Airport Express with AirTunes
Discussion
Does anyone here have one of these!?
I'm really tempted to buy one so I can play my music in the lounge without having to keep plugging in my iPod and updating the tunes on it.
Plus it's also great for parties as you set the music and forget and nobody can mess up or break CD's / iPods / etc...
The only bad thing so far I heard about them is they break after a few months in true Apple fashion. Is this true or is it just a problem on early models or just a couple of disgruntled users?
I'm really tempted to buy one so I can play my music in the lounge without having to keep plugging in my iPod and updating the tunes on it.
Plus it's also great for parties as you set the music and forget and nobody can mess up or break CD's / iPods / etc...
The only bad thing so far I heard about them is they break after a few months in true Apple fashion. Is this true or is it just a problem on early models or just a couple of disgruntled users?
beanbag said:
The only bad thing so far I heard about them is they break after a few months in true Apple fashion.
Curious comment.
Anyway, they do work well but don't forget you'll need access to your computer/laptop in order to change tracks - all they do is enable you to stream the output from iTunes to your stereo.
(Well, they do have other uses but these are not directly connected with streaming music.)
The Dude said:
beanbag said:
The only bad thing so far I heard about them is they break after a few months in true Apple fashion.
Curious comment.
Anyway, they do work well but don't forget you'll need access to your computer/laptop in order to change tracks - all they do is enable you to stream the output from iTunes to your stereo.
(Well, they do have other uses but these are not directly connected with streaming music.)
Everything I've had from Apple breaks within a year or so.
www.jasonball.com/techbytes/2005/10/airport_express.html
Raify said:
FYI There are plenty of other wireless music gadgets that do the same thing. for example:
Roku soundbridge
Slim devices Squeezebox 3
chipped X box + a bit of free software
Phillips SLA5520i
Sony NAS-CZ1
A recent test in Stuff magazine:
Winner = Roku soundbridge
2nd = Squeezebox 3
Roku soundbridge
Slim devices Squeezebox 3
chipped X box + a bit of free software
Phillips SLA5520i
Sony NAS-CZ1
A recent test in Stuff magazine:
Winner = Roku soundbridge
2nd = Squeezebox 3
Well yes, true, though that wasn't the question.
(I have 3 Squeezeboxes BTW, never used the Airport Express to stream music but in a previous house I used it to extend the range of my wireless network.)
What did "Stuff" say made the Roku better than Squeezebox? Just curious - I've tried quite a few network players at various price tags and have to say that I still think Squeezebox is king (though haven't tried the Roku).
beanbag said:
The Dude said:
beanbag said:
The only bad thing so far I heard about them is they break after a few months in true Apple fashion.
Curious comment.
Anyway, they do work well but don't forget you'll need access to your computer/laptop in order to change tracks - all they do is enable you to stream the output from iTunes to your stereo.
(Well, they do have other uses but these are not directly connected with streaming music.)
Everything I've had from Apple breaks within a year or so.
www.jasonball.com/techbytes/2005/10/airport_express.html
So not exactly broke then, seeing as changing some settings have cured it?
I want to say that everything I've had from Apple have always been rock solid (2 Minis, 2 Powerbooks, a MacBook, bluetooth keyboard and mouse, an iMac and a few iPods) but don't want to in case I jinx myself.
The Dude said:
Well yes, true, though that wasn't the question.
Yeah man, just offering more options!
The Dude said:
(I have 3 Squeezeboxes BTW, never used the Airport Express to stream music but in a previous house I used it to extend the range of my wireless network.)
What did "Stuff" say made the Roku better than Squeezebox? Just curious - I've tried quite a few network players at various price tags and have to say that I still think Squeezebox is king (though haven't tried the Roku).
What did "Stuff" say made the Roku better than Squeezebox? Just curious - I've tried quite a few network players at various price tags and have to say that I still think Squeezebox is king (though haven't tried the Roku).
It won on account of its lower price (£150) and it's versatility. It's able to use pretty much any software. Audio quality is on a par with the Squeezebox (which I'm listening to as I type btw).
Raify said:
The Dude said:
Well yes, true, though that wasn't the question.
Yeah man, just offering more options!
The Dude said:
(I have 3 Squeezeboxes BTW, never used the Airport Express to stream music but in a previous house I used it to extend the range of my wireless network.)
What did "Stuff" say made the Roku better than Squeezebox? Just curious - I've tried quite a few network players at various price tags and have to say that I still think Squeezebox is king (though haven't tried the Roku).
What did "Stuff" say made the Roku better than Squeezebox? Just curious - I've tried quite a few network players at various price tags and have to say that I still think Squeezebox is king (though haven't tried the Roku).
It won on account of its lower price (£150) and it's versatility. It's able to use pretty much any software. Audio quality is on a par with the Squeezebox (which I'm listening to as I type btw).
Not exactly cheap then! You can buy an Airport Express for £60! Less than half what your low cost options are. Don't get me wrong. The network players you mentioned are great and thanks for mentioning them, but the idea here is pure simplicity and ease of use......from what I can see the Airport does just that as it works with my music player (iTunes), and my iPod's (I have three for some curious reason.....)
3G 20GB one always running out of juice, but great for taking all my music with me anywhere
512MB Shuffle - best gadget ever for the gym and jogging.
2GB Nano - Technically the girlfriends, but seeing as I bought it, sometimes I take it out the pink leather wallet and load it up with my tunes
Forgot to add....I bought a 2nd hand Airport on eBay. Let's hope it works ok!
Edited by beanbag on Thursday 27th July 22:39
Great bits of kit, got my first one when they first came out about 2 years ago, is still working faultlessly.
I've never used the CD player since.
I also have one here in the office and have installed at least another half a dozen for clients and friends.
Not a single failure.
They can be a little tempremental to set up initially (unlike most Apple stuff).
I've never used the CD player since.
I also have one here in the office and have installed at least another half a dozen for clients and friends.
Not a single failure.
They can be a little tempremental to set up initially (unlike most Apple stuff).
I've been using three of these for a couple of years and they've never broken.
Use them primarily as network extenders and print servers.
Music streaming is fine, but as mentioned controlling the source is a pain.
Despite the extra moollah, I'd buy a proper device if wanting it for music. In fact I just have - a Roku Soundbridge. Works very nicely, but at the moment there are no non-Apple devices that stream music bought on iTunes
Soundbridge and Squeezebox are much of a muchness, but the Soundbridge looks soooooo much better.
Use them primarily as network extenders and print servers.
Music streaming is fine, but as mentioned controlling the source is a pain.
Despite the extra moollah, I'd buy a proper device if wanting it for music. In fact I just have - a Roku Soundbridge. Works very nicely, but at the moment there are no non-Apple devices that stream music bought on iTunes
Soundbridge and Squeezebox are much of a muchness, but the Soundbridge looks soooooo much better.
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