I ended up replacing my original AirPort Express with an Apple TV 2 that I had laying around collected dust. The receiver I use for my Hi-Fi setup has HDMI-in, so I use that, but the Apple TV 2 also has an optical out. It has been rock solid where the Airport Express was having lots of issues with dropped audio.
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Video: Belkin's Soundform Connect Adds AirPlay 2 to Your Existing Speakers
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I have a $20 Roku that lets me airplay to my surround system, but this could breathe new life into my old Sonos speakers (airplay to the one with inputs, and share to all).
Incidentally, there’s sure are a lot of people around here who think they can hear frequencies higher than 2X the human limit.
Incidentally, there’s sure are a lot of people around here who think they can hear frequencies higher than 2X the human limit.
Exactly the same thing? Really? Where is there a Rasperry Pi solution that talks to Airplay 2?
Do old Airport Express routers implement Airplay 2? Don't think so.
The difference is getting Airplay 2 which isn't possible on a Pi.
When will I be able to EQ the Airplay2 signal?
Great idea, but i can do the same thing with my existing ATV which already hooked up to my sound system.
Today I just had a problem with mine, very low output volume. After some searching online, confirmed it was just the audio plug was loose (which is common, it never held very tight and mine is basically brand new).
PHEW!!
The AirPort Express N models (the one with a power cable) do support AirPlay 2. Apple released a new firmware back in 2018.
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I've had one of these for a few weeks now and it works great. I use it to Airplay music from my iPhone or ATV to my Marshall Stanmore speaker and HomePod mini that way I get double the sound throughout the house. Really easy to control volume on both products. $100 is $100 but at the end of the day it's only $100. Ja feel?
HUGE missed opportunity by Apple here when they launched the OG HomePod. Parterring with Sonos for AirPlay 2 should’ve alerted them (heck even during AirPlay 1) that an Applifier to Analog song sources IS a necessity for a LOT of homes. ALso for Hi-Res Audio too, surely Lossless didn’t just come about at Apple the last 3mths.
99$ for a single protocol wifi streamer that tops at 16bit 44khz? Sounds like a bargain #not.
Only benefit of the Airplay 2 is the multiroom sound. At this price tag, most people will give this a miss.
Only benefit of the Airplay 2 is the multiroom sound. At this price tag, most people will give this a miss.
That’s what I’m saying, CD quality is excellent compared to most streaming services.
Another option is the Fiio M6, which is an entry level audiophile music player (ESS Sabre DAC if anyone is interested to know), but has Airplay receiving built in which can connect to speakers in the same way as this Belkin device. I use it on my Yamaha audio receiver and it sounds absolutely amazing. It’s £130 but offers so much more functionality.
You can use this for only $39. It only supports Airplay 1; but if you don't need multiroom support it works fine.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/MABOTO-W...z2KD3-R3xY90BtwKtCkaAigLEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
https://www.walmart.com/ip/MABOTO-W...z2KD3-R3xY90BtwKtCkaAigLEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
Fiio M6 is an airplay 1 device. Truth is that if you don't require multiroom you don't really require Airplay 2. You can either add multiroom to Airplay 1 with certain tweaks.
Pretty sure you can do the same thing with the raspberry pi and 1 hour for like $25
If I'm spending $99, I'd rather get the product that works out the box
You mean if I'd waited I could AirPlay to all my old Sonos speakers and not have to replace them all? LOL.
Surprised they didn't include an ethernet port with PoE, as many people won't be moving this around, and a cabled connection is better and can provide power. Keep the WiFi for those that don't want cables.
Really, the old Airports or ATVs with optical are better. The Airport also can be a wifi->ethernet bridge, and the ATV can play music directly from Apple/your iTunes in the cloud (or at least I'm pretty sure it does, I can never remember these things anymore).
That is very true. So are you suggesting that anything bearing the Airplay 2 name would have to be at least capable even if it’s not enabled?
You can get one of these and use it with a new Apple TV.
AirPlay 2 supports 24-bit, in some contexts. Where do you get that it supports 192KHz sample rates? The people reverse engineering the protocol have only found evidence of support up to 48KHz.
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Community has found that real bit perfect 16/44 play is only guaranteed pn airplay 1. Because Airplay 2 is capable of AAC, iOS and MacOS sometimes convert it to lossy.
AudiophileStyle article on this mess.
AudiophileStyle article on this mess.