iTunes 9 audio, streaming problems claimed
Initial problems with use of iTunes 9 are beginning to emerge, now the software has emerged from internal testing into a wider user base.
The first problem is described within a series of posts on Apple’s discussions forum, where customers claim some loss in audio clarity once iTunes 9 is installed.
As described, users complain that bass-heavy audio played back through the software is muddy or muffled, a problem they have not experienced before. Others complain at loss of clarity and detail when playing existing music files.
However, some customers are denying this, saying music playback has markedly improved.
The second problem appears more common. Customers are complaining that iTunes 9 appears to suffer from intermittent drops when streaming music to AirTunes using an Airport Express or an Apple TV.
That problem isn’t consistent, not everyone is complaining of it, but it has been reported and experienced by at least one user at 9to5Mac. It appeared first in the days following installation of iTunes 9, and doesn’t appear to relate to the strength or otherwise of a user’s WiFi connection.
Some claim the problem emerged on upgrading to Snow Leopard, but we’ve seen situations in which these dropped connections are occurring on systems not running that OS.
Some report success in fixing this issue by simply selecting ‘multiple speakers’ in iTunes, in which music is pumped out of the Mac’s speakers as well as via iTunes. A year-old Apple tech note describes other potential approaches to solve this problem.
All of this appears to imply that for better or worse, iTunes 9 has changed the AirTunes sound output.
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Comments (21)
Sounds as if the problem could be dependent on the router possibly?
That user is me. =) I hope Apple fixes this soon!
I am that one user. I have 10.6.1 and an old airport express.
Since I updated to Snow Leopard streaming improved.
Upon installing iTunes 9 however, I've had many problems with audio simply cutting out when streaming to my updated AppleTV.
Very annoying.
But whats even more annoying? iTunes ghastly UI sheen.
How about the 5+ year long battle with printing over airport express?????? How has this problem been left unfixed for so long?! I prayed that Snow Leopard would finally fix this issue. NOPE. Still can't print over Airport Express.
I wrote this comment in HOPES that some other AE user might be able to help me fix this problem. Airport Express touts 3 main features. Wireless router, Wireless iTunes streaming, Wireless Printing. If 2 of 3 features DON'T work....what good is this $90 brick in my wall???
I've noticed an intolerably high number of repeats when using shuffle in iTunes AND on my iPod Touch since upgrading to 9 and 3.1.
Basically, it will shuffle normally for 5-15 tracks or so (depending on the size of the playlist). Then it will continue shuffling through the same 5-15 tracks with only the occasional new track thrown in.
I had a two hour drive on Friday and I've never had to skip so many tracks before. From one playlist, I heard at least 8 of the tracks 7 times. I never had repeats before upgrading to 9.
Anyone else find this?
Granted, I upgraded to Snow Leopard just last night, so hopefully that will fix it.
Yeah, been happening to me, too. Goes to a new song and nothing plays. Have to stop iTunes and start again for it to start streaming through AirTunes.
And here I was thinking it was the new apartment I just moved into.
We have three Macs, two AppleTVs, and iPhone and an iPod Touch. We also have an AirPort Extreme which has an HP printer attached via USB. We have not experienced any of these problems with any of these devices. Therefore, it would appear that some of us are running the same operating system and software under the same conditions as others but do not experience the same problems. This leads me to believe that there must be something unique about your hardware/software systems which is causing the problems for those that have them.
I do not have an AirTunes device so I can't comment on that device.
I have the latest AE and I am have problems connecting to AirTunes. It works sometime and others I can't connect at all. I haven't notice any decrease in audio quality.
Mine keeps dropping out as well. It is so frustrating- has anyone found a fix???
I have ; Time capsule, airport express, macbook, remote on itouch. Mine drops sound and almost always drops the connection after sleeping giving me an error 15006. Very annoying during party time. When working is awesome. Had it 3 mo. and started doing this about 4 weeks ago.
I have ; Time capsule, airport express, macbook, remote on itouch. Mine drops sound and almost always drops the connection after sleeping giving me an error 15006. Very annoying during party time. When working is awesome. Had it 3 mo. and started doing this about 4 weeks ago.
Bad news folks, this AirTunes dropping out business is nothing new. It's still happening on my machine, which has Snow Leopard 10.6.1 and iTunes 9 installed. I have two AEX, the old g model, and the new N model. Problem occurs on both, still.
For many of us, it's been going on for over a year. It seems to have become a problem for most with the introduction of iTunes v 8.1. The problem occurs across multiple routers, multiple versions of OS X, multiple versions of the Airport Express devices, and anything else you can think of.
I wouldn't hold your breath on getting this fixed any time soon, since, as I've said, it's been going on for ages with many people. A little searching on the Apple Support Forums will validate that. Here's just one thread I've been following in hopes of someone finding a solution: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1787183
Using Snow Leopard 10.6.1 (Mac Mini)
* An Airport Extreme firmware 7.4.2 (connected to computer using ethernet)
* Two airport expresses (firmware 7.4.2) connected to remote speakers.
* WPA2 encrypted netowrk
* iTunes 9.0 (70)
After updating to Snow Leopard 10.6.1, iTunes 9 regularly drops the connection the the two sets of remote speakers. The connection drop only seems to happen after the main computer has gone to sleep and woken back up. This problem never happened using 10.4.11 and exactly the same hardware setup. The problem started right after upgrading to snow leopard. there is no error number, iTunes just pops up an adialog box that says "Remote speakers could not be found. Would you like to use the Computer Speakers?"
Quitting and then relaunching iTunes 9 fixes the problem and I can then connect and stream to the remote speakers (until the main computer goes to sleep again)
i have a problem where my chinese words for songs all turn into weird symbols. one by one. anyone has that problem?
Have you checked your Fontbook for errors?
Happened when Itunes 8 was released. I have a pc and the problem happens on the pc running itunes.
Pain in the butt. One would think Apple does a better job testing and troubleshooting issues before release.
I'm running both a Vista and XP PC's. XP PC with iTunes 9/airtunes streams faultlessly and works beautifully with the remote iPhone app. Sync with iPhone causes lock ups. Vista PC on the other hand, drops out badly and very hit and miss with remote app. Uninstall/reinstall etc no better, checked for conflicts/disabled anti virus stuff....I give up.
Bought Belkin N+ Wireless router and AE kept dropping audio. Went back to my Linksys WRT54g and all 3 of my AE work like a champ
I'm in the same boat with Snow Leopard 10.6.1, iTunes 9, new Airport Extreme and old Airport Express. Worked fine until I installed updates last night. So far I've tried:
Checking firewall, restarting Airport Express (manually and through Airport Config), switching to Multiple speakers...
The Airport Tool says everything is working fine.
Arrgggggggg!!!!!
I don't think it is a router issue. I have a Timecapsule and have the same problem usign my AE. Can still for 2 or 3 songs and then the conexion drops & I must disconect and connect again to work.
I've downgraded to 8.2.1. and the problem was solved.