Comments for jeffgardner.ca http://jeffgardner.ca/Blog Personal Blog of Jeff Gardner - Cobourg Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:24:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on How to build a quality Digital Audio System by Jeff http://jeffgardner.ca/Blog/?p=20&cpage=1#comment-22 Jeff Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:24:10 +0000 http://jeffgardner.ca/Blog/?p=20#comment-22 Steve:I have found the audio quality absolutely perfect. At first I tested it with a quality audio cable, so basically the Airport Express was converting from digital and providing an analogue signal to the stereo receiver. I would have thought that there would be some audio loss, so I then swapped the cable for a digital audio cable, thus transmitting digital information from iTunes on a server on Floor 1 to my stereo receiver in the basement home theatre. I can't say I hear any difference. The entire stereo system is high end, so it leads me to believe the Airport Express is pretty good. Occasionally I will receive an error message from the Airport Extreme and have to restart it - but for the last couple of months has not happened. Other than that is has been perfect. Regarding your signal drops and interference. I don't stream audio data wirelessly, and suspect that its the wireless transmission that is your issue (not the Airport Express signal conversion). I am not confident that an iMac would be the best 'transmitter'. Do you have a wireless hub such as a Dlink DIR655 or better yet Airport Extreme. I paid $150 for the Airport Extreme - referb. Both of those types of units I would think provide a much better wifi signal. I use them for the iTouch and iPhones and they work pretty much at full signal in the basement with the transmitter on floor 2. One last point to check is the firmware for the Airport Express. Use the Airport Utility and ensure you are running the latest firmware. PS - love you photo blog. Steve:I have found the audio quality absolutely perfect. At first I tested it with a quality audio cable, so basically the Airport Express was converting from digital and providing an analogue signal to the stereo receiver. I would have thought that there would be some audio loss, so I then swapped the cable for a digital audio cable, thus transmitting digital information from iTunes on a server on Floor 1 to my stereo receiver in the basement home theatre. I can’t say I hear any difference. The entire stereo system is high end, so it leads me to believe the Airport Express is pretty good.

Occasionally I will receive an error message from the Airport Extreme and have to restart it – but for the last couple of months has not happened. Other than that is has been perfect.

Regarding your signal drops and interference. I don’t stream audio data wirelessly, and suspect that its the wireless transmission that is your issue (not the Airport Express signal conversion). I am not confident that an iMac would be the best ‘transmitter’. Do you have a wireless hub such as a Dlink DIR655 or better yet Airport Extreme. I paid $150 for the Airport Extreme – referb. Both of those types of units I would think provide a much better wifi signal. I use them for the iTouch and iPhones and they work pretty much at full signal in the basement with the transmitter on floor 2.

One last point to check is the firmware for the Airport Express. Use the Airport Utility and ensure you are running the latest firmware. PS – love you photo blog.

]]> Comment on How to build a quality Digital Audio System by Stephen Della Casa http://jeffgardner.ca/Blog/?p=20&cpage=1#comment-20 Stephen Della Casa Sun, 07 Mar 2010 02:32:34 +0000 http://jeffgardner.ca/Blog/?p=20#comment-20 Hi Jeff, I am also in the Northumberland Photography Club and I came across saw your blog and I too share some of your interests in PS lightroom V2, iTunes etc. I read your Audio system piece with interest. I was wondering how you found the quality to be. At home, I tried an airport express wireless N but I found the audio quality to be just average and suffered from frequent signal drop off and interference. Wireless signal was going from my imac on the 2nd floor of the house and connected the airport express with my Geneva Sound Labs XL on the main level. The distance was about 15 meters but i was never happy with the audio quality. My research lead me to the SONOS system and its sound is supposed to be superior to airport. They have one at Bay Bloor Radio and I will have to check it out. Keep up with the great photography! Steve Hi Jeff, I am also in the Northumberland Photography Club and I came across saw your blog and I too share some of your interests in PS lightroom V2, iTunes etc. I read your Audio system piece with interest. I was wondering how you found the quality to be. At home, I tried an airport express wireless N but I found the audio quality to be just average and suffered from frequent signal drop off and interference. Wireless signal was going from my imac on the 2nd floor of the house and connected the airport express with my Geneva Sound Labs XL on the main level. The distance was about 15 meters but i was never happy with the audio quality. My research lead me to the SONOS system and its sound is supposed to be superior to airport. They have one at Bay Bloor Radio and I will have to check it out. Keep up with the great photography! Steve

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