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Airplay: Express vs AppleTV

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flatfoot99

Guest
Original poster
Hey folks... just got a soundbar and will route everything from my tv to it. I'd also like to stream audio from my Mac mini to the soundbar using a separate input so I don't have to turn on the TV.

I have an express and AppleTV in the same spot so just curious if there is any benefit to either?

Also... I see I can stream from the music app and remote app. Any pros or cons to those?

Thanks!
 
flatfoot99 said:
Hey folks... just got a soundbar and will route everything from my tv to it. I'd also like to stream audio from my Mac mini to the soundbar using a separate input so I don't have to turn on the TV.

I have an express and AppleTV in the same spot so just curious if there is any benefit to either?

Also... I see I can stream from the music app and remote app. Any pros or cons to those?

Thanks!
Click to expand...



1. Advantage is if you need analog audio output, you can only do that from the Express. The AppleTV would be digital (optical) audio only.
2. Advantage of using the Remote app is that you are playing it from your Mac Mini to the Express/AppleTV directly. From the Music app you are playing it from the Mini to your phone to the AppleTV/Express. More wifi hops = greater chance of losing packets to the audio.
 
paulrbeers said:
1. Advantage is if you need analog audio output, you can only do that from the Express. The AppleTV would be digital (optical) audio only.
2. Advantage of using the Remote app is that you are playing it from your Mac Mini to the Express/AppleTV directly. From the Music app you are playing it from the Mini to your phone to the AppleTV/Express. More wifi hops = greater chance of losing packets to the audio.
Click to expand...

Thank you... that's great info!

I think Ill use the express... that way I can use the AppleTV without sound if I ever need that option. (I would be using optical on whichever I use)

Remote app sounds like the better option but is it just me or does the music app seem a little more refined? I can't seem to find any of my premade iradio stations? Am I not looking in the right spot?
 
flatfoot99 said:
Thank you... that's great info!

I think Ill use the express... that way I can use the AppleTV without sound if I ever need that option. (I would be using optical on whichever I use)

Remote app sounds like the better option but is it just me or does the music app seem a little more refined? I can't seem to find any of my premade iradio stations? Am I not looking in the right spot?
Click to expand...
Be aware that the AppleTV can also send the audio signal to the Airport Express via Airplay.

The Airport Express is more audiophile friendly, too. It will send out a bitperfect 16/44.1 (CD Quality) audio signal to your speakers. The AppleTV only sends out a 48khz signal, so it has to change the bitrate on the fly.
 
Uofmtiger said:
Be aware that the AppleTV can also send the audio signal to the Airport Express via Airplay.

The Airport Express is more audiophile friendly, too. It will send out a bitperfect 16/44.1 (CD Quality) audio signal to your speakers. The AppleTV only sends out a 48khz signal, so it has to change the bitrate on the fly.
Click to expand...

Even more reason to use the express! Thanks!
 
Just found out I can watch appletv and airplay the audio portion to the express. Saves me from having to connect both to the soundbar.
 
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