Mark Sealey
Level 2 (362 points)
Desktops

Q: (How) can I use my Airport Extreme to send FLAC files/iTunes to my stereo?

(New to this topic.) Is it possible to use my Airport Extreme Base Station to send FLAC and iTunes music files to my (ParaSound P3/A23) stereo system wirelessly?

 

If so, how?

 

(Not interested in iOS devices doing this - just, effectively, in using my 'mid-2011'  2.7 iMac (10.7.3) as a music server

 

TIA!

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.3), Clean machine... no haxies; no Microsoft etc

Posted on Feb 6, 2012 7:28 PM

by Gino Cerullo,Solvedanswer
Gino Cerullo Gino Cerullo
Level 4 (1,456 points)
A:

Go with the Aux/Line if it is free although it sounds like Parasound has designed the Aux/Phono to accept auxiliary devices in addition to turntables so it might be safe to use it as well.

 

As for the Express, the USB port is only for attaching printers. The audio output does both analogue and digital optical if you use an optical minijack adapter. That is where you would plug in an DAC.

 

Like Macintosh computers, the Express audio output jack supports both analogue and digital optical. The audio is output in both formats simultaneously, analogue and digital optical, so it doesn't matter which method you use.

Posted on Feb 9, 2012 8:50 AM

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Mark Sealey

Q: (How) can I use my Airport Extreme to send FLAC files/iTunes to my stereo?

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  • by Gino Cerullo,Helpful

    Gino Cerullo Gino Cerullo Feb 7, 2012 11:58 AM in response to Mark Sealey
    Level 4 (1,456 points)
    Feb 7, 2012 11:58 AM in response to Mark Sealey

    No, not directly. AirPort Extreme base stations do not have the audio output that is available on the AirPort Express. If you add an AirPort Express and plug the audio output into the ParaSound equipment then yes you can use iTunes to send your music to your audio system. The Extreme with relay the audio to the Express wirelessly.

     

    Be aware that iTunes doesn't support FLAC files. If you want to use a lossless format you will need to use Apple Lossless Format.

  • by Mark Sealey,

    Mark Sealey Mark Sealey Feb 7, 2012 12:13 PM in response to Gino Cerullo
    Level 2 (362 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 7, 2012 12:13 PM in response to Gino Cerullo

    Gino,

     

    Thanks!

     

    So if I bought an Airport Express (for ($99), and converted my FLACs to Apple Lossless, and/or used something like VLC to play them, I could do it?

     

    How would the sound compare with the Sonos Bridge/Connect system?

     

    Significantly better?

     

    Your help appreciated :-)

  • by Gino Cerullo,Helpful

    Gino Cerullo Gino Cerullo Feb 7, 2012 3:37 PM in response to Mark Sealey
    Level 4 (1,456 points)
    Feb 7, 2012 3:37 PM in response to Mark Sealey

    Yes, add an AirPort Express and convert FLAC to Apple Lossless and iTunes will be able to play them. VLC will not help since you need iTunes to connect to the AirPort Express and VLC will not work with iTunes.

     

    There may be an exception to this but I've never tried it. You could try using AirFoil to connect to the AirPort Express and play your FLAC files that way but I have no guarantee it will work. AirFoil seems very flexible so it may prove to be a solution for you.

     

    I'm not familiar with the Sonos Bridge/Connect system so I cannot comment on the quality. I understand that it is comparable to using the AirPort Express but locking at the price it seems a more expensive solution for your needs.

  • by Mark Sealey,

    Mark Sealey Mark Sealey Feb 7, 2012 5:28 PM in response to Gino Cerullo
    Level 2 (362 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 7, 2012 5:28 PM in response to Gino Cerullo

    Thanks again, Gina!

     

    What I really want is a way to get all sound output (I write music using Sibelius) from my iMac to the preamplifier.

     

    Your help appreciated :-)

  • by Gino Cerullo,

    Gino Cerullo Gino Cerullo Feb 7, 2012 6:21 PM in response to Mark Sealey
    Level 4 (1,456 points)
    Feb 7, 2012 6:21 PM in response to Mark Sealey

    So, it sounds like what your really want is to have a sound system hooked up to your iMac so you can have monitor speakers for your music composition work. I don't think any of the solutions we've talked about are appropriate.

     

    Ideally you want to connect a set of monitor speakers directly to your computer but if you don't want to go to that extra expense and would want to connect to your already existing Parasound system instead then consider a direct audio connection instead. If the distance between your iMac and your sound system is to great to make that practical then see if the AirFoil solution will work with the Sibelius software.

     

    Of course, if my presumption of your intention is incorrect then you'll have to be clearer about what it is your are trying to accomplish.

  • by Mark Sealey,

    Mark Sealey Mark Sealey Feb 7, 2012 7:02 PM in response to Gino Cerullo
    Level 2 (362 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 7, 2012 7:02 PM in response to Gino Cerullo

    Gino,

     

    Thanks again. You understand exactly what I want to do!

     

    My concerns are two:

     

    • superior audio quality… the mini-jack to RCAs 40 feet away is just too buzzy :-(
    • not wanting to duplicate equipment I already have… electrostatic loudspeakers, Airport Extreme in particular

     

    Thanks for the Airfoil lead. I have contacted Rogue Amoeba to ask about it.

  • by Gino Cerullo,

    Gino Cerullo Gino Cerullo Feb 7, 2012 7:10 PM in response to Mark Sealey
    Level 4 (1,456 points)
    Feb 7, 2012 7:10 PM in response to Mark Sealey

    Too bad the P3 doesn't have an optical input. That should have solved the 40 ft run/buzzing issue. Airfoil may be the next best thing for your.

     

    Good luck!

  • by Mark Sealey,

    Mark Sealey Mark Sealey Feb 7, 2012 7:18 PM in response to Gino Cerullo
    Level 2 (362 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 7, 2012 7:18 PM in response to Gino Cerullo

    Right; regrettably not. No such thing as a converter?

  • by Gino Cerullo,

    Gino Cerullo Gino Cerullo Feb 7, 2012 7:59 PM in response to Mark Sealey
    Level 4 (1,456 points)
    Feb 7, 2012 7:59 PM in response to Mark Sealey

    There might be a converter. A Google search will be able to answer that question for you.

  • by Mark Sealey,

    Mark Sealey Mark Sealey Feb 8, 2012 7:45 AM in response to Gino Cerullo
    Level 2 (362 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 8, 2012 7:45 AM in response to Gino Cerullo

    Gino,

     

    I've downloaded AirFoil to try it. I have to say (thank you so much!) as though it looks like the ideal solution - provided the audio quality is good enough.

     

    Is there any reason why digital audio transmitted from my iMac over AirFoil to an Airport Express should be degraded - even if I took the digital output from the AirPort Express and used a 'high-end' DAC to one of my ParaSound's 'Direct' inputs?

     

    Your help and guidance here greatly appreciated :-)

  • by Gino Cerullo,

    Gino Cerullo Gino Cerullo Feb 8, 2012 2:00 PM in response to Mark Sealey
    Level 4 (1,456 points)
    Feb 8, 2012 2:00 PM in response to Mark Sealey

    I couldn't tell you if there is any degradation in the audio. My feeling is that it is sending digital bits so they should arrive as they've been sent. I don't think there is any compression applied to audio before it is sent. I do know that, on occasion, when using my wireless network to send audio to my receiver hooked up to my AirPort Express there are occasional drop outs but it is very rare. My network is also working within distances approximating to yours.

     

    There might be a slight delay between what is sent from the computer and what is output at the speaker but I don't think that will be perceptible.

  • by Mark Sealey,

    Mark Sealey Mark Sealey Feb 8, 2012 2:05 PM in response to Gino Cerullo
    Level 2 (362 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 8, 2012 2:05 PM in response to Gino Cerullo

    Thanks, Gino; Yes.

     

    My only remaining question concerns connecting the Airport Express to my ParaSound P3. The relevant caution from Apple says:

     

    Do not connect AirPort Express to the phono jack on your stereo.

     

    So I'd use either a DAC and the analog output (and/)or a mini-jack to Y-split phonos, wouldn't I? But the Express has analog output only, doesn't it?

  • by Gino Cerullo,

    Gino Cerullo Gino Cerullo Feb 8, 2012 2:36 PM in response to Mark Sealey
    Level 4 (1,456 points)
    Feb 8, 2012 2:36 PM in response to Mark Sealey

    What they mean by "Do not connect AirPort Express to the phono jack on your stereo," is don't connect it to the input that you would use for a turntable. Turntable inputs are usually referred to as 'phono' inputs on the back of stereo equipment. You can plug the audio output from the Express into any other input. An Aux input if it isn't already being used will do fine or the CD or Tape input. Whatever is free.

     

    The Express (tech specs) supports both analogue and digital optical output. A minijack-to-RCA Y-adapter is fine if you want to stick with analogue. If you want to throw a DAC in the mix that is up to you.

  • by Mark Sealey,

    Mark Sealey Mark Sealey Feb 8, 2012 7:17 PM in response to Gino Cerullo
    Level 2 (362 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 8, 2012 7:17 PM in response to Gino Cerullo

    Thanks, Gino!

     

    I'm British - in the UK we refer to what in North America are called RCA plugs and sockets as 'phono'!

     

    I actually have a choice of 'Aux/Phono' and 'Aux/Line' on the ParaSound P3. I should use the latter, shouldn't I?

     

    And the Express' USB output for an eventual DAC?

     

    How does the Express know which output (analogue or digital optical ) it is sending to?

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