Is airtunes limited to 16bit/44.1KHz ?

[kernow]

I've just tried playing a 24bit / 96KHz WAV through my airtunes via itunes into my 24bit/192 DAC. I wasn't really expecting it to play @24/96. But I thought when you plugged it into another DAC it'd bypass its own and feed the data (PCM?) uncompressed to the better DAC? I might be wrong of course.

Maybe its limited to passing through 16bit/44.1 at a maximum?

[CMcK]

The music is converted to Apple Lossless before it is beamed to the Airport Express unit.

I have been considering getting an Airport Express and DAC for playing music in the house. The Remote app for the iPhone has cemented that idea.

How does your setup compare with a good CD player?

[kernow]

Well, I'm actually using the DAC in a Quad 99 CDP 2 (a good CD player, £1000 RRP) as it has optical inputs and can be used as a switch box/preamp/DAC. Using airtunes its identical to CD to my ears, but I pump apple lossless into it from itunes. its just a bit quieter thats all. I can't really tell the difference between a cd in the player and a lossless track going through the DAC component over airtunes though.

[CMcK]

Good to hear that. My iTunes library is also in lossless but playing it via the headphone jack of my good lady's MacBook it sounds OK but quiet. Certainly not going to trouble my CD player anyway.
Thanks for the info. I need to go and investigate suitable DAC's now.

Just out of interest which speakers do you have with the Quad stuff? I looked at the 99 and matching Quad amp a while back but overstretched my budget on a car and never bought it.

[kernow]

I use the 99 power (not the 909), variable output on the cdp2 straight to the power amp. unfortunately (well not really) I am using some 24yr old Mordaunt Short MS55Ti's which actually sound amazing, but I'd prefer some 22L2's or some ESL's (a man can dream).

very chuffed with the sound, best I've ever heard at least.

[thegreathopper]

Speakers.

I would like a pair of ESL's, I had the Electrostats but stupidly sold them for about ?100 years ago.

I have a mini mac how is the best way to get Itunes to play through my Onkyo 605 amp, bearing in mind they are in different rooms but running a cable is possible, wireless would be better.

[kernow]

Airport for sure my friend. £65 from the apple store uk

http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/

[thegreathopper]

Airport for sure my friend. ?65 from the apple store uk

http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/

Thanks I will get one of these and give it a try.

[kernow]

Uk store link 4 u

http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MB321B/A?mco=MTIxODk3Mw

Free shipping is slow, like 5 days or so , but its free, so.