any cheap DAC for my Airport Express?

The Airport Express through a High Quality DAC really makes for enjoyable listening. I run my Airport Express into my Electrocompaniet ECD-1 right along side my Theta CD Transport and now probably listen to Airport Express probably 75% of the time just due to ease of accessing my music and not having to change discs.

On the cheap, you could pick up either a Bel Canto DAC-1 or DAC-2 depending on your budget. They are really hard to beat and both have the Toslink input. You can find them for ($400-$700) here on Audiogon..

Good Luck..

Chris

Bndtracey - You need a good DAC to improve sound quality and to reduce jitter.

Read this airport express review
http://www.stereophile.com/accessoryreviews/505apple/index.html

I highly recommend Benchmark DAC1 to go with airport express. I have great success in this combination.

For a benchmark dac1 review, see
http://stereophile.com/thefifthelement/886/

Ldk

My Setup consists of a Mac Notebook Pro, using iTunes (APple Loseless) to connect to my AirTunes. The AirTunes is connected to a Zhaolu DAC (with Preamp at $225) using the toslink cable and from there to a Headamp Maxed Out amp.

I did many tests, there is a HUGE quality gain by using the toslink output of the AirTunes as opposed to the mini DIN. Also, the Zhaolu DAC offers superb sound quality. May agree that the Zhaolu and the Lavry are superior to the DAC1.

If you really are looking for something cheap that will give you a good bang for your buck you can check out ebay or here for an Entech Number Cruncher DAC. they're older, but you can sometimes still find new old stock. The 203.2 often can be had for $50 or less and the 205.2 typically goes for $100.

I use my Air Port Express with the Spitfire 24 Bit DAC from Firestone Audio. They can be had online for around $250. This made as wonderful improvement over the AE's analog output.