I'm telling you that I suspect the jitter specs for an Airport Express are not very good, and that I'm using a DAC with a jitter reduction circuit and, as far as I know, you are not.
Your Music Server
This is a hot topic lately. There’s not a week that goes by without a how to question. My idea is one location and a lot of configurations. I feel it would be a big help to anyone wanting to set-up a Music Server.
Tell us about your Music server. Start at the Server/Computer and end up in your pre-amp. How does its sound compare to your other digital sources?
Mine was simple and easy to put together. The material list: From the local Apple Store I bought the following; Airport Extreme, AirPort Express and a AirPort Express Stereo Connection Kit with Monster Cables.
I had a PowerMac G5 in a home office 35 feet from my main rig. I also had an old un-used Audio Alchemy DAC. I installed the AirPort Extreme (wireless card) in my G-5, five-minute job. I plugged in the Airport Express (wireless receiver) into a power strip near my main stereo. Then I used the optical to optical cable in the Connection Kit for the connection to the DAC. I had to get the G-5 manual out for my Mac to configure it for Digital Out. The last step was to set-up the wireless connection in the G-5. I followed the instructions for the Airport Express. The whole project maybe 3 hour to do, which includes driving across town to the Mac store.
I had been using iTunes for burning ripped vinyl and CD’s to disc. ITunes found the new network and added a button for selection of source, computer speakers or stereo room.
How does it sound? Right out of the gate it sounded great. I have since changed the DAC to a CAL Alpha tubed DAC. The sound of the Server w/Alpha is very good but in many ways does not even come close to the music that comes out of my Esoteric DV-50. I use the Music Server when I’m reading or doing things around the house. For the present it will not replace my DV-50 but who know the future.
One more thing, when the microwave oven is being used it interrupters the wireless connection and I have to restart the music.
Tell us about your Music server. Start at the Server/Computer and end up in your pre-amp. How does its sound compare to your other digital sources?
Mine was simple and easy to put together. The material list: From the local Apple Store I bought the following; Airport Extreme, AirPort Express and a AirPort Express Stereo Connection Kit with Monster Cables.
I had a PowerMac G5 in a home office 35 feet from my main rig. I also had an old un-used Audio Alchemy DAC. I installed the AirPort Extreme (wireless card) in my G-5, five-minute job. I plugged in the Airport Express (wireless receiver) into a power strip near my main stereo. Then I used the optical to optical cable in the Connection Kit for the connection to the DAC. I had to get the G-5 manual out for my Mac to configure it for Digital Out. The last step was to set-up the wireless connection in the G-5. I followed the instructions for the Airport Express. The whole project maybe 3 hour to do, which includes driving across town to the Mac store.
I had been using iTunes for burning ripped vinyl and CD’s to disc. ITunes found the new network and added a button for selection of source, computer speakers or stereo room.
How does it sound? Right out of the gate it sounded great. I have since changed the DAC to a CAL Alpha tubed DAC. The sound of the Server w/Alpha is very good but in many ways does not even come close to the music that comes out of my Esoteric DV-50. I use the Music Server when I’m reading or doing things around the house. For the present it will not replace my DV-50 but who know the future.
One more thing, when the microwave oven is being used it interrupters the wireless connection and I have to restart the music.
Showing 5 responses by herman
You can click on my system to see my setup, and even though I use an Airport Express you may be doing yourself a disservice by using one with your DAC. The Altmann has jitter reduction so it shouldn't make any difference, but I would suspect that output from the AE isn't that clean. I have no trouble with interference and stream it all over the house. Have you tried turning "interference robustness" on and off with the AEs, different multicast rates, different channels, moving the AEs, etc. Download a freeware program called iStumbler. It displays all networks within range with details on channels used and strengths. Look for other networks on your channel and switch if needed. |
Tboooe, I have about 38,000 songs (2,800 albums) in Apple Lossless which takes up about 900 gig. FLAC would be about the same. You can buy a Buffalo 2 Terabyte NAS device for about $1,300 which would give you 1.5 terabytes in RAID 5, or add another one terabyte storage unit to the one you have for about $600. Relative to the rest of your system that seems like a small price to go from lossy to lossless, and given the quality of your system it's a shame you are listening to compressed files. Unfortunately you would have to re-rip. |
I used an Apple Airport/Musical Fidelity Trivista DAC 21, but I think the Airport created too much jitter and I couldn't hear the full benefit of the DAC 21 Maybe the Nixon is simple better to your ear than the MF no matter how you feed them. Just curious. Did you try any other way to feed the DAC 21 or do you just attribute this to the AE? |