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gregpod9

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Apr 27, 2007
307
91
I have a 6th Gen Apple Airport Extreme and I recently bought the Bose Soundtouch 20. I will be returning the Bose, because its expensive just to use the airplay function on it and it has a 5 second delay in sound when going out of pause . I have been looking at the Apple Airport Express and Apple TV for Airplay. Which device do you recommend for only airplay audio streaming? Also I will not use any of the video streaming apps on the Apple TV, because I have the Roku 3.
 
I would say the AppleTV. Even though you have the Roku, the AppleTV is nice in the event you would like to mirror what is on your phones display onto a large TV screen for a group to see.

For instance, I've used it as a video conference tool before, where I has a FaceTime video going and used AirPlay screen mirroring. I put the iPhone on a start to get everyone seated on the couch and everyone could see and hear who we were talking to on the TV (instead of huddled around a small screen).
 
One big consideration is how to do want to connect the device to your AV receiver?

The options for each device are:

Apple TV: HDMI, TOSlink optical digital

Airport Express: 3.5 headphone jack, optical (with an appropriate optical cable)

Overall, the Apple TV has more media capability as described earlier in the thread. The ApE has more networking functionality and would allow you to connect to a USB printer and put it on your network. The ApE can also act as a wireless/wired network bridge.

There going to be a slight delay when using AirPlay audio no matter which device you choose.
 
it has a 5 second delay in sound when going out of pause .

all audio only airplay will have that, it's just the way the protocol works.
it's typically about 2 seconds though.
It's a buffer so your sound doesn't drop out.

If whatever you're streaming takes a couple seconds to start on the local speakers, you will still have 2 seconds additional delay going to the airplay speakers.

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If you don't have a way to get the video to the TV, i would go with the airport.
you must use a screen to set up the aTV initially.
 
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