Apple TV or Airport Express for Naim Uniti

Posted by: wii on 05 April 2011

I would like to stream wireless from my iPod to my Naim, what would you recommend ? Have any of you tried this with Apple TV or Airport Express ?

Posted on: 05 April 2011 by Tog

Apple TV will work fine - not exactly audiophile but it will work well - better quality with Ipod attached.

 

Airplay on Naim streamers would of course solve your problems - I can't believe it would be desperately difficult but I'm not a hardware engineer!

 

Tog

Posted on: 05 April 2011 by fps1k

With Apple TV & lossless, and compared with streaming FLAC, the sound is a little vague and lacking in detail. However, when heard in isolation, it is a quite acceptable and enjoyable sound. I haven't listened via an Airport Express, but the the forums I've read have stated that AE is not nearly as good, and quite jittery. Streaming FLAC is very immediate and involving however, and if you don't mind the inconvenience of re-ripping everything, well worth doing..

Posted on: 05 April 2011 by JBGood

wii,

My family has been using AppleTV(2) for the past 3-4 weeks.  Works like a charm.  I can't compare this with AirportExpress nor with previous versions of AppleTV.   

 

I have been using ATV(2) with a Cambridge Audio Dacmagic  that I've had for several years.   Streaming from iTunes.  Apple Lossless files.   Using the Apple Remote application on an iTouch.  While SQ does not compare to my Naim sources, the music is pleasant and the convenience of having our whole iTunes library is terrific!

 

The ATV(2) is so inexpensive.  Easy way to experiment with streaming.   Right now it is living in our home theater setup.  Hooked up via HDMI into my AV receiver. 

 

Let us know what you decide.

Posted on: 05 April 2011 by Mike1380

Why not download a free UPnP server for your Mac, then stream from the iPod's library straight to the Uniti?

 

If the iPod is a touch/iPhone/iPad you can get the app free and still use it to control the process, without having to spend any money on a piece of hardware & a digital lead to connect the AppleTV/Airport Express to the Uniti.

 

Mike

Posted on: 06 April 2011 by Rod
Mike I too would like to stream music from ipod touch to Uniti without a laptop switched on. Is this possible, what app would I actually need? Thanks for help.
Posted on: 06 April 2011 by realhifi
Originally Posted by Rod:
Mike I too would like to stream music from ipod touch to Uniti without a laptop switched on. Is this possible, what app would I actually need? Thanks for help.

You have to have another device for that to happen.  If you purchase an Apple TV ($100) and you already have a touch then you simply download the Remote from Apple (free) onto your Touch and hook your Apple TV digitally to your Uniti and off you go.  You enable Airplay in both devices and voila, you can then stream pretty much anything for your iPod Touch to the Apple TV.

Posted on: 06 April 2011 by Tog
It may not yet have the audiophile quality but in vfm the Apple TV is an absolute steal and it works with very little fuss.



Tog
Posted on: 06 April 2011 by Steven Shaw

I am currently using an Airport express into an old Cyrus III as a bit of a stop gap until I get a Unit/UnitiQute. I cant imagine using it once I have a proper digital streamer.

 

The quality is ok through my IBL's, but I'm expecting a big improvement once I get a Naim front end.

Posted on: 24 April 2011 by Rod
PS My son has just downloaded a free Upnp app (2Play) for his HTC Desire phone, an Android device, which immediately streamed his music direct to my Uniti via my home network. So Android OS allows you to buy and/or download music and play it on your hifi straight away without having to use laptops or other annoying boxes. Shame Apple doesn't do something so simple and convenient.
Posted on: 25 April 2011 by ash
Rod the apple devices (iPod touch and iPhone at least) have been offering this functionality for months already - streaming your ipod/ iphone music directly to an airport express and the like
Posted on: 25 April 2011 by realhifi

Ha!  let the battle begin!  But, but....did I see that he was streaming Upnp?  Would this mean 24/96 perhaps?

And straight into a Uniti?  Well now, that's a different animal altogether isn't it?

Posted on: 26 April 2011 by Rod
I don't know what resolution it was as the Uniti maintained it could detect no servers, in its usual eccentric fashion, although the music sounded fine.  Also I see that the forthcoming Sony tablets will be android devices capable of streaming video and audio to domestic TV and hifi without another Apple box attached.  So there.
Posted on: 26 April 2011 by Tog
Early days guys .. early days.



If you have a tiny music library then fine ... Otherwise get a decent server.



Tog

Posted on: 26 April 2011 by ash
the person who created this topic apparently was asking about iPods and airport express wasn't he. I have airp express optically connected to ndac and must say this set up is as convenient as can be - streaming from the main server in another room, from macbook, from any of the iPods/ iPhones/ iPads found in the apartment etc. The SQ is absolutely acceptable for almost all purposes. Like Tog said not audiophile, but quite very decent
Posted on: 28 April 2011 by Donkeyhaute

Hello there. I believe the Apple TV2 up-samples digital output (including optical headphone jack) to 48khz internally, irrespective of the format in which it is received.

 

The Airport Express does not -  so a 44.1khz stream will remain just that. 

 

If memory serves, the original Apple TV doesn't  do this.

 

Posted on: 01 May 2011 by Simon-in-Suffolk
Hi, the AppleTV 2 does indeed upsample everything to 48khz. It uses regular Toslink and HDMI digital outs. I use the Toslink connector into one of my DACs,  an old clock modded Audiolab 8000 DAC, ( i still have it Alastair..) I have to say it really sounds rather good, in fact impressively  so...



Simon



Posted on: 01 May 2011 by JBGood

I have to agree with Simon.   I've only owned the ATV(2) so I can't comment on earlier models -or the Airport Express.   The ATV(2) is an incredible value for the money.   As I posted earlier in this thread, I originally used it with a CA DacMagic.   The ATV(2) now enjoys a better DAC- Bryston BDA-1.  

 

For $99, this is a no-brainer.  And a great way to explore wireless streaming.   We use this thing all over the house.  

 

-- JB

Posted on: 01 May 2011 by Tog
Anyone use one into a Naim Dac?



Tog
Posted on: 03 May 2011 by Richwleeds

I have recently switched from AE at Apple TV to stream music into my AV system (my main system remains stubornly vinyl/cd).  All my digital music is in Apple Lossless on an external HD hooked up to my Mac - streamed wirelessly to the Apple TV - and fed into my AV amp via toslink (as was the AE)

 

The Apple TV is loads better than the AE

 

The most important change is that it is much more stable and less prone to drop outs - I put this down to the flash memory that the new TV has which seems to stop the drop outs caused by buffering

 

As the AE is c£80 and TV c£90 its a no brainer for me