AirPlayer from olimsoft

Haven't tried Airplay, but I have tried Plugplayer and I can stream FLAC to it fine from Asset UPnP or foobar.

Hi likemusic - thanks for the hint - just to be sure - you are sending FLACs directly and plugplayer plays them on the device - no need of transcoding on the UPnP server? Are hires files (24/96) supported?

Found it on the forums - ignore it!

What we need is someone to licence Airplay to produce an audiophile version of the Apple TV - minus the video bits. If Bowers & Wilkins can do this with their new Zeppelin (airplay to dac)then surely another third party could produce something similar. Unless of course they are positioning UPnP as a serious rival to DAAP.

Alternatively anyone know of a ATV audiophile Mod?

Tog

Just to avoid some confusion - I'm talking about AirPlayER, nothing to do with Apple's Airplay as far as I can see from their homepage.

Maximum bit-correct sample rate / bit depth on iOS devices is 16-bit / 48 kHz, so there exists no advantage in streaming 24-bit / 96 kHz files, which would be down-sampled and bit-decimated upon playback.

If you use foobar UPnP server there is already a streaming profile for Plugplayer which, if you don't override it, will cause foobar to downsample hi-res stuff and force PCM. I suspect, but don't know, that foobar will do a better job downsampling than Plugplayer.

@David thanks for the info - this is exactly what they are doing according to their forum

@likesmusic - I see your point and have to check how heavy is the transcoding on the unit. I have foobar installed on my notebook as well, but have to manage to turn it down after I'm ready with music listening - my intention is to listen to some music from my NAS through my iPhone after I'm already in bed without always to have to convert it to mp3 / aac and transfer it to the unit.

okli - what UPnP server do you use on your NAS?

Hi likesmusik - first have to get used with the new forum software - all these web 2.0 bells and whistles here :-) 

I'm using twonky preinstalled on my Buffalo Linkstation Duo NAS. I purchased the PP application yesterday and have done some basic tests - there are some drop-outs even with 16/44.1 rips (native transcoding) but I can't say if this is because of the WiFi connection or the decoding. Haven't tried 24/96 yet, but the sound quality from what I heard till now is not very satisfactory - my first impression is that the AAC files on my phone sound better. Anyway, the PP does what I was looking for, saving me time with converting files to MP3/AAC and transfer them to the iPhone. I'm expecting my new iPhone 4 to arrive next month - may be the more powerful hardware will help in smoother playback.

@okli I get drop outs on my Touch when I move about at the edge of my hubs range, but not when I'm stationary. Another option you might be interested in is mediamonkey - if you pay (a modest amount) for it, it will transcode FLACs on the fly and transfer them to your iPhone/touch. It is a decent tag editor/media manager/player in it's own right too.

oh.. I've just been digging about in the iTunes store and I found an app called "Helium Streamer". Apparently this streams flac from the corresponding Helium Music Manager - I've not used it, but I'm going to have a play ... looks ideal.

yes, this looks very nice with all its features, only if it could stream to my Qute...