing continual audio dropouts:

Downgrade firmware from 7.6.3 to 7.6.1

Problem solved.

What worked for me is,

a) downgrading to 7.6.1

b) under the Channel for 5Ghz pick one rather than Automatic.

I have no idea why but it works so WHY question it.

I'm running an Time Capsule and Airport Expresses throughout the house.

Cheers

i'm having the same problem with Airplay. i'm using a wireless connection from an extreme and two expresses in only a 1000 sq ft apartment. Airplay was working fine for months until around the time i updated iTunes a few days ago. i did firmware upgrades yesterday and enjoyed a few hours of continuous airplay. today the drop outs are back worse than before. i can't really hook up with ethernet cable in a rented apartment. Apple's motto should be "With our solutions come more problems" ;-)

I found that the Time Capsule I was using was causing iTunes to drop out intermittenly. I have disconnected the Time Capsule (I was only using it for backing up, I was not using it to create my wireless network) and now I am streaming iTunes without any problems.

well i just did a soft reset on the express that was dropping out (the other one never had the problem) and it stopped dropping out. the soft reset(quick push) is best because it doesn't wipe out the setup info like a factory reset(push &hold) does. a paper clip is much easier than sorting through all the IT mumbo jumbo for me so hopefully it will continue to work.

Ok,

So I figured out the culprit of the problem and I have the solution. I will tell you how my system is setup and hopefully everyone can have fun.

Problem:

Airplay cuts out when streaming over the 5GHz network from a MBP.

Culprit:

iTunes version 11.0.2

Solution:

Roll iTunes back to 11.0.1 and you will be fine. If you have a backup of your system (via Time Capsule or something similar) you're great, if not, locate a copy of 11.0.1 from somewhere and follow these steps. (IF YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE MUCKING ABOUT WITH YOUR SYSTEM, DON'T OR GET SOMEONE WHO IS)

1) Open Terminal and run:

sudo rm -rf /Applications/iTunes.app

This will delete the iTunes 11 application.

2) Locate your backup of your system with iTunes 11.0.1 (via timecapsule or other means)

3) Copy iTunes from there to your current Applications Folder.

4) Enjoy problem free streaming again.

My System Setup:

iTunes 11.0.1

MBP running Mountain Lion 10.8.2

Time Capsule and 3 Airplay Express all running v.7.6.3

I have been using Airfoil since 2007ish, back in the AirTunes days... I primarily used it because AirTunes could not broadcast certain radio streams to my AppleTV due to their stream format. With Airfoil I was able to stream pretty much anything, which is great. It does have an annoying 2-3 second lag. So general listening is fine, flipping around though songs is no fun.

Then Airplay came along and was able to broadcast the radio stations that AirTunes could not. So I started using Airfoil less and less until Spotify came around. Then I started using Airfoil for the desktop Spotify app & MOG, which I still use today. Recently I have had drop out issues with Airplay that only seems to be resolved (temporarily) by restarting my mac. Funny thing though, Airfoil can run iTunes for hours upon hours without ever dropping out once (even Hi Res tracks), and I stream to 2 different AppleTVs (for the whole house experience)... So my conclusion is, there must be an issue with iTunes handling of Airplay, since my computer and AppleTV have no issue being 'locked-in" using Airfoil.... I think the router and network are scapegoats here, at least in my case... Apple, iTunes has an issue that needs attention.....Stat.

still haven't had anymore dropouts since i did the soft reset on my air express. all firmware and software are up to date.

i too have problems with my airport express's dropping out from my airport extreme main router. I have a 6 year old iMac running mountain lion and the latest version of iTunes. The 2 expresses will drop out at the same time yet my Altec Lansing in air 5000 keeps on playing. My question is this. If i run cat 6 cables under my home to the expresses from the gigabit switch (i will have to buy to solve this problem - because 3 ethernet outs is not enough for my Extreme router if i have to resort to "hard wiring" to expresses) will that by definiton solve the "drop out" of my expresses? In other words for the most part does hard wiring eliminate the general problem of dropouts? I guess i am opening a can of worms because of so many things that can in fact go wrong with trying to stream music in one's home. I am not very computer savvy so please try to simpify your answers. thank you so much for your help.

Hard wiring made no difference in my case.

i never had a problem when i ran ethernet cables at my old house, but it isn't an option for me now. if you haven't given the expresse a soft reset yet i would try that in the meantime especially if you recently upgraded iTunes.

definetly try before you buy!! all you need is a paper clip. have you updated the firmware for your expresses in airport utility?

Thank you so very much for this advice. i have never tried a soft reset. What does work is de-selecting the respective express's in airplay while on iTunes then re-selecting them. But that is a pain in the rear several times a day...I will try the soft re-set. If that does not work i will spend the money on the gigabit switch and run cat 6 cables to my express's and my apple tv's. If it still occurs i guess i will try to determine if there is an issue with my airport extreme - although i know nothing of running diagnostics on it. thank you again for yoru help

good luck with it. don't forget the firmware updates as well. one issue i remember when i ran my cat cables to the expresses had something to do with running (or not) in bridge mode. the expresses come factory set which i had to change in order to get my network to work. i'm not a techno wizard either but i have always found help somewhere other the people that create the stuff.

Yes. I've found that if you devote yourself wholly to making airplay work, it will do so loike a charm. But this has meant, to me:

1. Airport Base Station for your router and if you have any bridges, they must be airport base stations or expresses

2. Replacing ALL older switches with gigabit rated ones

3. Closing all airplay connections as soon as you stop using them

Having done this, I'ce found Airplay has made my home audio/video really magical. Now that Nenon has airplay-certified receivers, I can start a song from anywhere in the huse on any idevice and have it play in bedroom or living room. pretty cool, and a lot cheaper than old-fashioned alternatives.

Thank you Mr. Johnson. I do indeed have an extreme for my router and express's and apple tv's only in my system. Now that i am thinking about hardwiring the apple tv's and expresses i will need a gigabit switch to connect to my Airport Extreme. Bootsmon from above reminds me when i do in fact hard wire the expresses i will need to make sure they are set to a direct ethernet cable connection as opposed to "wireless" connection to the Airport Extreme. I have had great sucess thus far with my endeavor to have music throughout my home. Thank you for taking time to advise me