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iPod Anyone use Airport Express with their itouch/iphone?

marc55

marc55

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Oct 14, 2011
872
283
Just saw that there is something called the Apple Airport Express wireless.

Looks like it might be a good solution to sitting on the couch and having complete itunes control at your finger tips .

Would appreciate some feedback on how well this works/doesn't work, and any problems setting up.

Thank you
 
I think its easy to setup and works great for what its advertised to do. You can even set the airport express up using Apple's airport utility for iOS. Streaming directly from my iPod Touch or iPhone to the airport express works well, but it can get stuttery audio sometimes. I think using Remote from my iPhone and playing iTunes from my laptop is more reliable, and that also allows me to stream to multiple rooms in my house. (Airport expresses and Apple TV's)
 
I'm a big fan of Airport Express. I previously used it to play music from my macbook through my stereo system wirelessly -- I could use the Remote app on my iPhone to control iTunes on my macbook. Now that I have iOS 5 on my iPhone, I can also play music on my iPhone wirelessly through my stereo. I have pretty fast internet connection at home, so I've never had issues with stuttering or anything. For me, highly worth the $100 I paid for the Airport Express.
 
Is it posible to play music off an ipod touch instead of my computer with the Airport Express? How would it be set up?

Thank you
 
I have yet to get stuttery audio from anything other than the MLB At Bat app. That is most definitely the fault of the MLB stream, not the Airport Express/speaker setup, since the same thing happens whether the phone is docked, using headphones, or playing through the built in speaker as well. Playing direct from the phone over the network works so well, in fact, I don't bother using the computer at all for music, and I'm planning on two more AE's for other house speakers before the end of the year.

Refurbs are available through Apple; I believe they're $69.99.
 
androiphone said:
did you not read the other 2 posts?

buy an airport express set it up like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyUakC3WUOY

then stream music from an ipod touch/iphone/ipad without a computer (ie not from itunes) like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04PtaMFV45I

if you dont have a computer to set up the airport express you can use the airport app on your ipod touch
Click to expand...

Yes I read the previous two posts; I'm not an apple expert, so it's a little confusing.

In the one video it talks about changing my router? Am I understanding it correctly? I'm not looking to change my current router.

The video seems to be geared to using the computer in this set up.

Won't my ipod/ipad simply talk the the airport express without me having to change settings in my computer?

All I was hoping to do was plug his into the wall, connect it to my stereo system, and have my ipod/ipad stream music directly to the speakers (am I making it too simple?)
 
marc55 said:
Yes I read the previous two posts; I'm not an apple expert, so it's a little confusing.

In the one video it talks about changing my router? Am I understanding it correctly? I'm not looking to change my current router.

The video seems to be geared to using the computer in this set up.

Won't my ipod/ipad simply talk the the airport express without me having to change settings in my computer?

All I was hoping to do was plug his into the wall, connect it to my stereo system, and have my ipod/ipad stream music directly to the speakers (am I making it too simple?)
Click to expand...

It will work exactly as you propose, and should be relatively seamless. Keep in mind, though, that other sound... like mail alerts, texts, etc., will also go through the stereo speakers in this setup.

That's why I prefer to use the iTunes / Remote set up... this ensures only the music gets through. It's also less of a drain on the battery, and if I walk out of range with my iPad or iPhone, the music keeps playing on the speakers.
 
CopyChief said:
It will work exactly as you propose, and should be relatively seamless. Keep in mind, though, that other sound... like mail alerts, texts, etc., will also go through the stereo speakers in this setup.

That's why I prefer to use the iTunes / Remote set up... this ensures only the music gets through. It's also less of a drain on the battery, and if I walk out of range with my iPad or iPhone, the music keeps playing on the speakers.
Click to expand...

But do I have to change any settings in my computer pertaining to my Lynksys Router?
 
I've been a huge fan of the Airport Express for many years now, and I've accumulated six of them, each attached to a sound system in a different part of the house. I didn't have to change anything on my router, and the process of setting up an AE is laid out step-by-step in links others have posted. You can even call AppleCare and one of their very competent native English-speakers will walk you through setting yours up in real time.

Once set up, all you have to do is to be in range of your home router with your iOS device--the iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, play music you've synched to the device from iTunes, and click on the Airplay icon. (When you have multiple AE's a list appears from which you choose the one you want.) You can adjust the sound level from the iOS device or from the amplifier/powered speakers.

You also have the option to enable home sharing so all the music in your computer's iTunes library can be played using the iOS device, or you can install the "Remote" app to stream directly from the computer as another poster has suggested. With the iCloud enabled you'll also have the option of downloading/streaming from Apple servers. I use all these methods at one time or another, depending on what device I have handy and what I'm in the mood to listen to. And remember that you can easily unplug the AE from the living room stereo and plug it in next to the boom box in the bedroom, or take the boom box and the AE temporarily into the bathroom to listen to music while you're showering. (If you have Slingbox you can listen to the audio of a TV program just as easily--great when you have to interrupt watching a football game on Saturday to get ready to go out.)

It's really a great system, and I'd encourage you to buy an AE and give it a try. If you have an Apple retail store you can get to, you could have a Genius walk you through the process to make you more comfortable.

A bonus is that when you travel, you can just toss the AE in your briefcase, and if you get to a place, like a hotel or a house you're visiting that has only an Ethernet/Cat5 source for the Internet (common when visiting semi-connected grandparents) you can instantly create a wireless network just using the AE.

I hope you'll enjoy it as much as we have!
 
Great info, now I think I have it.

One more question: Lets say I get an ipad, and want to stream music to my stereo system, I would have to sync the ipad with the AE - understand that.

Now, the question is once the ipad is sync'd with the AE, and music is streaming to my stereo, I presume I would not be able to use the ipad to surf the internet at the same time on our house router, as you can only select one router at a time in the ipad? If that's the case, I may need a touch and an ipad?
 
Nope, there's no need to switch networks. In the setup you'll do, the AE, although capable of being a wireless router, is just joining your house router's network as a client. Your house router remains the sole hub of your systems, and the AE can be thought of as simply a wifi signal receiver that processes the music stream it receives wirelessly from the house router. That stream was generated by your iOS device or computer, and then transmitted via wifi to your house router which then rebroadcasted it. The AE receives that digital wifi signal and processes it into an analog electromagnetic signal that is, in turn, converted by your amplifier/speakers into sound waves your ears can hear.

Since there is only one active network there is no synching or network switching. You just click on the AirPlay icon, choose the AE, and the ouput stream will be directed to the AE via the house router instead of to the headphone jack or internal speaker of the device reading the music file.

I'm sure that I am at least vastly over-simplifying what actually happens, but for me it's a useful model for conceptualizing how to make it all work.

(You can also configure the AE to act as a repeater to extend the coverage of your wifi network, to act as a print server, or to replace your house router, but that's probably for another day.)

Best of luck!
 
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Just fired up the AirPort Express, set up was a breeze, and she works perfect! We are using it with our iphone 4s, and touch.

Does the airport utility app stay on all the time, or can yoou shut it off?

Thanks again for all the help guys!
 
You can close the Airport Utility application once you've configured the Airport Express and the green light is showing steady.

Look into buying a program called "Airfoil". It will allow you to send sound from Safari or any other application from your computer to your speakers via the Airport Express. http://www.rogueamoeba.com/airfoil/. You'll see there are versions for both OS X and Windows computers.

Hope you continue to enjoy your Airport Express, and good on ya' for checking it out and following through.
 
Apples expertise is in dressing up regular technology with catchy names to make buyers believe they're getting something better or special.

"Airport" is Apples catchy & somewhat misleading name for plain old wi-fi.

Like usual, it's buyer beware. You can save loads of money when you know the truth. A fact Apple is the master at hiding.
 
vitzr said:
"Airport" is Apples catchy & somewhat misleading name for plain old wi-fi.

Like usual, it's buyer beware. You can save loads of money when you know the truth. A fact Apple is the master at hiding.
Click to expand...

Umm that is true, but you realize that this thread is about playing music from an iPhone to an Airport Express? This can only be done with an Airport express (or other Airplay enabled devices). Your argument is off base and unwarranted and frankly makes you look like an @$$ (but I assume you get that a lot)....
 
I would strongly recommend getting an Apple TV rather than an Airport Express.

Here's why: The Apple TV can do everything the Airport Express can do and much more...but they are the same price ($99). The Apple TV can stream music from your iTunes library on your laptop or from your iPhone and be controlled by your iPhone or iPad just like with an Airport Express...but you can also use it for things like Netflix, Movies, TV Shows, Internet Radio, and Airplay Mirroring (seeing what's on your iPhone/iPad screen on your TV.)

The Apple TV has both an HDMI and optical audio port. You can connect the HDMI to your TV and the optical to your stereo system and both can be output at the same time (or just one at a time if you want).

And you don't need an actual TV to get functionality out of the Apple TV; once you turn it on, it shows up as a speaker option in iTunes on your laptop as well as in the Remote app on your iOS device.

tl;dr: Get an Apple TV; it does everything an Airport Express does plus much more, but costs the same
 
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blueroom said:
Warning, with the :apple:TV2 is the audio output is optical only or HDMI. You'll need a audio system with a TOSLINK input.
Click to expand...

Exactly and the Airport Express can also act as a wireless extender/repeater which the AppleTV can not.

For many, they need the analog connectors that the AppleTV does not have.
 
blueroom said:
Warning, with the :apple:TV2 is the audio output is optical only or HDMI. You'll need a audio system with a TOSLINK input.
Click to expand...
True. If you want the Apple TV and don't have an optical audio port on your receiver, you'll need a digital to analog audio converter ($57):

JMtAq.jpg
 
SGMD1 said:
True. If you want the Apple TV and don't have an optical audio port on your receiver, you'll need a digital to analog audio converter ($57):

Image
Click to expand...

Which raises the cost to $156 and still isn't a wireless extender. I have both AppleTV's and Airport Expresses. The Expresses work great for places I only want audio and to extend my network and the AppleTVs work great in places I have tv's. Both have their strong points.

Oh and you get can get a refurb Airport Express for only $69 from Apple.com....
 
paulrbeers said:
Which raises the cost to $156 and still isn't a wireless extender.
Click to expand...
Also true...although OP made no mention of wanting a wireless extender or of not having an optical input in his receiver.
paulrbeers said:
I have both AppleTV's and Airport Expresses.
Click to expand...
I have both as well. I prefer the Apple TV because it allows for both TV as well as audio receiver output. I don't use the wireless extender functionality of the Airport Express but I suppose that's a personal decision whether it outweighs the added features of the Apple TV.
 
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I have a couple Apple TV(2)s, but I use the Airport Express in setups that do not have a monitor (my headphone setup by the bed and the one in the living room). Also, the Airport Express is bit perfect for 16/44.1 (anything ripped from CD) and the Apple TV(2) only puts out a 48Khz signal (unless something has changed with the new updates).

Personally, I like both, but they serve different purposes.
 
paulrbeers said:
I have both AppleTV's and Airport Expresses.
Click to expand...

I have both as well in different rooms.

For media we generally use the AppleTV more though, it's great, eg. when you find a YouTube clip you want to show someone else, instead of passing your iPhone over, you stream it straight to the TV. Plus after Jailbreaking it plays movies straight off our external HD (plugged into Airport Extreme or TC).

The Airport Express is in the same room as my partners iMac, for some reason he got a really long cable and now it plugs straight into the amp to play music.

The Express is still useful, it has the printer and a TV plugged in for the network, but it's REALLY annoying to watch movies from that TV now as it is DLNA compliant, but the HD we had that WAS DLNA compliant wouldn't transfer movies over 10gb or something, and when we run TVMobili on the iMac it keeps popping up on the TV screen?? We would have moved the Express as it's a metre away from the Extreme but it only works with printers and not Hard Drives :/

But hey, if the exercise was music and not movies/video, then the Express is fantastic (and the network printer is great too).
 
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