Yes I use one. I must say, computer based hi-fi with the kind of flexibility a product like the Airport Express isn't too shabby...

In my application, I use it mainly for casual listening. Now if they had something that would let me route the audio of my DirecTV receiver (the XM channels) to Ethernet and then out to my rig via Airport Express... I would be very happy indeed...

That was timely. I just got back from the Apple Store in Short Hills New Jersey and guess what? They didn't know what I was talking about! All I wanted was the toslink-to-mini digital cable to connect the Airport Express to my DAC (as described in their own documentation). The clerk wanted me to go to Radio Shack. His manager wanted me to go to a "specialty audio store like Sam Ash." When I mentioned that the Airport Express was getting lauded as a "Product of the Year" in the latest "Stereophile" they, uh, never heard of the magazine either.

Wes/JA: Now that you've recognized their product and for the sanity of the next thousand readers who are heading for their local Apple store, is it possible for you to contact Apple and hip them to what is going on so we're not met with blank stares and misinformation? Thanks.

Quote:
Now that you've recognized their product and for the sanity of the next thousand readers who are heading for their local Apple store, is it possible for you to contact Apple and hip them to what is going on so we're not met with blank stares and misinformation?

The problem is that the minimum-wage clerks whom Apple employs have not had the appropriate training. All I can suggest is readers do what I did, which was to ignore the clueless clerk and buy the Monster cable kit, after checking that it does include the 3.5mm optical-to-Toslink adaptor.

What freaks me out is going into a store and realizing that no matter how little I know, I still know more than the guy behind the counter :-(

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

D'oh! That last post was me -- I forgot to log in. I also forgot and wrote HTML code rather than UBBC. I am a baaaad forum participant.