Sonos Port to Replace AIR ?

[Woodman]

Since Devialet has dropped the AIR support for Mac I have been reduced to streaming via Airplay and the quality is much worse. I dont know if Airplay 2 is achieving the 24 bit /48 khz quality into the Expert Pro or whether it defaults to 16bit /44.1 - has anyone been able to measure this or get info from Devialet? I am toying with getting a Sonos port - if you go through the Sonos app it is one of the few devices that Apple allows to stream directly from Apple Music outside Airplay 2. It is limited to streaming at 24bit/48Khz which is a step up but still a step down from the AIR software. If I use the digital out I am still getting the benefit of the Experts DAC. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
 While AirPlay 2 theoretically supports up to 24-bit/48 kHz lossless audio, many setups still default to 16-bit/44.1 kHz,While AirPlay 2 theoretically supports up to 24-bit/48 kHz lossless audio, many setups still default to 16-bit/44.1 kHz,While AirPlay 2 theoretically supports up to 24-bit/48 kHz lossless audio, many setups still default to 16-bit/44.1 kHz,While AirPlay 2 theoretically supports up to 24-bit/48 kHz lossless audio, many setups still default to 16-bit/44.1 kHz,

[Jean-Marie]

The expert pro ci does not support Airplay2 it only supports Airplay1.

I am myself sometimes using an AirPort Express connected via the optical input of the Devialet to get Airplay2. I am also using the Airplay1 of the Devialet directly. I can’t say that I’m hearing any difference between the two. The on difference for me is that Airplay2 allows multiple zones to be synchronized, therefore I’m using it when I want the same music to be played between the expert and my Mania in a seamless way.

[ada]

The main difference:
AirPlay 1 can stream lossless audio up to 16-bit/44.1 kHz (CD quality), while AirPlay 2 offers lossless audio up to 24-bit/48 kHz

I think at this point, we should stick with the USB or AES/EBU inputs of the Experts to stay alive. Basically the CI board became useless without even getting one single future benefit from the original promise.

I am also in market to look for a DDC/Streamer. I am seriously considering the Holo Red Streamer which could satisfy streamer role but also could play a jitter lowering approach for the DDC flow (Mac via USB to Holo via AES to Expert)

[David A]

[quote="ada" pid='111577' dateline='1744374871'

I think at this point, we should stick with the USB or AES/EBU inputs of the Experts to stay alive. Basically the CI board became useless without even getting one single future benefit from the original promise.

[/quote]

We did get one unpromised benefit, we got the Roon Ready option.

As for options for 'staying alive' when it comes to streaming, there is always ethernet. In fact ethernet is the only input I use and those of us like me with a 140 Pro or with a 210 Pro don't have the option of an AES/EBU input.