AirPlay - "Best" solution help...


Hi,

 

My goal is to build a cost-effective, high-quality, AirPlay-based streaming solution and I seek your help.

(I have chosen AirPlay for MANY reasons and would prefer not to debate its merits, please;-)

 

My simple needs are only two channel, one room, iOs only, independent system consisting (today) of:

 

Belles Soloist 1 Integrated amp (possible Aria soon)

Apple TV(Gen3)>TOSLINK>iFi SPDIF iPurifier> Peachtree DACit

Dynaudio Focus 140s (Special 40s in the mix)

MacBook Pro server running Audirvana+.

DH Labs cables

 

Yes, I know that the DAC needs upgrading. But, this set up sounds pretty good. It’s in the budget.

My room is small (9x13’), in the basement, well insulated with dedicated AC lines. I have had all kinds of systems over the years.

 

Options to improve the AirPlay/DAC “front end” include:

 

1.       Get an Apple Airport Express and a better DAC with jitter attenuation

2.       Get a streamer like Bluesound (does AirPlay) and a better DAC

3.       Get a combined streamer/DAC (Cambridge Audio, Auralic, etc.)

 

My budget peaks at about $1,500 all-in for the time being. Am aware of the jitter issue and of products from Empirical and W4S

My current thinking is to get an AAE (doesn’t upsample like ATV) and a Benchmark DAC2 or a Bluesound Node 2i and a Mytek Liberty.

Welcome all thoughts here.

Thanks.

Ian


ianrmack

Showing 2 responses by mzkmxcv

@ljgerens 
 
The iFi Purifier is more for extremecases, like 30ft cable runs and whatnot. It adds some low frequency noise and distortion due to its power supply and whatnot, but should be low in level. 
 
Here are some files with varying amounts of “jitter” (and measurements of the “jitter” added for each variation is shown). 
 
Unless your source and/or DAC just are horrible in regards to jitter and jitter suppression/reduction, you don’t have to worry when music is playing (maybe, just maybe it’d be an issue with single frequency test tones).

Sorry, somehow forgot to paste the jitter test tracks:

http://archimago.blogspot.com/2018/08/demo-musings-lets-listen-to-some-jitter.html


Each of the 5 tracks have 10 versions of jitter ranging from none added to 35,000 nanoseconds. The jitter is simulated with specific frequencies though, not a 100% identical experience to the jitter your setup may have natively.