Best 1/8"-to-RCA interconect for Airport Express?

[StupidClay]

Hi all,

Could someone reccomend the best analog interconnect for an Airport Express? It's going into a NAD C320BEE, which cannot accept digital imput. I'm currently using a basic Radio Shack 1/8-RCA cable, and the bass coming through my B&W's is very muddy indeed.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!!

Best,
C

[markw]

Does it output a line level signal or a earphone level signal?

I doubt the muddiness is caused by the cable. I use these with portable CD players with line level outputs and have no problems at all.

[noddin0ff]

I would suppect the compression format of the files being played before I would suspect the cable. Do you find muddy sound with lossless encoded files? Does your player (iTunes?) have the equalizer on? etc.

Airport Express is a version of Apple's wireles networking hub that includes audio-out for streaming tunes from a wireless networked computer to your stereo.

[StupidClay]

The question remains - what is the best analog interconnect I can use w/ the Airport? Do I have better-sounding options beside stock RCA cables?

The files I play are mostly LAME VBR alt-preset-extreme MP3's, so they're (relatively) good sounding. iTunes EQ is off. I shouldn't have mentioned the muddiness, I guess. Perhaps that's just my disappointment with the speakers.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

[markw]

You can spend a LOT of money for one of these but it ain't gonna improve the performance. Monster makes one that costs more if that's what you want.

[ericl]

I wouldn't stress about the cable so much. You mentioned the possiblity of the problem being with your speakers, have you compared the sound with a regular cd player to see if thats the problem? Also there's a chance that you just don't like the sound of the Airport. I've read the digital out is far better than the analog out.

I just recently got an airport but have used only the digital out so far, and it is pretty nice. I try not to advocate spending more money, but you may want to consider a cheep DAC to use with the AX. If you do, you should also get the cable kit that is sold on the apple website for $40, as it has a nice little mini-optical to regular size optical cable so that you don't have to use a crappy adapter. It also comes with a six foot power cable and analog cable. The kit is made by an unpopular cable manufacturer that will remain nameless.

-Eric

[StupidClay]

Thanks for the suggestion. Can you recommend a "cheap" DAC I could use?

[Mtbrider]

Try posting your question on the Digital-PC Audio Forum over at Audio Asylum.