Speaker Wires into Airport Express?

[musicpenguy]

Hello all,

I'm looking for a way to hook up speaker wires directly into an Airport Express - what is the best way to go about this ?

 

[Intell]

The Airport Express isn't able to power speakers. You'll need an amp/power speakers/receiver. That being said, look into these.

 

[musicpenguy]

Awesome thanks - the setup I'm looking for is hooking the Airport Express up to a switch box.

The switch box powers the home speakers and basically I just need an Airport Express to send audio into this switch box - the cables used are simple speaker wires.

Would an AMP still be needed?

 

[Intell]

Would an AMP still be needed?

No amp needed then. Unless the speakers from the switch box are not powered (unlikely).

 

[musicpenguy]

Awesome - what then would be the easiest way to plug in Speaker Cables into an Airport Express directly ?

 

[Intell]

What do you mean by "speaker cable"? Do you mean the red/white RCA jacks? The bare speaker wire?

 

[musicpenguy]

A bare speaker cable (two cables that are split - typical speaker cable with exposed ends)

 

[jeffspc88mx]

You need to adapt your raw wires to the 1/8 inch phone jack on the Airport Express - not a simple task, but your local electronics store, or stereo store, might help.

You're describing an odd configuration. Can you supply an image, or a make and model of your switch box/speaker kit? We need to know what the input jacks on the switch box look like. You say they're bare wire, but bare wire is never used for amp input, only amp output/speaker input.

 

[John T]

There seems to be a bit of confusion creeping in here!

The audio output of the Airport Express is in the mV range - nowhere near enough power to drive loudspeakers! That's why, using an audio lead similar to the one advised by Intell, it needs to be connected to an amplifier, (to amplify the voltage to a useable level).

The audio lead consists of a 3.5mm Minijack (a plug with three "rings" - for the right channel, left channel and earth connections), which is plugged into the AE. These are connected to two separate leads (one for each channel) terminated by RCA phono plus which are then plugged into the amplifier.

BTW Apple also sell these leads, even though, if you are handy with a soldering iron, they are dead easy to make up for next to nothing.

Hope this helps.

 

[CrazyCleave]

Clarified Airport Express Connections

In my profession I install Airport Express devices in audio applications all the time. Most folks don't realize in addition to having an analog stereo out Jack (1/8") the same opening hides a optical digital output (mini toslink). Here are some options for connections starting with best sound quality.

1. Airport Express > MiniToslink to Toslink Cable > Digital Optical input on a.v. Receiver (or Integrated Amplififer, DAC, etc). Speakers connect to speaker outputs on receiver (not Airport)

2. Airport Express > 1/8" Minijack to RCA Stereo Phono plug cable > Stereo input on receiver/amp. Speaker output on receiver to speakers.

3. Airport Express> 1/8" Minijack connector > Active (powered) Desktop Computer Speakers.

Be careful setting up the A.E in Airport Utility app, if it's feeding a source with it's own volume control, disable volume control in the A.E. The gain control feature could damage your amp if left on.

You can find both of the cables as well as active speakers and amps on amazon. I hope this helps.

Cleave