Too bad the Airport Express doesn't stream audio through it's USB port. There are some good USB DAC's that I'd like to try (Scott Nixon USBTD). I don't have one yet and am looking at an Entech Number Cruncher 205.2 (made in 1999) because it has a toslink ouput.

Nonetheless, I am new to this and am quite...stoked..on the convenience. Even the sound out of the analog AirEx is pretty good compared to just plugging your computer straight in.

Don't know if you've changed speakers, but did you find the Totem's a little "bright" (harsh). I had the Totem mites (much cheaper speakers), and they were new, imaging was great but fatiguing. Although, I wonder, if I had a DAC?

Also how is the sound through the toslink? There's all this stuff on the internet about SPDIF and jitter. I don't even know if you can hear this stuff.

There is a delay with the AirEX, so supposedly, it's no good for video. However, with Airfoil and VLC, you can change the settings on VLC so that it syncs up with the audio out of AirEx. Use your mini as a torrent/divx media centre. I tried it, works perfect. Go to (or read the following if the site is no longer around).

www.j4mie.org/2006/05/03/using-airfoil-with-vlc/#more-44

1. Launch VLC.
2. Open the Preferences page from the VLC menu on the menu bar.
3. Tick the “Advanced” check box in the bottom-left corner of the window.
4. Under the “Audio” page (the page that comes up first when you open the Preferences), set the “Audio desyncronization compensation” value to -2700 (note the negative). *
5. Drop down the “Input/Codecs” menu on the left-hand side of the Preferences window, then drop down the “Access Modules” menu. Select the “File” item. Set the “Caching Value in ms” to 3000.
6. Quit VLC.
7. Launch AirFoil. Select “VLC” from the “Source” drop-down list at the bottom of the window. Click the Transmit button (the one with the speaker icon on it).
8. VLC should automatically launch. When it does, open the movie you wish to watch and enjoy your syncronised, high-quality audio.

Any other new changes to your Mac system? I have an Intel Core2Duo Macbook. Love it. It's hard to find a material possession, like my first snowboard, that has brought me so much... joy.. but this laptop has.

Nice system. And it took me till late 2007 to figure it out.

elf73 November 28, 2007 11:07

This is the future of music reproduction.

odlanor May 08, 2007 19:12

Cool system. Computers make great music sources especially a Mac. I love mine. I use an Imac 24. I tunes makes organizing real easy. No viruses,spyware. Just music and creating what else does any one need. Enjoy.

vincedog3 February 22, 2007 05:37

Read the reviews. Need to be 2-3 feet away from back and side walls. Enjoy.

steamsurge October 04, 2006 04:04

i have taken a similar path by using a computer to serve my music library.. i use a squeezebox2 to access my files over a wireless network and it seems to work perfectly..i had a musical fidelity x ray 3 and i couln't tell any difference in the sound..i actually feel guilty saying that but you can only go with your ears...i use the digital out and feed it through an mf x dac v3 with outboard ps and it sound pristine with great dynamics, imaging and air...i use a shanling tube integrated and vs vr1 with small sub

larryrx7 February 18, 2006 16:44

The iMac G5 Rocks ! I use the Powerbook G4 as well as the Apple 23inch Cinema Display. I have 2 routers. One is the Airport Extreme and the Airport Express so as to increase the wireless range. btw, Nice little setup you have. I'm sure the iTunes and DVD player would pump perfect sound to the amplifiers.

kozine February 15, 2006 11:57

I'm interested in the Apple Express concept. Do you stream wirelessly from your G5 to your Airport Express, or is everything wired?

tvad February 07, 2006 20:31

The Sttaf's are very under-rated speakers. When set up right, it is pure magic.

Congrats on the system.

rumadian December 04, 2005 02:08

Upgraded cables? I recommend Kimber PBJ interconnects and Audioquest Type 4+. That is what I use in my system, and, in fact, I have an extra .5m PBJ pair and an extra 5' pair of Audioquest Type 4+. Email me through the Audiogon system if you are interested!

ebkesq December 03, 2005 05:34

I bet some you'd really like the Musical Fidelity X-10v3 and X-PSUv3. The upgraded power supply will give the DAC more drive and authority, while the tube buffer will warm up and smooth out the sound. All in all, it looks like you've put together a great little system! If you ever need more power, those tiny little amps from Channel Islands Audio would work really well! Or, for less power, VTL Tiny Triodes would match your style. I like it!

ebkesq December 03, 2005 05:28

Well, anything you run in iTunes can be streamed to the Airport Express.

By default otehr applications can not directly stream their sound to the airport express but there is a fix for this.

There is an App called Airfoil by a company called "Rogue Amoeba" (www.rogueamoeba.com). It is $25 and works great (a Demo is available that lets you stream for 10 minutes).

This app lets you "hijack" the sound from any application and re-route it to the Airport Express using Apples Lossless format (meaning the streamed sound will be as good as the source you are streaming).

My wife likes to use this to stream Sirius once in a while but I personally can not stand all the audio compression coming though my beatiful speakers ...IMO it sounds better to just jack up the computer speakers but perhaps I am listening with a critical ear.

shawnparslow December 01, 2005 04:09

Thank Shawn for your answer (very simple and CLEAR). Other question...Can this set up allows you to stream Internet radio? If you are connected via the digital out of the airport exress to the DAC, Is it simply going like a pass through? Does it process the internet feed? Asking cause , like i said, I'm going to plug my iMac to my sound system for the Music box browsing simplicity, but also, because I like many internet based radio stations that don't have their equivalent in reg FM world.

Thanks,

Marco

mburelle December 01, 2005 01:32

That is all you *need* but this is a place where you can/might want to introduce a Dac.

The Airport is cabable of two output types analog and digital.

1 - Airpot as Analog out:
If you plug the airport right into your stereo then you are using the Airport as your DAC. It converts the 0's and 1's into music (which I have learned is an art an not a science). The problem here is that it probably uses a cheap phillips chip to do this. Data goes in and music comes out. Also the wiring and output are going to be a place where distortion can be introduced

2 - Airport as Digital out:
Here I use the Airport to pass the 0's and 1's onto my X-DACv3 via a fiber optic toslink cable (which both the airport and my DAC support). Instead of the 99 cent philips chip making the "music" from data, now the musical fidelity generates the music (and upsamples). Basically the result is a smoother more dynamic/musical analog representation and better/less distorted signal than if I used the Airport.

I am simplifying this I am sure (and I probably could not even offer the complex explanation) ...but the bottom line is it ends up sounding MUCH better given the level of music the other components are capable of creating.

I like the X-DAC/Airport very much as a CD Player Replacement but there are other options as well.

shawnparslow November 30, 2005 22:51

HI!

A very simple looking system you have. Like the introduction of the iMac into it. What i don't catch is the use of the X-DACV3. Why don't you stream directly from the iMac into the X-150 through the Airport express? I'm asking because I'm about to stream my iMac stuff into my sound system and I thought the Airport express was all I needed...newbie here

mburelle November 30, 2005 17:18

Hey, does the dac work for streamed audio through your computer? I imagine it's the same as what you're doing...

the reason I ask is I've got something similar, or will soon when I get those totem model 1s and hook them up! I use NHT SB3's right now and they seem pretty good. Currently streaming audio through a modem into a basic cambridge audio azur 540a... WDYT woud the dac help?

gregb7777777 November 29, 2005 01:38

I bought the Sttaf's on Audiogon. I bought the X-DACV3 and X-150 on ebay.

I spend a long time fishing for the best price ...some times ebay can be better and sometimes audiogon can be better. I sort of watched to see what was the "best" deal people were getting and watched until I could get that same deal. The X-DACV3 is about $600 used with is a great deal. The X-150 is discontinued but you are seeing a few more pop up now than I have in the past.

shawnparslow November 28, 2005 20:19

Nice thought behind your system...well done! I'm interested in taking a similar approach to getting my iTunes library out of my Mac and into our home. Did you purchase X-DACV3 or the X-150 on Audiogon? Any info would be grateful.

thanks,
Kane

mavericks1 November 28, 2005 19:44

great simple system...cables should be addressed, as well as proper speaker placement, which has alot to do with sound. Look at possible room treatments if possible.

crazytubepower November 24, 2005 06:36

Are you looking to spend 200 inclusive for speaker and interconnect? I use Analysis plus oval 9 speaker cable which you can find used for around $200, and that would be a major step up from the Monster stuff, IMO. In terms of interconnects, you could stay in the same line and get an AP copper oval for about 100, but there are a lot of choices in this price range, assuming you're going used. AudioAdvisor.com (no affiliation) has some demo stuff that might fit the bill.

Enjoy,

matt

mimberman November 24, 2005 01:34

Thanks ...its a pretty simple setup that works good.

If anyone has any recommendations for good cables given the relatively basic setup I have, I would love to hear. Right now I am using a roll of Monster XP cable from Radio Shack that was $25 and a monster interconnect that was about $10.

I would be looking for:
(2) speaker cables
(1) interconnect

I would prefer to not spend more than about $200, but I am not sure if it would be much of an improvement

shawnparslow November 24, 2005 00:11

Very well thought out. Enjoy. Phil Brady.

philbrady November 23, 2005 15:45