Airport Express Optical Audio Output: huge clicks... Solutions

I'm using Airport Express to stream ALE audio to a Chime DAC, via the Toslink optical connector. Every time iTunes stops playing for more than about 5 seconds, a huge click is sent to the digital output, which is... you can imagine. Very annoying.
I don't understand how digital silence (a series of consecutive 0's whose equivalent is 0 volts) flipping to actual 0 Volts (as in... the bloody circuit is off) would produce a click in any properly designed product! Hi-Fi amps have built in ramp functions on the power rails to avoid that on the speaker outputs since the 50's !!!
Is there a way to configure Airport Express (I've looked in Airport Utility) so that it keeps the interface active - in other words, sending digital black whenever audio from iTunes is not present at the input? The thing is plugged into a wall socket anyway! I don't see any conservation of energy in switching it off, if it's done in such a rude and annoying way.
Any ideas?
Any Apple techs ever read these forum entries?
The headphone output of all Macs since the switch to Intel is flawed, and I have yet to see ONE reaction from them to the thousands of posts on this forum about that subject.
Just thought I'd waste a bit more of my time here again.
But I'd love to hear from anyone with a decent solution.

I apologize for my subject topic not ending with a question mark. I could swear I typed one in. So again, sorry if you got here thinking I had found a solution to this.

Similar Messages

I have an Airport Express connected via optical toslink to a dac/amp in turn connected to speakers. When using iTunes I get message "no speakers connected to Airport Express" and audio sound has drop outs.

I have an Airport Express connected via optical toslink to a dac/amp in turn connected to speakers. When using iTunes I get message "no speakers connected to Airport Express" and audio sound has drop outs.

Ok, if you are connecting the AirPort Express Base Station (AX) to the existing wireless network, then the DSL in the next room is most likely a combination DSL modem and wireless router. Thanks for clarifying that for me.
Although they may only be separated by a single wall, the building material used in that wall may be enough to prevent the AX from receving a "good" signal from the DSL router.
Since I don't know what computing equipment you have available, please check out this AirPort User Tip: AirPort - Optimal Base Station Placement to see if you can get some SNR measurements at the location of your AX. To do this properly, you will want to power-off the AX and only get these measurements for the DSL router.

Optical audio output specs

What sample rates and frequencies can the optical audio output handle?
Is 96kHz/24bit available?

I am not convinced you've given a valid answer. Maybe if I elaborate a bit more...
I have a song in iTunes that is in the Apple lossless format. The song is sampled at 96kHz/24bit.
When I play that song via AirTunes to an Airport Express, the optical digital output of the Airport Express provides 48kHz/24bit to the input of my standalone D/A converter. It appears that somewhere between iTunes and the Airport Express the audio information is down-sampled from a 96/24 signal to 48/24 signal.
So my original question, rephrased, is: when I play a 96/24 Apple Lossless file in iTunes, and send that song via AirTunes to AppleTV, what is the sample rate at the optical digital output of the Apple TV? Does Apple TV, like Airport Express, down-sample the digital information, or does it pass the ausio information through at the full 96/24 bitrate of the audio file?

Fiber Optic Audio Output

Fiber Optic Audio Output
I'm very interested in purchasing a Mac Mini for home use, but as a secondary computer. I would this computer to connect to my TV and stereo. Its primary function would be a peripheral to my stereo and the internet. Having the lack of a quality stereo output is a major drawback and possibly enough of one NOT to purchase the Mini. At the minimum there should be RCA jacks, but in this day and age RCA almost seem like "floppy drives". The new G5s have fiber optic in & outs. You could remove the dial-up modem port or have a configuration that has the fiber optic output.
I think this would be a great resource for many users, new & old. I think if enough people stir-up some noise "they" may actually pay attention to it. If you feel like this would be a good idea, please go to the Feedback link below and let Apple know.
Thanks!
http://www.apple.com/macosx/feedback/

Because of Core Audio built into Mac OS X (in versions on the mini), you can use a USB or Firewire sound output device to give digital sound straight to a hifi/surround receiver. DVD Player, VLC and others support Dolby Digital and DTS via this method.
The downside is it takes one of your scarce USB ports. However, using a usb hub is fine - these devices work as USB 1.1 devices anyway.
I use a M-Audio Sonica USB - a very small device, and have a toslink into my surround sound system - perfect AC-3 sound! There are a few little bugs with this Sonica device (and others) but there are plenty of instructions for getting it to work reliably with 10.4.
Interestingly, I am also able to stream music AT THE SAME TIME digitally to an airport express, and use digital out on this to another hifi. The upshot is that I can play a movie in 5.1 sound in one room, and listen to iTunes in another room off the same device - and in neither case relying on the poor headphone port!
Ian

Optical audio output jack

Just purchased this new desktop and am running the audio output out throught the optical audio output jack into my surround sound receiver, AWESOME! Wanted to know if I could connect an optical audio splitter to this jack and split the audio output of the computer into TWO separate receivers?
This question was solved.
View Solution.

There are SPDIF/Tolink splitters out on the market... here is an axample.
http://www.amazon.com/ViewHD-Toslink-Optical-Splitter-VHD-TS1X3/dp/B00G191YL8
( I am an HP Employee )

HT202730 Macbook Pro Optical Audio Output Toggles On/Off

My Macbook Pro optical audio output seems to switch off with a loud click when sound is not playing for a few seconds.
Then, when sound resumes, there's a delay as it switches back on.
Is there a way to stop this toggling?
And please don't tell me to check the connections.
I've already tried different sample sizes and bit rates to no avail. It seems as if the system is switching something when there is no audio being played, then switching it on again. Even if the playback is only on pause.

Reset PRAM. http://support.apple.com/kb/PH18761
Reset SMC. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
Choose the method for:
"Resetting SMC on portables with a battery you should not remove on your own".

Does Qosmio F60-00Y have an Optical Audio Output (toslink\spdif)?

Does the Toshiba Qosmio F60 Australian model have an optical audio output?

Hi
I found this Toshiba page about Qosmio F60-00Y:
http://forums.computers.toshiba-europe.com/forums//thread.jspa?messageID=194743
Unfortunately, there is nothing about SPDIF and digital output.
I found some details about European F60 series and didnt find any info about SPDIF
For me it looks like the SPDIF is not available but this is just an assumption

Optical audio output not working on mac mini

I have a brand new mac mini (less than a week old) that I've hooked up to my media center. Unfortunately, when I hook the optical audio output to my Pioneer receiver, I get no sound. I know the receiver decodes optical audio correctly because it does so with my DVD player and my Xbox. I have tried all 4 optical inputs on the receiver, and have tried two different optical cables, as well as 2 different optical adaptors (required by mac mini to go from TOSLINK to the mini TOSLINK output on the mac). This tells me that all signs point to the problem being with the mac audio optical output stage itself. I have called apple technical support and have had it looked at, at an apple store. Unfortunately, the apple store does not carry a device where the audio output could be plugged in to verify that no sound is delivered. Apple refuses to replace the unit because I cannot prove to them that the problem is with the mac mini and not with the pioneer receiver. I find this incredible. My first experience (and quite possibly my last) with a mac has proven to be a nightmare.
Before I contemplate returning the unit and demanding my money back, is there any help anyone can provide....some magic bullet I've overlooked? Has anyone else had this problem?
Thanks....

Thanks for the reply. Yes, when I plug in the optical cable to the mac, it senses it correctly and changes from "Internal Speakers" to "Digital Out" under the sound system preferences. Also, there is definitely red light coming out of the other end of the cable. That only tells me that the "carrier frequency" of light is most probably being generated, but not that the digital audio information is being modulated on top of it.
Any other ideas? Out there?

Does digital optical audio output "sleep"?

Digital audio works fine as long as an application is actively generating audio, but when it is paused for a short while, I start static from my amplifier similar to what I hear if an optical cable is disconnected. I notice that there is no light coming out of the end of the optical cable. This was a problem in setup, as the absence of light caused me to think that the optical cable was damaged or not properly connected.
Does the optical audio output "sleep" after a period of nonuse and lose carrier? Is there a way to keep it active all of the time?

I've also been having this problem with my Mac mini (2009 version). Static/crackle sound over digital connection when the audio has been idle for a short while.
It reminded me of an old problem that some PowerBook G4 users had several years ago, where the audio hardware would go to sleep to save power and there would be a delay while it woke up. I remembered that there were a coupe of utilities created to remedy this problem by playing silent noises at short regular intervals.
I tracked down these utilities - KeepSoundAwake and SoundOn. Someone mentioned that SoundOn used a whopping 1% of CPU and showed a Dock icon, while KSA usage was usually 0% and had no Dock icon. So I decided to try KeepSoundAwake.
Here is a link:
http://mrfeinberg.com/KeepSoundAwake/
So far so good. I've been crackle-free for the last several minutes since starting up the program. This is a pretty ancient application (last update was a fix for 10.3 compatibility), so there are a few things to be aware of. I now have this one non-intel-native app running constantly, which is sort of a bummer - but with 4GB, I'm not too concerned. The PrefPane that comes with it will not run at all since it is not intel-native, but the default settings are fine so that's not really a concern either. You do need to make the app a startup item so it will be running all the time.
If I encounter any problems with using KSA with my setup, which includes running some multi-channel audio through Plex, I'll report back here.
I do wish Apple would officially address this issue so we wouldn't need to use a 7-year-old hack!

Cannot connect airport express to ipad I keep receiving the message: "an unexpected error occurred" when I try to connect my Ipad to my airport express. Does anyone have a solution?

cannot connect airport express to ipad
I keep receiving the message: "an unexpected error occurred" when I try to connect my Ipad to my airport express. Does anyone have a solution?

I could not "see" my Express via my wireless router or via the Airport Utility until I reset it to Factory Settings by unplugging it then holding in the tiny reset button while plugging it back in, waiting for the flashing yellow LED signal before letting go.
Then I set it up to DHCP - "connect to wireless network" and DOWNGRADED the firmware to 7.3.x
I would tell you the exact Firmware but I can no longer "see" the Airport express............ AGAIN or still.....
BUT at least I am listening to music streaming from my MacBook Pro... Hmmm.
I log back into the router (Linksys WRT110) and it no longer shows the Airport Express as a DHCP client AND the Airport utility can no longer "find" any Airport Devices..
So if I don't move, or there are no cosmic events, or maybe my KARMA is effecting the device or my "VIBES" are good, but I'm not sure if will continue to work.. Sure would like to use this little device from hel*.
Since I have had this Airport Express I have spent many hours trying to get it to work.
It works just long enough to fool me and then takes a dump...
Maybe this time?
5 Minute later...
Music was playing. I went into iTunes and switched from Airtunes to Computer speakers. When I tried to switch it back GUESS WHAT?
[An unknown error (-15006) occurred while trying to connect to remote speaker "Airtunes"]
Wonderful Green LED though. Totally useless piece of equipment AFAIK.
Message was edited by: Daniel Shattuck

Optical audio output has stopped working - can anyone help?

My optical audio output has suddenly stopped working. I use the Mac Mini as a music centre, so use the optical out all the time. The analogue signal works (when I plug in headphones, I can hear the music) AND I have checked my audio system by plugging another Mac mini into it and it worked.
I can see the red laser light from the cable when I unplug it.
I have not changed any settings.
I presume this is a hardware failure - but it seems like a strange one as the analogue audio is working.
Any ideas?

try some of the usual troubleshooting steps:
_*resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM*_
_*resetting the System Management Controller SMC*_
also, run _*Apple Hardware Test*_, using the installation DVD that came with the mini, to see if any hardware problems are reported.
JGG

1/4" with optical audio output

Does anyone actually use the digital audio output? Like in a home theater for Dolby Digital? Does the MBP output DTS?

The digital audio output works great. As an audiophile, it's one of the best things about my MacBook Pro. I use mine to not only connect directly via optical cable (toslink) to an external DAC, I can use my MBP as a digital front end for my audio system. I also use my Airport Express to stream music digitally to my pre-amp. The great thing is there is no signal loss between my MBP (source) and the preamp or DAC. This is completely different from using the audio output jack in an analog manner. The difference is astounding. You can buy an optical cable, also called toslink, fibre optic cable, fibre cable, online or at most big box electronics stores. Not all cables come with the mini adapter though, so make sure to find one that does. Monster makes one for about $40, but you can find them online for as little as $6 (before shipping.) The absolute best deal I found was from PowerMax.com. Delivered, this cable was less than $20! The cabling is small in diameter, but it is high quality and the mini adapter snaps into solidly into place. It is a great product at a great price and will make an extraordinary difference compared to analog. Find it here: http://www.powermax.com/parts/show/serv-922-6540 It's made by MonsterCable (MonsterCable is labeled on the external shielding.) It does come with a mini adapter and will work with all the Apple optical digital inputs and outputs. The digital audio output will export Stereo, Dolby Digital (Stereo, 5.1 and 7.1) and DTS. It's a pure digital signal. I can connect my MBP to my 50" 1080p HDTV and use the optical digital out to output the audio in Dolby Digital 7.1 into my audio system. Awesome! Apple was genius to design the audio jacks (input and output) to accept both an analog and digital cable in the same jack. For less than $20, try it, you'll love it. Also, regarding Apple's Airport Express; I rarely used my Airport Express in an analog manner. I couldn't stand the loss in sound quality. I mean, what's the point of having your music in a lossy format stored on your computer if you can't get that same high quality out of it. Using the Airport Express in an analog manner, the degradation in sound quality isn't even worth it (for me.) As an audiophile, quality (both the recording process and the playback process) are everything. By connecting the Airport Express with an optical cable to my pre-amp or DAC, I use it almost daily to stream music and now can truly used my MBP as a digital front end and music server. It's one of the greatest upgrades ever in my audio system and it was only $20!

HT200112 AppleTV 3rd - optical audio output 44.1/48KHz

hi there,
i've a problem with the Apple TV (3rd generation) optical audio (Toslink) output. I send a 44.1KHz stream from a MacBook (OSX 10.9.1) / iTunes (11.1.4 (62)) via a wired connection (ethernet 802.3) and the optical output on the AppleTV is a 48KHz stream.
in the same case using an AirPort Express, the optical output is a correct 44.1KHz stream.
is it a correct behavior?
where is the problem?
what can i do?
thanks ahead,
sergio

Welcome to the Apple Community.
Yes this is how the Apple TV works, it outputs at 48 KHz.
There isn't a problem and it's not something that can be changed.

Airport express & digital audio through usb

Can airport express stream digital audio through usb to use with a usb DAC?

No. Digital optical audio is only available via the AirPort Express' audio port only.

Constant crackling on USB optical audio output (Edirol UA-1D)

I have a Edirol UA-1D USB digital optical and coax (SPDIF) audio device, hooked up by optical cable to an amp for playing music. No input is connected to the device. When the OS 10.4.5 iMac it is connected to is booted the device works fine, but after a while the output suddenly starts containing constant repetitive crackling on top of the audio. It may take 10 minutes for it to start, it may take an hour, it may even sometimes take several hours but it always starts sooner or later. Sometimes it eventually self-heals (to then start again sooner or later), sometimes not. It seems to happen randomly, there appears to be no association with any trigger event causing the noise to start.
Stopping iTunes audio output does not fix it nor does switching the sound output device back to the internal speaker then back to the Edirol. The only thing which stops it is disconnecting the device from the USB bus then reconnecting it, or rebooting OS X.
The same iMac can also boot MacOS 9.2.2 and Yellow Dog Linux 4.0.1. Without changing the hardware configuration I have had the Mac run MacOS 9.2.2 for a day using iTunes to play out on the same audio device, and I've had it running Yellow Dog Linux for 5 days using Amarok as the iTunes stand-in, and the Edirol has worked perfectly under both these OSs, suggesting that neither the Edirol nor the USB bus or hardware configuration is the cause of the problem.
I have done a complete clean (volume erase) reinstall of OS 10.4 from the distribution DVD thinking that there may be some kind of corruption or 3rd party software conflict on my main 10.4 volume, but the problem still happens in exactly the same way every time when booting from the clean volume.
I downloaded the AppleUSBAudio.kext extension source from www.opensource.apple.com, built it with extra logging enabled and installed it (it now generates lots of console logs when audio is started and stopped) to see if it logs anything when the crackling starts. It doesn't.
Has anyone else had these kind of problems and found any solutions? Does anyone have any hints as to what might be causing this to happen and what a possible solution might be? Please don't say "switch to Linux"...
iMac G4 800MHz Mac OS X (10.4.5)

I have had this exact same thing happen with a completely different audio interface (Griffin PowerWave) and Tiger using Peak LE 5 with CoreAudio (which is built into Tiger). The problem, I think (sent email to Griffin just yesterday and they have not had time to respond), is that CoreAudio by default wants to control the sample rate from within Tiger (Internal Clock Source) whereas my PowerWave also wants to control the sample rate, and doesn't seem to have a way to just let the CoreAudio do the sampling (i.e. there is no choice among clock sources). Since the sampling is being controlled from two locations at once instead of letting one device be a slave to the other, they drift in and out-of-sync with each other after a while which wreaks sonic havoc. Peak LE 5 WILL work with this PowerWave interface if I set the software to use the older OS X HAL rather than CoreAudio, which I am guessing allows the PowerWave to be the sole clock source.
If your audio interface has a CoreAudio driver available, there should be some way to select the clock source, which should hopefully cure the problem.

Airport Express Optical Audio Output: huge clicks... Solutions

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for