Hi all,
hi read all the posts and I want to improve my AE.
I have a A1088. So after reading these posts I bought an A1264 and a glass fibre cable. When I got the A1264 i discovered that all works fine, but the optical output gave me choppy sound. I reconfigured times and times, but nothing.
I tryed with my friend one and it works. So I buyed other one and same problem like first.
Did you ever find this kind of problem?
I see on dac that it changes frequently from 44.1khz to 44.088khz and every changed sound stop and restart.
I changed cables, plugs, configuration (wifi on and off)--> nothing.
Should be an hardware problem of AE or my dac? I have Audilab Mdac. With A1088 it works without problem.
Don't know.
Thank you for any suggestion.
hi read all the posts and I want to improve my AE.
I have a A1088. So after reading these posts I bought an A1264 and a glass fibre cable. When I got the A1264 i discovered that all works fine, but the optical output gave me choppy sound. I reconfigured times and times, but nothing.
I tryed with my friend one and it works. So I buyed other one and same problem like first.
Did you ever find this kind of problem?
I see on dac that it changes frequently from 44.1khz to 44.088khz and every changed sound stop and restart.
I changed cables, plugs, configuration (wifi on and off)--> nothing.
Should be an hardware problem of AE or my dac? I have Audilab Mdac. With A1088 it works without problem.
Don't know.
Thank you for any suggestion.
I solved the problem.
The A1264 that works has 7.6 firmware version.
The two A1264 that don't work have last firmware version 7.6.4
I downgrade to 7.6.3 and it doesn't work.
with 7.6.1 version it works perfectly.
Hope this can help someone.
The glass cable arrived. Now I only need to change the power supply as you said!!
Bye bye.
The A1264 that works has 7.6 firmware version.
The two A1264 that don't work have last firmware version 7.6.4
I downgrade to 7.6.3 and it doesn't work.
with 7.6.1 version it works perfectly.
Hope this can help someone.
The glass cable arrived. Now I only need to change the power supply as you said!!
Bye bye.
I had exactly the same experience with a 1gen and 2gen AEX. Downgrading to the 761 firmware >> no more drop-outs.
Hi,
I tryed the AP model 1264 with battery supply. it's better sound.
I used a Lifepo4 battery. I thought the 3.3V was enough, but it wasn't when the output voltage reach 3.3V the AP restart automatically, so I need to change to other chemical battery.
I'd like to use a Li-Ion battery 3.7V 10Ah (10Ah is for about 10 hours of music) with a LT1963A Ldo regulator.
LT1963A Series - 1.5A, Low Noise, Fast Transient Response LDO Regulators - Linear Technology
Do you think I need to make some filter at the output? I don't get the AC noise because of battery.
Thank you.
I tryed the AP model 1264 with battery supply. it's better sound.
I used a Lifepo4 battery. I thought the 3.3V was enough, but it wasn't when the output voltage reach 3.3V the AP restart automatically, so I need to change to other chemical battery.
I'd like to use a Li-Ion battery 3.7V 10Ah (10Ah is for about 10 hours of music) with a LT1963A Ldo regulator.
LT1963A Series - 1.5A, Low Noise, Fast Transient Response LDO Regulators - Linear Technology
Do you think I need to make some filter at the output? I don't get the AC noise because of battery.
Thank you.
I buyed this Evaluation board
TPS7A4700 Evaluation Module - TPS7A4700EVM-094 - TI Tool Folder
I use it with li-po battery and setted to 3,4V output.
I'm testing!
TPS7A4700 Evaluation Module - TPS7A4700EVM-094 - TI Tool Folder
I use it with li-po battery and setted to 3,4V output.
I'm testing!
Ding, ding.
I'm close to buying-into an Airport Express system (2015 Nov).
Everybody happy with current A1392?
Rumours about any new model? For timing and tech reasons, it has to be close to appearing soon.
Ben
Ben did you get an AE A1392? I came across this article which show that measured jitter of the toslink output of this model is better than a high end Sony CDP Apple AirPort Express Audio Quality
I have been impressed with the previous AE using toslink output to external DAC. This model is measured better in term of jitter.
anyone has an opinion on the reliability of the article at the above link?
Thanks for link.
Yes, bought one a few years old on Kijiji (buying second-hand is one of my weaknesses). That AE is now running in my winter get-away, set 35 feet from laptop, using the DAC audio output on the AE. Seems pretty good although not auditioning through first-rate speakers. 35 feet through several walls might exceed AE limits on a bad night.
Just discovered something terrible: no way to run REW through AE (due to the streaming delay). Duh. So I can't run my cherished FR and distortion tests or at least not the neat REW sweeps.
I don't have any TOSLink links in any of my systems. And contrary to views held widely by audiophiles, I don't hear degradation in any ADC or DAC I own (and that includes some real old and cheap USB DAC stuff) and that includes the DAC inside the AE that I'm using now and based on measurements too.
My quality system has all my music ripped and accessed by a FileMaker DB, then USB to AES (AKA SPDIF/coax, using a high-quality converter named Breeze) to DSP unit (inside Behringer DCS2496). Bit perfect from the CD ripping to the butt-end of the DSP.
Ben
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I am still using an older version of the AE. its optical output is as good as any other digital source I have included my PS Audio Lamda transport with modified power supply. The only limitation is that it can't handle hi res audio.
Since the above mentioned article rated the optical output of the A1392 model so highly, I plan to buy one to see if it makes a different.
Since the above mentioned article rated the optical output of the A1392 model so highly, I plan to buy one to see if it makes a different.
I like to try this whole mod and am looking at some AEsses now.
I will not need I2S as I have a board with an XMOS asynchronous USB receiver. So if the USB cannot be taken outside on this n-version I can't use it as intended.
I was inspired by the A1088 mod --> the change of the A1088 in HIFIduino where the USB is diverted around on the mainboard to now accept an external device other than a printer. That means: a DAC for me.
For utilising this idea of the USB "hack", which version do I need?
Can that be done on all versions
- A1088 (small one, as in the example);
- A1264/g;
- A1392/n)?
Furthermore, I have seen that the A1088 is not supported anymore by Apple; what does that imply
- Even if I can't upgrade the software: can I still address it in the iTunes stream?
- Can I still change the wifi coordinates?)
You just need an older version of the Airport utility (5.6.1) to set it up. And that one needs a small patch to run it under newer versions of OSX...
BTW. It's a good time to buy these. Apple is discontinuing ALL routers, including the Time Capsule.
Thanks
Ahhrrgh .. . it can only be opened with an old versio of MacOs - Mac OS X 10.5.7 - 10.6.8 (Mac OS X Leopard and Snow Leopard), I have now El Capitan.
And Apple does not allow old versions of the OS to be installed .Can you tell a little more on that patch? That patch, is that:
or the once listed Automator job? The workflow automator is not available anymore.
albert
There's an alternative installer/launcher for AirPort Utility 5.6.1:
https://zcs.zyniker.org/airport-utility-v5-6-1/
I guess this is the patch cyrano meant.
Cheers,
Sebastian.
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You don't need an old OSX version...
Just Apple Airport Utility 5.6.1. That's the configuration tool. And that works 'till OSX 10.6.8, but needs a launcher utility to start with later versions of OSX.
The only exception is perhaps Sierra. I haven't tried this with Sierra and in the light of path randomisation that was introduced in Sierra, the patch might fail. Don't know.
And, yes, Sebastian, it's Corey Mahler's script I meant.
Just Apple Airport Utility 5.6.1. That's the configuration tool. And that works 'till OSX 10.6.8, but needs a launcher utility to start with later versions of OSX.
The only exception is perhaps Sierra. I haven't tried this with Sierra and in the light of path randomisation that was introduced in Sierra, the patch might fail. Don't know.
And, yes, Sebastian, it's Corey Mahler's script I meant.
SEK, Cyrano, Thanks for the support.
I did the activation of my new A1088 on my Yosemite machine while the AE was connected via ethernet and it worked flawlessly. First did a hard reset. It is now found on the WiFi too.
Still complains about the disconnected speakers of course, but we all know Apple is disconnected there (sic) with our reality but my next step is to port and hardwire the USB to a DAC; I will post about it.
I did the activation of my new A1088 on my Yosemite machine while the AE was connected via ethernet and it worked flawlessly. First did a hard reset. It is now found on the WiFi too.
Still complains about the disconnected speakers of course, but we all know Apple is disconnected there (sic) with our reality but my next step is to port and hardwire the USB to a DAC; I will post about it.
Today I opened up the AI A1088, as per the example in HiFiDUINO. In their mod, the USB is connected to an internal input and the digital part of the PCM2705 is disabled by lifting pin 7.
I did this as recommended, but alas: the music keeps going to the headphone I attached and there was no output on the USB. The iTunes sees the 'connected speaker'.
testing, I saw 3.16 V on the lifted pin; it was not connected anywhere anymore. This might imply that there is an internal diode between the analog and digital power (Vd & Vccp).
Who has had similar experience with this mod?
This mod was my purpose of this board, to connect it to my DAC.
I did this as recommended, but alas: the music keeps going to the headphone I attached and there was no output on the USB. The iTunes sees the 'connected speaker'.
testing, I saw 3.16 V on the lifted pin; it was not connected anywhere anymore. This might imply that there is an internal diode between the analog and digital power (Vd & Vccp).
Who has had similar experience with this mod?
This mod was my purpose of this board, to connect it to my DAC.
Of course I can lift pin 9 (input 5 volt that is distributed in the chip if I undertsand correctly (bus power) - there have been probably different versions of the A1088.
The second problem I will have is that the XMOS Asynch probably won't work on the AE (looking at later posts shows some DACS not having the PCM2705/6 might not work on the externalised USB port, have another handshake or so). So I will keep it for a handsome headphone outlet.
Anyway I have decided to use a macmini for a music server, I do not want to waste my time on programming and debugging a Rpi.
The second problem I will have is that the XMOS Asynch probably won't work on the AE (looking at later posts shows some DACS not having the PCM2705/6 might not work on the externalised USB port, have another handshake or so). So I will keep it for a handsome headphone outlet.
Anyway I have decided to use a macmini for a music server, I do not want to waste my time on programming and debugging a Rpi.
On eBay, I found a Macbook Air that met most of my requirements. Subtle variations among models and years so take care. Used Airs are bargains. A 13-inch model has the SD slot that holds my 128GB total music folder, Apple Lossless, and FileMaker database.
Ben
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