What is the simplest Airport Express replacement I can do? None of my Airport Expresses work.
An RPI will not do, it’s setup is complicated; I see separate power as the main complication, MicroSD card at risk of falling out, etc. I also looked at this: SOtM sMS-200 NEO still there is external power…
What is the simplest Airport Express-like device with RAAT?
I need Ethernet in, minijack out, and the device must be discoverable by Roon, prefrebly as a RAAT device.
The simplest and cheapest would probably be a Chromecast Audio, but Chromecast, like Airplay, is not RAAT. Beyond that, it depends on your budget, and what equipment you want to play into.
The budget is as low as possible, but as high as necessary. If I’m not able to use my old Airport Expresses; I may as well go for a reasonable RAAT option. I expect there to be something available at below USD 150
You should be able to buy a used airport express on eBay.
What was the problem with your Airport Express setup? Did they all die at the same time? If they worked for you but need replacing, I think CCA is a better option to replace them than buying more AE, although it probably does make more sense to use proper Roon Endpoints with RAAT as long as you only want to use Roon with them.
When you say mini jack out, do you mean analogue or digital?
iTunes can see the Airports, Roon can not.
For this one analogue will do it’s for a Beomaster 5000
This could be due to Roon not supporting AirPlay 2? If so, reverting to an earlier firmware version on the AE might be an easy solution.
The Airport Expresses work with AirPlay 1 so Roon can stream to them. I do it all the time.
How can I find out which versions are appropriate? Of Firmware and Aiports, i e
For my charger-like Airport I can choose between there firmwares
For the AppleTV-like Airport Express I’m currently downgrading to 7.6.7( oldest option available )
Version 7.8 added AirPlay 2 support but only to the latest Airport Express. Regardless you should still be able to stream with Roon via AirPlay 1 even with the update. I have an airport Express running 7.8.1 and I can stream with Roon just fine.
I put my charger-like Airport Express on 7.5.2, and the AppleTV like airport express on 7.6.7.
I quit and relaunched Roon, still no airport expresses avaialble in Roon. iTunes and Airport Utility still can see and use them both.
Same procedure as above however both Airport Expresses at 7.6.9 in which appears to be the newest version prior to 7.8
Status quo: Stale.
A Small Green Computer i5 with a built in SSD. Just plain works and it you have any set-up issues the support is top notch.
In what regards?
I think it’s worth following this up as a support issue (@support) as I think this is an issue can be resolved without the need to replace your airport expresses.
Firstly were they working and then just stopped?
Did you do anything with your network that might have precipitated this?
Can you briefly explain how the music gets to the airport expresses (core - network - player configuration)?
.sjb
I realize this doesn’t help the original poster, but I have 2 Airport Expresses with the latest firmware (AirPlay 2 support) and Roon sees them both as endpoints. I can group all of my Airplay supported devices as well into a single group. Now granted, i don’t do this often because the Airport expresses serve secondary locations in the house that aren’t used often (plus are limited to 44.1/16). My primary endpoints are leveraged via Schiit Modi 3’s and/or an RPi3 with a Hiberry HAT.
Bottom line, I can’t think of a reason why the Airport Expresses wouldn’t work. Mine just simply showed up as endpoints the first time in installed my Roon Core.
Works fine with iTunes, does not show up in Roon -> Settings -> Audfio
iMac runs Roon and Roon Server -> ethernet -> Airport Express.
Roon plays fine with Roon Ready device.
Scrap all those out-dated Apple devices, take a look at a wifi mesh system from Google, Netgear, Linksys. etc.
Did they ever work and then stop working?
If other people are not having issues it’s most likely that your airports will work if we can figure out what is different in your set-up.
.sjb
Bluesound Node 2i supports Airplay 2.
Also is Roon Ready.
