Ask TUAW Video Edition: Airport Breakdown!

ask tuaw video Happy Tuesday!!! Dave is a nice boyfriend who purchaed an AirPort Extreme for his girlfriend's birthday in order to help her. While the Extreme solved her printing/backup issues, he wanted to know about playing music through it.

Today we discuss the different AirPort base stations and show Dave his options.

Any questions? Please leave them in the comments or email us. Read on for the video.

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Happy Tuesday!!! Dave is a nice boyfriend who purchaed an AirPort Extreme for his girlfriend's birthday in order to help her. While the...

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Purely for audio transmission to the amp, airport express is better because it is bit perfect, whereas the optical out of Apple TV is not, if the source is iTunes.

April 20 2011 at 7:28 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

David Emery

I have my first-gen Airport Express connected to an FM transmitter (from C Crane - search Google for instructions to increase power to max legal limit.) I use AirTunes to broadcast my CD collection through the house. It's a lot cheaper than any of the alternatives to get your music to more than one radio.

April 19 2011 at 2:49 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to David Emery's comment

Justin Esgar

Dave - very cool idea.

C Crane FM Transmitter: http://www.ccrane.com/radios/fm-transmitters/fm-transmitter.aspx

Justin

April 19 2011 at 4:16 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Luke

If you're connecting to a higher end amplifier, for the same price, you could also add an Apple TV and use the optical out and stream iTunes with Airplay to it as well.

April 19 2011 at 2:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

2 replies to Luke's comment

Justin Esgar

Luke - AppleTV is a great option if looking for a way to get audio and video out from another location, and the price is dead on! Good call.

Justin

April 19 2011 at 4:15 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Steve Jobs is the master of product segmentation.

I would recommend an Apple TV if you need audio for older analog devices - just use a digital audio to analog convertor (example: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013LWK3A). I push audio from my Apple TV to my ~30 year old McIntosh with one.

AirPort Express = wireless + wireless audio + printer
Apple TV = wireless audio + wireless video
AirPort Extreme = wireless + printer + hard drive (external NAS or usb)
Time Capsule = AirPort Extreme w/ internal hd.

Personally, for future proofing (and not needing a network printer) I would the AppleTV over the AirPort Express...

April 19 2011 at 4:57 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply