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Airport Express clicking sound

I'm hearing a clicking or popping noise when using my Airport Express. It only happens on very "pure" sounds, like a high trumpet or a high soprano. Perhaps it is occurring other times but I can't hear it then.

I'm going from iTunes on a laptop to the Airport Express, digital out to a DacMagic. I know it's not the DAC, as I burned the same files to CD and played it through a CD player hooked up optically to the DacMagic, and no problems. I also tested the same files going directly from an iPod Touch to the Airport Express.

The only other thing it could be is the router, but I don't have a second router to test with. Any ideas of what's going on?
markhyams

Showing 4 responses by markhyams

markhyams OP
28 posts
 
I should clarify that when I tested the same tracks going directly from the iPod Touch to the Airport Express, it was still going through the wireless network, and the clicking/popping sounds were the same as when the files are fed from the laptop.
markhyams OP
28 posts
 
Your computer or the AE could have been locking into a legacy and/or overloaded WIFI network.

But I have the same wifi network and the same computer running Logitech Media Server.

I really think something was going on with the AE, although I never tested it with its analog outputs.
markhyams OP
28 posts
 
Steve,

Thanks for the input. How can the DAC be clipping if when it is fed the same signal from the CD player, it doesn't clip? It only "clips" when the signal is coming from the Airport Express.

Mark
markhyams OP
28 posts
 
Update: I replaced the Airport Express with a Squeezebox Touch and the problem disappeared. Clearly something was going on in the playback chain with iTunes and the Airport Express. What that something is, I don't know. Interesting to say the least, as the AE is purported to be "bit-perfect." Now with Logitech Media Server and the Touch, all is well.
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