Is Apple AirPlay a simple proprietary UPnP?

Yes, Airplay will work over wired Ethernet. I guess they gave it a name that people would identify with, given that for many, WiFi is the only form of connectivity they are conscious of. It is certainly proprietary, and not UPnP. 

To answer your question, I guess Airplay has about as much to do with air as Ethernet as to do with ether. 

Thanks. With UPnP I actually meant some kind of protocol that makes data seen between two devices in a network. Apple has nothing of the sort officially, because AirPlay won't work with, say, a Squeezebox. Only, I was surprised at discovering that it is not a wi-fi connection.

It's a connection between two compatible devices over a network, that is happy to be made wirelessly or over ethernet. Just as your home laptop is happy to be on your network wirelessly or over ethernet.  I use it to stream video from my Macbook to my Apple TV.  The Macbook is on wifi while the Apple TV is connected via an ethernet cable to my switch.  The important point is that both devices are on my home network.

This is in contrast to AirDrop, which relies on a bluetooth connection between 2 devices; they are on their own little bluetooth network to accomplish the connection and data transfer.

If you go to the HowStuffWorks website there is a decent explanation.

Again, thanks. Its function is clear enough. But as usual, Apple makes use of solutions that work only or mainly with at least one Apple device (understandably, though). Yet, if I download the simple, unobtrusive Logitech Meda Server on my Mac, it is seen and its music available on any UPnP device; AirPlay must have a posh name, and the look of being something special when in reality it's only a way to emulate UPnP with those devices that choose to adopt – and likely pay a fee for – AirPlay themselves.

Many people are happy enough with Apple’s closed system, and I think it works pretty well if you use Apple hardware and/or Airplay certified devices, which all Naim streamers now are. Others hate it, mainly, I think, because they can’t get inside it and configue it to do exactly what they want it to do. It may not be the best for sound quality or versatility, but as a way of making music and video accessible to the masses, I think it does a reasonable job. 

If you want something more versatile across different brands, UPnP may be a better bet. Then there’s Roon, Chromecast, and whatever else is round the corner. 

Chris,

so far I have reached a compromise: I'll buy a switch – I need one more Ethernet port – so I'll take advantage of it to connect Apple TV and Panasonic TV, and – when needed – MacBook Pro and Consolette, and each pair will have proper dedicated coupling. Wired Airplay is more than satisfying for a thing halfway between quality background and serious listening. The CDX2.2/NaitXS.2/S-400s will still be in charge of the Paranoia Listening Sessions.

:-)

Thanks

Max

Massimo Bertola posted:

Yet, if I download the simple, unobtrusive Logitech Meda Server on my Mac, it is seen and its music available on any UPnP device; AirPlay must have a posh name, and the look of being something special when in reality it's only a way to emulate UPnP with those devices that choose to adopt – and likely pay a fee for – AirPlay themselves.

Well, AirPlay and UPnP are both taking care about digital media distribution (audio, pictures, movies) across IP based networks. So yes, it's the same general use case. Therefore both work with LAN and WLAN and any other network component transmitting IP packets. (E.g. across power lines, ...)
However, the model of doing so and the protocols being employed, and the way the connection is handled are pretty different.

You could compare it to both WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger being chat programs, utilizing the same general means, but being incompatible and having different features. (Very rough comparison.)

Different UPnP SW uses the same standard, like different mail programs can exchange mails, but maybe sometimes with different feature sets or specialties.

And Apple had that streaming working pretty well >10 years ago, when UPnP devices from different vendors did not understand each other (pretty complex standard; improved a lot since) and products like "Sonos" and everything following after it weren't not he market yet. At that time, it was really something nice, just working. (Did not evolve, though. With the benefit of HW being 5-10 years old still working with the latest iTunes and iOS devices; except for the new multi-room support; which iTunes could do for some part also for ages already.)

Thanks for explanations and contributions. Some say that AirPlay (either via Air or via LAN) is not the ideal for higher resolution files, but I haven't any, and simply routing my ALACs to the Marantz Consolette gives a sound quality that I wouldn't have expected. And more than enough music pleasure. I am beginning to think that the greatest impasse to be solved for some people is the one between expectations and enjoyment.

M.

Apple claims that the file format used for AirPlay music streaming is lossless up to cd quality.  Glad to hear you're happy with the results; it sure is easy when you have compatible devices.

Bart posted:

Apple claims that the file format used for AirPlay music streaming is lossless up to cd quality.  Glad to hear you're happy with the results; it sure is easy when you have compatible devices.

Don't think there's an Airplay 'file format', simply a streaming protocol which is a proprietary Apple one.

Since this last post basically answers positively my caption's question, I consider the topic exhausted as far as I am concerned. Thanks to everyone.

M.