Apple AirPort Express Review

[dang]

Checkout our latest review of the Apple AirPort Express (http://reviews.designtechnica.com/review1779.html)Apple's AirPort Express promises wireless printing, streaming of iTunes music, and Internet access for up to 10 users. But do you really want your printer near your home theater?

[Riot Nrrrd™]

"Those looking for wireless music streaming, we suggest the SlimDevices Squeezebox, which is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems."

You DesignTechnica guys need to put down the Crack pipe.

Let's see ... spend $299 on a device that doesn't play AAC or Apple Lossless files, only has slow 802.11b wireless networking, and - in your own words - "doesn't fit into a stereo rack" (I don't know about you guys, but "above my TV" is the space for my center speaker, not for a little green LED gizmo)? Versus a device that's half that price, plays AAC and Apple Lossless, has 802.11g wireless, can be remote-controlled by Salling Clicker, and doesn't need to go into a rack because it neatly tucks itself away snuggled up to a power plug? Not to mention the fact that it can act as a wireless router/access point, whereas the Squeezebox is just a music conduit/player?

I guess that Squeezebox LED display must be worth the double price tag ... NOT

[Ioman]

"Those looking for wireless music streaming, we suggest the SlimDevices Squeezebox, which is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems."

You DesignTechnica guys need to put down the Crack pipe.

Let's see ... spend $299 on a device that doesn't play AAC or Apple Lossless files, only has slow 802.11b wireless networking, and - in your own words - "doesn't fit into a stereo rack" (I don't know about you guys, but "above my TV" is the space for my center speaker, not for a little green LED gizmo)? Versus a device that's half that price, plays AAC and Apple Lossless, has 802.11g wireless, can be remote-controlled by Salling Clicker, and doesn't need to go into a rack because it neatly tucks itself away snuggled up to a power plug? Not to mention the fact that it can act as a wireless router/access point, whereas the Squeezebox is just a music conduit/player?

I guess that Squeezebox LED display must be worth the double price tag ... NOT

Sounds like another Apple Zealot here. Lets see, the Squeeze box uses an open source software (if I am not mistaken). Also the Squeezebox is $199 not $299, get your facts straight bro.

And you are in the wrong, the Squeezebox supports the following formats:

-PCM (AIFF, WAV)
-MP3, MP2
-AAC, WMA, Apple Lossless, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis
-Internet music streams

It also has digital optical output which the Apple AirPort lacks, it is more of an audiophiles product than the AirPort, thats for sure. Does the Airport come with a remote control? Does is support these operating systems: Linux/BSD/Solaris ?

Personally, the formfactor on both devices are a turn off for me. I want a product thats component width and fits in my audio rack.

[jfila]

No the AirPort does have digital optical - but when using that output each song misses the first second or so of music. Thats not terrible but it should not happen - and it is quite noticeable and annoying.

But yes, the poster is incorrect in stating that the Squeezebox doesn't play the AAC or FLAC formats - it does.

Like I said in the review, the AirPort Express might be good for you IF you have a laptop, don't mind having to use your laptop to play music on your stereo, and don't mind having your printer in the same room as your stereo (or not worrying about the wireless printing). That is a very small subset of people and as Ioman pointed out - probably only Apple/iTunes zealots :)

[Riot Nrrrd™]

Sounds like another Apple Zealot here.Not at all. I'm an Apple fan, but a realist too.

Let's see, the Squeeze box uses open source software (if I am not mistaken).Open Source means nothing to me in this case. My MP3's are in iTunes, so something that's integrated into iTunes is the handiest.

Also the Squeezebox is $199 not $299, get your facts straight bro.The wireless model is $279, "bro". Check their site:

https://secure.slimdevices.com/order/

And you are in the wrong, the Squeezebox supports the following formats:

-PCM (AIFF, WAV)
-MP3, MP2
-AAC, WMA, Apple Lossless, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis
-Internet music streams
I stand corrected. So, basically this thing is just a receiver for a Shoutcast server you have to set up yourself. Hrrm.

It also has digital optical output which the Apple AirPort lacks, it is more of an audiophile's product than the AirPort, that's for sure. Does the AirPort come with a remote control? Does it support these operating systems: Linux/BSD/Solaris ?
The AirPort Express comes with a mini output connector. If you get the optional Connection Kit that the DesignTechnica reviewer gripes about - not without merit, I think the thing should come with the kit bundled (see? No Apple fanboy there) - you get a mini-to-S/PDIF digital out. (If they really do have a problem with dropping the first second or so when using the digital out, that's a serious bug that needs to be fixed. Maybe I'll wait for version 1.1 :) )

As for a remote control, see my remark re: Salling Clicker. (Again, no Apple fanboy here - they should've thought of some sort of remote control solution themselves. Obviously anyone with a stereo and their MP3's in a different computer room will need a remote. I also totally agree that no one in their right mind will want a wireless printer in their living/stereo room. But maybe Apple's trying to kill 2 birds with one stone - maybe some people will just want it for the remote printing and some will just want it for the remote audio. I know I'm in the latter group.)

As for Linux/BSD/Solaris support, not an issue for me. My Solaris machine is for my e-mail and Web servers - SCSI disks don't exactly hold many MP3's. I believe in each machine having a proper purpose, and serving MP3's isn't what I think a Solaris machine's purpose is.

Personally, the form factor on both devices are a turn off for me. I want a product that's component width and fits in my audio rack.To each his own. Given that both are relatively small devices, to make them mostly empty space so that they are component width seems like overkill to me. The neatly-designed-as-an-overgrown-electrical-plug concept does it for me, personally.

Don't get me wrong, btw - I'm not saying the Squeezebox product is "bad". Quite the contrary. But I'm still not seeing compelling reasons to pay double the price for it. If the DesignTechnica reviewer is going to recommend that product for remote audio instead, this issue should be - and was not - addressed.

[Ioman]

Cool, well I can appreciate your opinions. Perhaps the 6/10 rating was a bit harsh on the reviewers part. We try not to make price too much of an issue in most of our reviews (we cater to the upper-end products so we can't make price an issue in a lot of cases). I do think that you are paying a premium price for the AirPort product simply because its an Apple product.

Anyways, welcome to the forums. We are pretty easy guys to get along with and we certainly are not looking for a heated debate. Your opinions are always welcomed. :)

[jfila]

But I'm still not seeing compelling reasons to pay double the price for it. If the DesignTechnica reviewer is going to recommend that product for remote audio instead, this issue should be - and was not - addressed.

If you read the Squeezebox review you should see all the compelling reasons why. In fact the big gripe I had with the Squeezebox was the display - and they just upgraded the display last week with a better, easier to read model - which they even offer as a cheap ($30ish) upgrade.

The main reasons why I would suggest paying 2x more for the Squeezebox than the AirPort Express are:
- Instantaneous response on the SB
- No "chopped" songs on the SB (AX suffers from chopping of the first second or so of music)
- Remote control included with SB
- Don't need a laptop to control the SB
- Don't need to be running a program on your main computer with the SB (can be run from any old server tucked away in a closet)
- Web-based management in the SB - ANY computer on your network can manage it
- There is much more but you get the point.

For $120 you can get the Netgear wireless digital player (which we haven't reviewed yet) - which gives you an LCD/VFD display and a remote.

For $150 you can get the Linksys wireless B digital player which we also rated only a 6 (or maybe it was a 5).

The AX has too many problems and too many "ifs" as I mentioned in the review. They don't even have the directions correct when they tell you how to join a WEP encrypted network or when they tell you how to set up the printer with Rendezvous. And a ton of people are having problems joining existing networks.

Someone interested in purchasing a AX may not be interested in paying $300. With the Squeezebox being the current standard at which we rate these media players, the AX, even with its printing and router capabilities, is only about half as good as the SB, and half as good as the Compex router that I compared it to.

If you only have $150 to spend on such a product, this may be your only choice, but if you can spend more, I strongly suggest against it.

But if you get it, please let us know how it goes :)

[Ioman]

From Brett Dahl, he posted this under the user reviews:

"First off..many flaws in this review... SSID turn off... did you ever try checking the box thats says create closed network...yeah that stops the broadcating of the network name. and the whole lag issue...do you really expect it to be instantaneous..I mean come on seriously get over it. you complain that since you dont to have the stereo in the same room as the computer its useless...the whole idea is its soo cheap you buy more than one if your so inclined one for stereo one for printer all for less than your other options provided. Stop with the apple bashing this product is great and seemlessly integrated into itunes. you go on to talk about how its wireless rang is just OK. Cnet posted its findings and this out performed pretty much every single competitor expcept dlink which uses its won propietary format. for a proper review on this go to cnet.com"

[Ioman]

I just want to comment and say that I find it amusing how everyone thinks Cnet's reviews are a joke. But then when they want to use ammunition in an arguement, they grab Cnet as a credible source. Do you really think Cnet tested this product?