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how do I hook up an airport express to stream with a DAC? have cable modem now.

M

moxie39

New Member
Hi all, this question is driving me nuts. the goal was to use a Airport Express and a DAC, but not sure how to hook it up since I have a cable modem that my network is on. just want to use the airport express for streaming into my stereo. I asked 3 people at the apple store today, and they all just looked like I asked them how to build a house from the ground up. they had no idea. has anyone hear done this specific process? thanks for any input.

I understand the process of setting up the DAC, it's just the whole network thing that is creating confusion. Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this.
 
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Ask in the support forum of Apple.com. I did it once and it wasn't too complicated.

I wish I could be of more help.

Good luck.

Eric
 
Physically, you can run an optical cable from the headphone jack of the Airport to the Optical in on the DAC.
Run good RCA cabled from the DAC to your receiver/preamp/whatever.

I don't know how you have your network configured now - that pretty much determines how you set up the airport to see the Wifi network.
What are you using to control things? An iPhone? an iPad? a laptop?
 
Is your existing wireless network (if you have one) based on an Apple router like the AirPort Extreme? If so, set the Airport Express up to extend that network and enable Airplay. Connect the AE to your DAC with an optical cable as suggested above.

If you have no wireless net or a non-Apple one, you need to use a wired Ethernet connection between your cable modem and the AE or plug the AE into an Ethernet jack on your existing wireless router. You then set the AE up as a new wireless network with AirPlay enabled. If you now have two wireless nets, (the original non-Apple one and the AE), make sure your computer or phone is on the AE wireless net if you want to stream.

Apple is a very closed and proprietary company (Grrrrrrr...) so you can't stream too much using AirPlay. Airfoil software lets you stream anything to your AE.

Still with me? You'll get it.
 
LexDM3 said:
Is your existing wireless network (if you have one) based on an Apple router like the AirPort Extreme? If so, set the Airport Express up to extend that network and enable Airplay. Connect the AE to your DAC with an optical cable as suggested above.

If you have no wireless net or a non-Apple one, you need to use a wired Ethernet connection between your cable modem and the AE or plug the AE into an Ethernet jack on your existing wireless router. You then set the AE up as a new wireless network with AirPlay enabled. If you now have two wireless nets, (the original non-Apple one and the AE), make sure your computer or phone is on the AE wireless net if you want to stream.

Apple is a very closed and proprietary company (Grrrrrrr...) so you can't stream too much using AirPlay. Airfoil software lets you stream anything to your AE.

Still with me? You'll get it.
Click to expand...


Your existing wireless network isn't required to be Apple based. My AE connects just fine to my ASUS router. Set it up in "client mode". You will then be able to stream any audio output from your Apple devices via AirPlay. If you want to stream any thing other than iTunes to it from your pc, you can purchase Airfoil https://www.rogueamoeba.com/airfoil/. Here's how to set it up as a client.
https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT201621
 
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It would be far better if you just used a Audioengine D2 24bit WiFi DAC.

Apple only streams 16bit.
Your Cable WiFi has everything on it and as you see your trying to make everything talk to each other and it's a PITA.
 
There are major differences between the Audioengine and Airport Express that go beyond the 24 vs 16 bit differences. One difference is that the Airport Express connects wirelessly ( or wired) to you router. The D2 connects directly to the source.

In other words, you have to have the computer on ( or whatever you are using to send the signal) and can't stream directly from other computers or iOS devices. This is a major downside, for some, when compared to AirPlay. The other issue is that the D2 costs 4 times more.

If you want 24khz, it may be worth it, but there are major trade offs (especially for iOS owners).

There are rumors that Apple will be going into the Hi Res market next year. It will be interesting to see if they come out with an Airport Express/AirPlay update.
 
Hi Moxie - lot of responses all over the map, but you have not responded since your initial post ...
moxie39 said:
Hi all, this question is driving me nuts. the goal was to use a Airport Express and a DAC, but not sure how to hook it up since I have a cable modem that my network is on. just want to use the airport express for streaming into my stereo. I asked 3 people at the apple store today, and they all just looked like I asked them how to build a house from the ground up. they had no idea. has anyone hear done this specific process? thanks for any input.

I understand the process of setting up the DAC, it's just the whole network thing that is creating confusion. Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this.
Click to expand...

So - what is it you want to stream? From where? The airport and a DAC allow you to connect your stereo to your network -
but you need a SOURCE to generate the data to stream into your Airport?
Pandora, Tidal, music on your laptop? Again, what are you planning to control things with.
The Airport alone isn't enough to put music into your stereo without using something to stream FROM ...

LexDM3 said:
Is your existing wireless network (if you have one) based on an Apple router like the AirPort Extreme? If so, set the Airport Express up to extend that network and enable Airplay. Connect the AE to your DAC with an optical cable as suggested above.

If you have no wireless net or a non-Apple one, you need to use a wired Ethernet connection between your cable modem and the AE or plug the AE into an Ethernet jack on your existing wireless router. You then set the AE up as a new wireless network with AirPlay enabled. If you now have two wireless nets, (the original non-Apple one and the AE), make sure your computer or phone is on the AE wireless net if you want to stream.

Apple is a very closed and proprietary company (Grrrrrrr...) so you can't stream too much using AirPlay. Airfoil software lets you stream anything to your AE.
Click to expand...
Bzzzt - no longer true Lexx - Airfoil isn't required anymore -
if you have a newer mac, you can stream anything from it to your airport, for instance ...
just use Option-CLICK - to the speaker symbol in the top bar to select what local audio source
you want to send to your network. I have Yosemite and that works for me ...
 
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uofmtiger said:
There are major differences between the Audioengine and Airport Express that go beyond the 24 vs 16 bit differences. One difference is that the Airport Express connects wirelessly ( or wired) to you router. The D2 connects directly to the source.

In other words, you have to have the computer on ( or whatever you are using to send the signal) and can't stream directly from other computers or iOS devices. This is a major downside, for some, when compared to AirPlay. The other issue is that the D2 costs 4 times more.

If you want 24khz, it may be worth it, but there are major trade offs (especially for iOS owners).

There are rumors that Apple will be going into the Hi Res market next year. It will be interesting to see if they come out with an Airport Express/AirPlay update.
Click to expand...

The AE is an amazingly versatile piece of hardware. I have mine connected to my stereo for streaming music from my phone or iPad via Spotify, and I was also able to connect a Yamaha AirPlay enabled AVR to it's Ethernet port to give the avr access to the wireless network as well. The AVR powers my pool and patio speakers and I can stream from my phone while outside. There was no way for me to get an Ethernet cable from my wireless router to the AVR, so the AE was an elegant solution to getting the AVR onto the network.
 
You can run optical out of the Apple TV as a digital hub into a DAC and have wonderful results streaming music (I use Tidal) from an iPad or iPhone over AirPlay. From what I understand there is no loss in quality over AirPlay so with Tidal I am getting redbook CD quality. I bought the obsolete version of Apple TV for $50 and it is really all you need. Pretty awesome.
 
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