Bad sound quality streaming audio via Airport Express

I am streaming audio from iPhone to Apple Airport Express (Airplay). Via optical cable the signal goes to Cambridge DacMagic and then to Stereo Amplifier. Sound is not good, there's some kind of 'chattering'.
When using AirFoil instead of Airplay sound is much better, but then gaps appear from time to time.
Please tell me, what can be the reason for it? And how to solve?
Thanks in advance.

Mr. Tessarex,
I use the Airport Exreme as router and Airport Express (2011, direct plug-in model)
Some facts I learned from the Airport-app on my iPhone:
Wireless clients from Airport Extreme:
iPhone 150Mb/s (802.11 a/n) connection: excellent
Acer laptop 144Mb/s (802.11 b/g/n) connection: excellent
The Airport Express:
240Mb/s (802.11 a/n) connection: good
I bought the song "Love Me Like You Do" (Ellie Goulding) via iTunes.
As you adviced me I tried to play it via iTunes, and streamed it from iPhone to Airport Express.
Especially listening to the bombastic part of the song (from 3:14). Sound was tolerable.
Playing the song from iPhone via Spotify: sound is awfull, totally overloaded.
Playing the song from laptop via Spotify (Airfoil): sound is good.
Playing the song from laptop via iTunes (Airplay): sound is good.
The song never plays 'Excellent' in any way. I Think the song was recorded 'over the top'.
Even when you listen to it via headphone, it sounds very messy, "on the edge...".
I am happy that most songs sound good. So far playing Spotify via laptop and Airfoil gives the best results.
According to the figures from the Airport-app, it seems I will never get optimal bitrate with my current system.
As amplifier I use the Luxman L505u, usually connected tot Airport Express via Cambridge Dacmagic,
but during testing via normal analog cable (without Dacmagic). So far I think the Dagmagic is not the problem.
What do you think, after reading my story?
Thanks in advance
Peter

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