AirPort & iTunes Question

[Brian0523]

Someone help me out here. If I buy the new airport thing that streams itunes to my stereo receiver - is that music quality still just as good as say - playing directly from a CD, considering that I enclode my music using Apples Lossless encoder?

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Yes, Airtunes uses an Apple (encrypted) lossless stream from your machine to the Airport Express base.

If quality really is an issue you can get the optical monster cable to connect your AE to your HiFi... ;)

[mad jew]

I'm pretty sure it transmits at 128 AAC which is lower quality than a standard CD but it's plenty good enough IMO. Convert one of your songs (you wont lose the original copy) with iTunes to test out what you think of the quality of AAC.

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

I'm pretty sure it transmits at 128 AAC which is lower quality than a standard CD but it's plenty good enough IMO. Convert one of your songs (you wont lose the original copy) with iTunes to test out what you think of the quality of AAC.
Nope... I'm streaming now at between 130 and 150 kB/s, much more than 128 kb/s...

From AirPort Express Technology Overview (http://images.apple.com/airportexpress/pdfs/L304895A_APxps_TO.pdf):How does AirPort Express play music?
iTunes automatically detects whether there is an AirPort Express Base Station with AirTunes on the wireless network and lets you select it to play your music.When you click Play in iTunes, AirTunes encodes and encrypts the music using the Apple Lossless Encoder, which ensures that the music is CD quality before it is sent over the wireless network. AirPort Express receives the music, decrypts and decodes it, and fills its buffer with music.The buffer will help ensure that you won’t have unwanted skipping, delays, or artifacts during playback. Once the buffer is filled, AirPort Express sends the music through the audio port to the stereo.

[mad jew]

Cool, thanks Mitthrawnuruodo. I stand corrected.

[Brian0523]

Thanks everyone!

[quackattack]

I have read on several hi-fi boards that lossless to APE sounds great. Definately not compressed. One person even called it the best $100 source on the market!