Playing High-Quality Downloads via iTunes & Airport Express

[admin_exported]

I would like to be able to take 96kHz / 24 bit files, convert them into AIFF and then play them from iTunes via an Airport Express that is connected to the optical input on my CD player (which can act as a DAC for other digital sources).

Seems a nice idea, but ....

Is it possible to send music sampled at 96kHz through an Airport Express, or is it limited to 44.1kHz?  If it is, can anybody suggest an alternative wireless connection that could be driven from iTunes?

Many thanks in advance for any answers or suggestions .... 

 

[chebby]

iTunes on a Mac...

What you need to be concerned about is the 'Audio-Midi Setup' ('go', 'utilities') settings for your default output device.

These will need to be set to the appropriate word length and sampling rate otherwise anything coming out of your Mac will be downsampled before it gets as far as the AE.

In the drop-down menu 'Properties for', select the output device which you are using then under 'Audio Output' set the format to the correct sample rate and '2ch 24 bit'. (If the '2ch 24 bit' and 96 khz options are not selectable then you have your answer about the Airport Express.)

iTunes on Windows....

On a PC running iTunes you will find these settings in Quicktime (Edit, Preferences, QuickTime Preferences, Audio, Sound Out)

When you revert back to playing 16 bit/44.1 khz material, remember to changes these settings back otherwise your PC/Mac will be upsampling 16 bit stuff to 24/96 and it will sound worse than having your external DAC do the upsampling.

 

[Anonymous]

chebby:What you need to be concerned about is the 'Audio-Midi Setup' ('go', 'utilities') settings for your default output device (on a Mac of course).

These will need to be set to the appropriate word length and sampling rate otherwise anything coming out of your Mac will be downsampled before it gets as far as the AE.

In the drop-down menu 'Properties for', select the output device which you are using then under 'Audio Output' set the format to the correct sample rate and '2ch 24 bit'.

Many thanks for the quick reply, Chebby.

I just tried this, but I'm afraid I must be missing something. ÿiTunes finds the (wireless-connected) AirPort Express but, in the "Properties For:" drop-down menu on the Audio Devices window, it only case "Built-in Output"; there does not seem to be a way of selecting the AirPortExpress as the output device that iTunes is using. ÿIf you (or anybody else) can tell me what I should be doing, I'd be most grateful!ÿ

 

[Anonymous]

Well, after doing more searching of forums ....

It does seem like the AirPort Express only outputs 44.1kHz / 16 bit. ÿSo I won't be able to use it to stream higher resolution recordings.

Time to start a new thread with a different question ....ÿ