Airport Express vs Mac for optimum quality

[cayorob]

Hi Guys,

Some of you must have both an AE and a Mac. I stream to my AE via iTunes in windows. Apart from the Hi-Res bonus is there any increase in quality in directly connecting the Mac optical output over the optical out of the AE to your DAC? i.e do i need to save up for a macbook before looking to improve on my DacMagic!!

Rob

 

[professorhat]

In my testing, comparing the optical out of my Power Mac compared to the optical out from my AE, both into a DacMagic so I could switch very quickly between the two, the results were exactly the same.

 

[fatboyslimfast]

Haven't noticed any difference using digital out. For me, the Mac edges it in analogue mode.

 

[Anonymous]

The only drawback of using an airport is that its limited to cd quality 16 bit 44hrz so if thats what your music is no problem if you have downloaded any higher 24 bit recordings you have to go straight from the mac. just make sure you chamge the output method in the midi settings

 

[Dan Turner]

I can't tell any difference either between Mac -> Dac or Mac ->AE -> Dac.

 

[cayorob]

Thats great, thanks for the feedback guys