Is my Airplay the best it can be?

ukcolin99

This is a new Forum category for me to ask, I am sure a basic question.
I am loving playing my lossless iTunes music library stored on my Windows 7Pro PC via Ethernet to network modem then Ethernet directly into my Yamaha (all wired) out my beautiful Polk speakers. Reading about DAC's and wondering if my music is not the best it can be. I presume I am using the DAC that came with my 5 year old desktop Dell PC, should I upgrade? Grateful for any soothing and/or informative words.

ZLTFUL

With how you are running it, you are using the DAC in the Yamaha to do the conversion from digital to analog. Your digital signal is being passed from computer to AVR via that ethernet connection.

Are there better DACs than the internal unit on the Aventage? Absolutely.

Unfortunately, the only way you are going to know what trips your trigger is to listen to some. The Burr Brown DACs used in the Aventage isn't a slouch but it is still a compromise...well more specifically, its implementation in the Yamaha is a compromise to meet a specific price point.

I would start with a similar standalone unit. The Cambridge Audio DACMagic uses a similar, if not the same Burr Brown chip. And it is relatively cheap so it might be a good feet wet starting point.

ukcolin99

Thank you Z, feel better knowing at least it's the Yamaha's DAC. If I buy external DAC do I use optical or HDMI cable, how do I by-pass the BB in the Yamaha? Thanks

ZLTFUL

Once you have an external DAC (still have to use a source...the computer or some type of streaming device), you would simply connect the analog outs on the DAC to a set of analog inputs on the Yamaha...Aux 1 for example.

Of course, source then becomes the elephant in the room. Some folks like streaming from their computers via USB or digital coax.
Others like to use streaming devices. It all boils down to personal preference.

For me, my digital options are thus:
Asus laptop via USB to my Peachtree DACiT then MIT Terminator 2 ICs to my Cary Pre-amp.

I use that to stream in the 2 channel system. I have the option to do whatever online radio I choose, Media Monkey or JRiver for FLAC, ALAC and MP3 (casual listening you hyenas!!!). I also have my satellite box connected to the digital coax input on my DAC so TV can be played through the 2 channel as well.

The HT system is a bit easier as I never do any truly critical listening there and am content with using the Burr Brown DACs in my Aventage. So the digital comes in via whichever HDMI source I am using and the Yamaha handles the converting.

Optical tends to be the last resort option for many as far as digital signal cables go. I personally don't get the quality out of it that I do with USB and digital coax.

ukcolin99

Thank you Z, good info, gonna try CA DACMagic see if I notice any difference.

trj

Jumping in to give my 2 cents.

I believe airport express has optical out, so you can theoretically stream everything in iTunes wirelessly to airport express, and from airport express to your yamaha via optical cable. Will it better than direct ethernet connection? I don't know.
How is the integration with iTunes on PC, I don't know.
But you will still be using DACs in your yamaha, which I feel do a pretty decent job.
But if you are tightly knit in apple family, then airport extreme and airport express are pretty nice solution.
I use apple TV, which I read is not better than airport express. But now, I am thinking to go with a mac mini as my media center connected to AVR via HDMI and have all my AV needs fulfilled through it.

trj

Oh, does your desktop have digital outs, example HDMI or optical/coax? You might want to straight wire and test it out to see if there is any difference. Not sure how much you will loose via network, but a single digital interface should be better, I think.

ukcolin99

Thank you trj. It's an old PC, no fancy outs. Ethernet via modem/router into the 3020 w/Airplay works great. I have an old Airport Exp running off the network to feed the 671 from the same iTunes library to different speakers, all Ethernet.
Before I purchased the 3020 I used AppleTV, definitely not as reliable as Airplay, although I miss the album cover screen saver. Gonna try an external/better DAC in the future.
FYI-iTunes operating out of Windows 7Pro works well, no issues w/15,000 tunes, at least half stored & played in Apple Lossless, managed with little iPad & Remote app.