Can Airplay replace my SB?

Glowrdr

Currently I've got the SB Duet. I am curious as to whether Apple's Airplay could replace this component? I'm fairly new to the whole iWorld, but am willing to embrace it if Apple's products play nice with each other.

Since I use iTunes, and I own an iPhone, ipod touch, as well as an iPad - does this make me a candidate for this change? I guess I'm not 100% sure what all Airplay encompasses, so I don't know the pro's or con's of each (hitting google right now....)


Another quick thought - since the rumormill seems to indicate that the next i5 product will more than likely have a NEW connector, I'm also thinking of buying an Airplay compatible dock so I can have some portable music for outside activities (while retaining the ability to use old/new items without worrying about the connector)

Thoughts?

gdpeck

My biggest issue with airplay vs SB is it's multiplayer abilities. For example, if I want to have multiple airplay devices and I want to play the same music from iTunes on all of those devices, that works correctly. However, if I want to play different music accross the devices (Rush in the living room, Pink Floyd in the bedroom, etc.), that isn't possible from a single iTunes library. I can do it, by connecting iTunes to one device, and connecting my iPad to another, but now I have to essentially maintain two libraries (iTunes, and whatever i synch to the iPad). With Squeezebox, both scenarios are possible, and easy to invoke, from a single library. Note that I've only tried this with airport expresses, and the different music in different rooms scenario, may be possible with Apple TV. But if I go to Apple TV I also have to have a TV on to do it.

My second biggest issue with an airplay solution is lack for native FLAC support. I suppose I could transcode all my lossless music to ALAC, but Squeezebox still works so well for me, that I'm not really motivated to that just to move to what is in my opinion an inferior system. If you are only looking to do a single remote device, or if you don't care about the ability to play music independently in each zone, then Airplay might be good for you. On the other hand, the Squeezebox Touch is an outstanding device, and can easily join your duet.

AsSiMiLaTeD

Airplay works, but the sound quality on the SB Touch is better. I have both in multiple rooms and always use the Touch for music playback