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Post by p15d24 on Jul 30, 2020 13:36:00 GMT -5
Looking to upgrade my outside patio setup with with a pair of outdoor PSB CS1000 speakers and probably a BasX A-150 power amp. Input will be coming directly off an Airport Express line in. Just wondering it any others have experience with the Airport having sufficient input voltage to fully drive the power amp. The CS1000 are rated at 20-150 watts at 8 ohms. Thank you.
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Post by leonski on Aug 2, 2020 11:43:21 GMT -5
I had a bad experience with an Airport Express. I was using the TOSLINK output. Optical. It was connected to a Cambridge Audio CD player / DAC. I think the 850CD? It was a premium player which listed for over 1000$.
The AE would not maintain a constant output rate or something which the CD player simply didn't like and it emitted the most awful noises. CA claimed a firmware update which they'd CHARGE FOR was the 'cure'. To do it at home,
you needed a Null Modem cable (ever even heard of that?) and a windows computer with a serial port....also now a legacy item. I sold the whole mess and went in another direction.
The analogue outputs were fine and provided enough voltage to drive everything fine...Apple is a little sketchy on the specs but I think if it doesn't work, you can do a return. Do you have a LOCAL Apple Store?
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Post by stads77 on Aug 2, 2020 12:59:02 GMT -5
My airport drives every amp I have used with it sufficiently, but what will be your volume source? Your phone or iPad? My only concern is if your phone it set too high and you fry the speakers.
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Post by leonski on Aug 2, 2020 13:52:15 GMT -5
I just looked at the Apple website and tried to find the specs for the AE. A big listing is available but does NOT address output voltage from the 3.5mm port.
All sorts of computer and software stuff, but NOTHING to do with hifi.....
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Post by p15d24 on Aug 3, 2020 12:55:10 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies. I did find an Apple spec that states Express 3.5mm output voltage is 2.0 v so that should be more that sufficient for the amp which is 1.2 v into 8 ohm load. I use either an iPhone or Mac to control/set volume levels.
For some reason Emotive support didn't think it would work without a preamp so I figured others had already been down this path and could provide some first hand experiences.
Just found out with the Express Airplay 2 upgrade Apple put out I can define the Express unit in the Home app which gives me voice control from the iPhone or a HomePod including volume levels.
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Post by AudioHTIT on Aug 4, 2020 0:30:37 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies. I did find an Apple spec that states Express 3.5mm output voltage is 2.0 v so that should be more that sufficient for the amp which is 1.2 v into 8 ohm load. I use either an iPhone or Mac to control/set volume levels. For some reason Emotive support didn't think it would work without a preamp so I figured others had already been down this path and could provide some first hand experiences. Just found out with the Express Airplay 2 upgrade Apple put out I can define the Express unit in the Home app which gives me voice control from the iPhone or a HomePod including volume levels. It will work, but you’ll have to be careful with volume, if your iPhone output is up and you start playing from there it could get pretty loud. 🔊🔊🔊 |
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Post by garbulky on Aug 4, 2020 10:29:28 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies. I did find an Apple spec that states Express 3.5mm output voltage is 2.0 v so that should be more that sufficient for the amp which is 1.2 v into 8 ohm load. I use either an iPhone or Mac to control/set volume levels. For some reason Emotive support didn't think it would work without a preamp so I figured others had already been down this path and could provide some first hand experiences. Just found out with the Express Airplay 2 upgrade Apple put out I can define the Express unit in the Home app which gives me voice control from the iPhone or a HomePod including volume levels. It will work, but you’ll have to be careful with volume, if your iPhone output is up and you start playing from there it could get pretty loud. 🔊🔊🔊 ^^^This right here. You could buy a passive preamp on the output like a Emotiva Control freak or a schiit sys. |
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Post by AudioHTIT on Aug 4, 2020 11:31:20 GMT -5
It will work, but you’ll have to be careful with volume, if your iPhone output is up and you start playing from there it could get pretty loud. 🔊🔊🔊 ^^^This right here. You could buy a passive preamp on the output like a Emotiva Control freak or a schiit sys. Not to mention the phone ringer blasting through, and the clicks if you start texting. Which isn’t to say you shouldn’t use an iPhone and AirPort (I do with a volume control after the AirPort), but just that you have to keep these things in mind. |
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Post by Cogito on Aug 4, 2020 18:30:53 GMT -5
^^^This right here. You could buy a passive preamp on the output like a Emotiva Control freak or a schiit sys. Not to mention the phone ringer blasting through, and the clicks if you start texting. Which isn’t to say you shouldn’t use an iPhone and AirPort (I do with a volume control after the AirPort), but just that you have to keep these things in mind. I stream Tidal via AirPlay to an Airport Express. Neither the iPhone ring or texting clicks come through while streaming. |
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Post by AudioHTIT on Aug 4, 2020 18:53:50 GMT -5
Not to mention the phone ringer blasting through, and the clicks if you start texting. Which isn’t to say you shouldn’t use an iPhone and AirPort (I do with a volume control after the AirPort), but just that you have to keep these things in mind. I stream Tidal via AirPlay to an Airport Express. Neither the iPhone ring or texting clicks come through while streaming. Sorry you’re right, with AirPlay it connects to the App (Tidal in your case), Bluetooth connects to the device and gets the system sounds as well. |
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Post by creimes on Aug 4, 2020 21:18:34 GMT -5
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Post by audiobill on Aug 5, 2020 5:57:53 GMT -5
Stereophile and Computer audiophile have also tested the Airport Express at various times......other than being limited to 44.1 (if that's important to you), it's a great device.
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Post by vcautokid on Aug 5, 2020 8:01:01 GMT -5
Another vote on the Schiit Audio Sys. Being totally passive. Stays out of the way. A Preamplifier is not about turning things up but actually turning them down. You could use sys where it is like a check valve and your audio never goes louder than the max you set on your sys. After that you can throttle with your mobile device. Easy really and 1.2 volts is plenty to get it done with an Emotiva amplifier.
If I am reading what you want correctly.
Also you said this is the patio so audiophile results are something you should not expect, but good tunes to keep the patio life fun. 44.1khz is fine.
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Post by AudioHTIT on Aug 5, 2020 13:20:56 GMT -5
... Also you said this is the patio so audiophile results are something you should not expect, but good tunes to keep the patio life fun. 44.1khz is fine. Would that be a Patiophile? 🙂 |
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Post by creimes on Aug 5, 2020 15:21:23 GMT -5
... Also you said this is the patio so audiophile results are something you should not expect, but good tunes to keep the patio life fun. 44.1khz is fine. Would that be a Patiophile? 🙂 All I know is the other night streaming Alice In Chains Unplugged on Tidal through the Mac to the XMC-2 and on my Emotiva outdoors it sounded dang golly good, like surprisingly good for outdoor speakers  Chad |
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Post by leonski on Aug 5, 2020 19:02:08 GMT -5
Stereophile and Computer audiophile have also tested the Airport Express at various times......other than being limited to 44.1 (if that's important to you), it's a great device. My CA850 disclosed some jitter issues. I think that was the source of the Horrible Noises mixed in with the music. 44.1 is not an issue considering the likely use of this device. My current DAC indicates sample rate. But only down to 44.1 so when I play TV audio or 'small dish' audio (background music for housework) it leaves that part of the display blank. I think that means 32khz sample rate which means freuqency response similar to FM radio....which ain't the end of the world. www.ecoustics.com/electronics/forum/home-audio/618921.htmlLink to Ecoustics thread in which someone claimed HUGE jitter and a mention by stereophile or 'other' reviewer. This is a Non-Issue if you use the analogue outs.....which I ended up doing for a while. |
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Post by leonski on Aug 5, 2020 19:07:52 GMT -5
Would that be a Patiophile? 🙂 All I know is the other night streaming Alice In Chains Unplugged on Tidal through the Mac to the XMC-2 and on my Emotiva outdoors it sounded dang golly good, like surprisingly good for outdoor speakers Chad Actually, the Correct Question is? 'What is Irish and lives in your Back Yard?' Answer? Patty-o-Furniture. |
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Post by audiobill on Aug 5, 2020 20:07:51 GMT -5
All that jitter talk was bs, imo.
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Post by creimes on Aug 6, 2020 14:04:19 GMT -5
All I know is the other night streaming Alice In Chains Unplugged on Tidal through the Mac to the XMC-2 and on my Emotiva outdoors it sounded dang golly good, like surprisingly good for outdoor speakers Chad Actually, the Correct Question is? 'What is Irish and lives in your Back Yard?' Answer? Patty-o-Furniture. A Canadian cult classic  |
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Post by AudioHTIT on Aug 6, 2020 14:08:22 GMT -5
Actually, the Correct Question is? 'What is Irish and lives in your Back Yard?' Answer? Patty-o-Furniture. A Canadian cult classic It seems it will remain a Canadian cult classic as it doesn’t play in the USA. 🤷♂️ |
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