SuperNait doesn't like Airport Express

Posted by: DT79 on 29 May 2010

Hi there. I'm looking for advice on the following problem. I am getting a brief cut-out, once, usually within the first 30 seconds or so of playback, whenever I play music via my airport express connected (digitally) to my SuperNait. I know that it is only the combination of the AE connected digitally to the SN that causes this. Any other digital source connected to the SN does not suffer this issue, and prior to buying the SN I don't think the issue existed when the AE was connected to a DacMagic, although it's hard to be completely sure because I was having a lot of issues with wireless network drop-outs at that time (which I have since almost completely solved). I have tried swapping the AE in question with another one and confirmed that it happens whatever AE is connected to the SN. It does not happen on the same AE connected via analogue. FYI this AE is connected to my router via ethernet.

I did read somewhere, [queue ignoramus butchering a perfectly good piece of technobable], that the AE doesn't maintain it's 'sync' (from what I gather it's a kind of "I'm here and i'm going to send you digital data in X bits / Y Khz format" signal that's normally there constantly even when a digital device isn't sending the actual music signal) with the destination device, it starts and stops it when the music starts and stops. Related to my issues?

So I am pretty certain that it's an issue with the AE digital connection to the SN - they just don't seem to get along. Does anyone have any ideas what the issue might be, or other things to try to resolve it? I tend to hook my MacBook up directly for serious listening, but nevertheless I do a lot of listening via the AE, so this is very frustrating!

Thanks.
Posted on: 29 May 2010 by John Bailey
Sorry, can't say what the problem is but I have been using airport express and SN for months now with no problem.

Perhaps some configuration problem?
Posted on: 29 May 2010 by David Dever
You might have an issue with a wild sample clock on the AirPort Express - try putting the SUPERNAIT into program mode and, having selected the desired input, press the aux1 button to force bypass the internal DAC's reclocking facility.
Posted on: 29 May 2010 by Keith L
Are you using Apple Lossless which is the AE's native codec? This reduces the AE's workload.
Posted on: 29 May 2010 by ramona.c
Hi there!
Thanks to DT79 for describing this issue so well and David Dever for his perfect advice; it will really help!
I had exactely the same curios problem with my SN and AE, to be more precise with the new AE 802.11n, NOT with my older Airport Express...

Nevertheless, the 802.11n-range sound´s slightly better, even optical connected to my SN.

DT79 was right, it is indeed no config. or network-issue. Regardless, it is a very good idea to connect an "Airport" over ethernet... And it sound´s more accurate in my setup, if I interpose the netgear switch.
Posted on: 29 May 2010 by DT79
David - that's brilliant, thanks so much! I have done that and only time will tell if that's solved the issue but so far so good!

Keith - Yes, the vast majority of my files are ALAC.

Thanks everyone for the replies.
Posted on: 19 June 2010 by DT79
Hi - Thought I'd give an update - turning off the 're-clocking' feature as David suggested has not entirely solved the problem but it has made it less frequent, so that's an improvement.

David or anyone else who knows - is turning off re-clocking done per input or is a setting that applies to all, just out of interest?

Just to make sure I've done it right, my exact sequence of button presses was as follows (the button I have assigned to the digital input that the AE is connected to is Aux 1):

- [Pre] (on the remote)
- [Prog] (held on the remote until the volume light flashes)
- [Aux 1] (on fascia)
- [Aux 1] (on fascia)
- [Prog] (held on remote until volume light constant)

Does that seem right?
Posted on: 19 June 2010 by spacey
Get an ATV, i had this issue with the AE too. Theres nothing that can be done. I assume your using iTunes on a windows machine? IIRC it doesn't do this if you're 100% Apple.
Posted on: 19 June 2010 by DT79
quote:
Originally posted by spacey:
Get an ATV, i had this issue with the AE too. Theres nothing that can be done. I assume your using iTunes on a windows machine? IIRC it doesn't do this if you're 100% Apple.


Thanks. I might get an Apple TV once they release one with a larger HDD. Actually I'm streaming from a MacBook Pro.... The issue occurs when streaming wirelessly from the MBP (the AE is connected to my Time Capsule via Ethernet). It is rather annoying...
Posted on: 19 June 2010 by David Dever
quote:
David or anyone else who knows - is turning off re-clocking done per input

Yes.
Posted on: 19 June 2010 by DT79
Thanks David.
Posted on: 19 June 2010 by spacey
quote:
Originally posted by DT79:
quote:
Originally posted by spacey:
Get an ATV, i had this issue with the AE too. Theres nothing that can be done. I assume your using iTunes on a windows machine? IIRC it doesn't do this if you're 100% Apple.


Thanks. I might get an Apple TV once they release one with a larger HDD. Actually I'm streaming from a MacBook Pro.... The issue occurs when streaming wirelessly from the MBP (the AE is connected to my Time Capsule via Ethernet). It is rather annoying...


Fraid that wont be happening, well directly from Apple anyhow. I bought mine new, pre-modded with a 500GB HDD. Apple are about to issue a new SSD ATV which is designed to stream only.
Posted on: 20 June 2010 by DT79
quote:
Originally posted by spacey:
Fraid that wont be happening, well directly from Apple anyhow. I bought mine new, pre-modded with a 500GB HDD. Apple are about to issue a new SSD ATV which is designed to stream only.


Thanks for the info. I guess I could have the iTunes library as a separate folder on my time Capsule which the ATV could access. I'm assuming that you don't need to have your Mac on with Itunes running in order to play back music and I could just use my iPhone as a remote to control playback on the ATV? Is there an option to control from the Mac but still have the ATV streaming directly from the TC? Just thinking about the Mrs when I'm not around... Sorry to show my ignorance of these things!
Posted on: 20 June 2010 by Eloise
quote:
Originally posted by spacey:
Apple are about to issue a new SSD ATV which is designed to stream only.

Thats maybe over stating it... it was a rumor they *may* be working on a new Apple TV devices based on iOS - which (so far) hasn't come to fruition.

The rumors did suggest that "local" file storage would be via a Time Capsule streamed accross the network.

Eloise
Posted on: 20 June 2010 by DT79
quote:
Originally posted by DT79:
quote:
Originally posted by spacey:
Fraid that wont be happening, well directly from Apple anyhow. I bought mine new, pre-modded with a 500GB HDD. Apple are about to issue a new SSD ATV which is designed to stream only.


Thanks for the info. I guess I could have the iTunes library as a separate folder on my time Capsule which the ATV could access. I'm assuming that you don't need to have your Mac on with Itunes running in order to play back music and I could just use my iPhone as a remote to control playback on the ATV? Is there an option to control from the Mac but still have the ATV streaming directly from the TC? Just thinking about the Mrs when I'm not around... Sorry to show my ignorance of these things!


Ok - I've just taken a quick look on the Apple website and it seems that you have the option to control via remote app or to use the supplied remote and use your TV to browse, so that's OK. One additional question I've just thought of though - if you replayed on the ATV can it link in wirelessly to any Airport Expresses (I have 2 others serving other rooms)?
Posted on: 20 June 2010 by spacey
Not sure if the ATV will stream to an AE but the laptop/computer you use to sync the ATV library with will Smile. I use my ATV headlessly with an iTouch.
Posted on: 03 July 2010 by DT79
Hi - I've given up on using the AE in my main system and bought a Sonos!

Can anyone advise whether to reinstate the re-clocking facility on the SN, I have to enter program mode once again, select the input and then press Aux1 again? or does a different button reinstate the re-clocking? (See earlier post from David Dever.)

Many thanks,
Dan.