Apple Lossless over AirPlay?

[MoodyM]

I have my Mac Mini's iTunes library loaded with Apple Lossless albums (ripped from CD).

The Mac Mini is a 2011 model.

I have a Pioneer X-SMC3-K, which supports AirPlay.

My question is, am I getting ALAC quality from the Pioneer when streaming over AirPlay from the Mac Mini, even though the Pioneer doesn't natively support ALAC?

 

[ReggaeFire]

I believe all Airplay streams are actually encoded and transmitted in ALAC, be they mp3, AAC, ALAC or AIFF in origin (obviously the AAC and mp3 streams are only as good as the source file, but there is no further degradation in the streaming process). So yes, you're getting ALAC quality streams on your receiver. The Airplay software implementation on the reciever does the decoding.

 

[MoodyM]

Cool, thanks. I wonder why the Pioneer won't play ALAC via USB, etc, then, if the decoder is already built in?

 

[MCAsan]

Just got a Marantz Mcr603 receiver and set up Airplay for the built in speakers in the living room and dining room. With my Mac I can stream Christmas music to the Marantz and to the Altec inAir 5000 speakers in the kitchen.