Could someone clarify how AirTunes/airport express works?

samat2001

samat2001

samat2001

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28 Dec 2005
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183
Hi guys.
I plan on going on a bit of a spending spree later in the year - I'm going to buy an av receiver of some sort, which I want to be able to play my music, which I want controlled using the remote app on my iPhone. I already have a wireless network set up, so am I right in thinking that all I need to do is plug in the airport express, connect to my network wirelessly, and then run a cable from the airport extreme to the amp? Or...do I need to have a network cable running to the airport extreme?
 
The AirPort Express connects via WiFi to your wireless network.

You plug a 3.5mm jack to phono cable from your amp to the AirPort Express and that's it.
 
iTunes (on a PC or Mac - doesn't matter which) sends the music data to the router. This could be wired or wireless. It could be any router, doesn't have to be an Aiport Extreme or anything.
Your router sends the music to the Airport Express. This could be wired or wireless.
The Airport Express receives the music and plays it on its 3.5mm jack, which you've got a 3.5mm jack to phono cable going into your amp.

EDIT: Damn, EVH got there first!
 
Also it doesn't have to be by Phono - you can use optical.

And you should definitely buy one, I've had mine almost 4 years and it was one of the best purchases ever!
 
It's a very impressive bit of gadet, especially if you have an iphone or ipod Touch. Use that as a remote and you'll have all your music playing through out the house long as you have the phone in your hand.
 
So can I confirm you dont need a mac for this to work?
IE if I have iTunes running on a Windows box, connected via Ethernet to a wireless router this is going to work?
 
Yes.

You will need to configure it using the "Apple AirPort Utility" (free download), and it'll work.
 
Westyfield2 said:
iTunes (on a PC or Mac - doesn't matter which) sends the music data to the router. This could be wired or wireless. It could be any router, doesn't have to be an Aiport Extreme or anything.
Your router sends the music to the Airport Express. This could be wired or wireless.
The Airport Express receives the music and plays it on its 3.5mm jack, which you've got a 3.5mm jack to phono cable going into your amp.

EDIT: Damn, EVH got there first!
Click to expand...

Not quite correct, it has to be on the same network to work (which I consider a right pain) so the music is sent to the airport express direct (adjacency check says local, broadcast arp request, no need to route) and the router plays no part unless you happen to be using it to bridge your wireless to your wired network.
 
It really is a good device for it's size. I bought one cheap off the refurb store around last September or so and it has been flawless. At first I had my doubts because it does run very hot but so far it has remained hooked up to my wifi router without no probs.

So...via iTunes you can stream music to your amp. In my case the airtunes is hooked up to the amp via 3.5mm - Phono lead. In addition, if you purchase the AirFoil app - you can use any app (e.g spotify) to stream to your amp via the airport express.
 
i wasn't aware Apple had a product that did this so simply, quite a good price too for the airport base station.

How would you control what was playing minus the remote app on iPhone/Touch? Presumably you would just kick it off from the mac and out it would play to whichever device/zone defined in airTunes?

I'm not in the market for one just yet, but would be useful to know. Thanks.
 
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