Thanks for the video Jason! The 3.5 mm analog port on back of the Airport Express doubbles as a mini Tosslink digital out. You can get better quality sound by connecting the Airport Express to an extrenal DAC using a mini Tosslink to Tosslink digital optical cable.
I've got this exact setup with stereo HomePods and the iPod Hi-Fi as front speakers, with HomePod minis as the rear surrounds in my audio setup, and while everything works as expected, the HomePod minis just can't compete with the volume levels of both HomePods plus the iPod Hi-Fi playing together. That and the iPod Hi-Fi puts out a warmer sound compared to the HomePods and is best when listened to from a distance as the surround experience is quite good with just the HomePods and Hi-Fi alone.
Since High-res Lossless isn't available over AirPlay 2, and the iPod Hi-Fi is good for 44.1 KHz, the experience is like listening to all the music I've ever had on CompactDisk and through a wonderfully tuned system, with the iPod Hi-Fi's warmth coming through the HomePods' deep clear sound.
You know the one.. Dr. Everything’ll be alright?! 😉 All kidding aside, the iPod Hi-Fi + AirPort Express w/ Airplay 2 via Toslink is still a killer setup, even in this day and age with all the smart speakers ‘nshit running rampant. The purist’s choice, especially with Apple Music Lossless!
The airport express and ipod Hi fi have both otical audio output / imput via mini toslink and the audio quality will blow you away for a speaker that is 15 years old...
Same here, I picked up an iPod HiFi last summer and then found an airport express to go with it. It's easy to find used airport express on Craigslist or FB market dirt cheap.
Yes! Way cheaper than the amp from Sonos and the node 2i from Bluesound. They are very expensive. And the aux port on the airport express is also a mini optical toslink port for digital output.
Unfortunately in iOS 11 and 12 the new firmware causes music to start with a small sample which some have identified as a kind of buffering issue. Each time you click a new track you hear a small snippet of music before the actual track starts. Very annoying so I've gone back to 7.6.9 and notified Apple about the problem. It doesn't happen in OS X by the way.
Walter Brewster if i downgrade my ipad mini 1 to 7.6.9 the lag will fixed ? What about changeing the output sound to iphone option when some one calling?
iPod hifi - first time I've heard of this device, wow! $300 on eBay though :( Just updated my old express and now can play music and two levels of our mansion!
I know you can stream music to multiple airplay devices. But when watching video on apple tv 4k can I stream the audio to 2 homepods (as a stereo pair) AND an airport express which has a subwoofer connected. So I can achieve stereo with homepods + subwoofer at the same time to watch movies. Hope my question was clear! Thanks!
Great video, Jason! Thanks! I have a question - I have my Airport Express setup (wirelessly joining my existing TP Link Wifi Mesh network) inside my Master Closet (deep inside the house) and that powers my front porch speakers. However, when I play music from my phone while sitting on my front porch, the music feels choppy and breaking. However, when I place my phone closer to the Airport Express (in the master closet), the music in the front porch then plays seamlessly. What am I missing?
I’ve been trying to find anyone have done this for months. Is it work good. I was thinking there might be sound delay between homepod and airport express’s aux output. Is the sound perfectly arranged oe is it kind of echoes ?
