I have a question for you:
I know that the airport express, just like all the new macbooks, are supplied with integrated optical outputs. In-fact the normal mini-jack output has inside audio optical capabilities.
As I can see here there are a lot of experts in hi-fi / computers, (normally things are separated: hi-fi goes with analog and old electronics) I would like to know if the result of a medium level analog hi-fi system could be comparised with a lossless encoding, transmitted optically thought the output to a hifi amplifer (for example a marantz PM-15S1).
Thakyou for your answers!
Lossless encoding is lossless encoding. Nothing is lost. Which means it plays back exactly what it was fed. The fiile will contain all the information it received from the Marantz. How good it will sound depends on what you play it back on. Hopefully the iTunes stuff has some sort of decent pre-amp in it or you are screwed.
So in the encoding we have no loss of quality, but I was more interested in the passage itunes (or flac player) to machine audio hardware, and audio hardware to optical output.
Because I know that normally analog minijack kills the quality level, while I thought it might be different for optical cables (even if I know taht an analog fan would say I am wrong)
When speaking of non valve systems, is equal the "computer - optical amplificator" combination to a traditional "cd player - amp"?
I'd think any differences to be found might come down to the DAC of the Airport Express vs the CD player connected to the Marantz, not the jacks on the Airport (optical or not). But I don't know how you 'd set up a DBT to verify if there's a difference, because you'd have to compensate for volume differences.
Thankyou for the great answer!! Thanks to you I have found a Test.... but it is a bit to much complicated (for my knowledge). I post the link:
http://stereophile.com/digitalprocessors/505apple/ (http://stereophile.com/digitalprocessors/505apple/)
If someone could just have a look at it! (would be great)
Found the audio DAC: Texas Instruments PCM2705
I think that review is basically saying that if you use the analog out, the jitter measurements are not as good compared to some other DACs. But whatever that means in real world (audible) terms, I have no idea. Like I said earlier, it would be hard to prove in a DBT if this measured jitter had any real effect. The article said you could bypass this DAC and it's jitter by using the optical out and relying on some other DAC in your system. At least that's what I got from it
This means that with the applelossless and the airport express (with the optical out) I could bypass the dac and let the amp process a more "pure" signal?
I think I will try! (I already have the airport, but I discovered only now the optical output) .. I simply need an optical cable.
I will let you know..