Airport Express 2nd Gen - "No Lock" to DAC

[Audio_ELF]

The AE has large levels of jitter causing problems with a lot of DACs.

 

Use the Apple TV and don't worry about the sample rate conversion.

 

Eloise

Hi

 

I just unboxed an Airport Express (small one that looks like AppleTV) about 2 hours ago. My AudioLab 8200CD reports "No Lock" intermittently about once a second. My previous express (previous model) never had this problem but it died.

 

I tried firmware 7.6.3 and 7.6.4 and performance remains the same.

 

I have tried streaming from iTunes on a MacBook Air 13, an iMac 27 and a Mac Mini; they all exhibit the same issue. The Macbook Air and Airport Express are in line of site to each other and within 6 meters of each other.

 

Is there any solution?

 

***PS, My Apple TV 2 works absolutely fine - I just swap it out for the airport express but I wanted to use the express for 44.1KHz.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Audio_ELF]

Thanks Eloise

 

I will get a refund for the express.

 

Is there an alternative to the AppleTV?

Some streamers such as Marantz NA7004 and Denon DNP-720AE offer AirPlay. Arcam have a new AirDAC promised soon.

 

Eloise

 

PS. If you're feeling geeky and experimental, it's also possible to set something like a Raspberry Pi or Beagle Bone up as an airplay receiver.