I have been using an optical cable to feed a DAC that is about 18 feet from an iMac. The optical cable has bit the dust and rather than getting the same I am thinking of streaming the music wirelessly from the apple extreme base station by the iMac. Specifically I am thinking of the AirPort Express Base Station which in turn would feed the DAC via the optical out. Any other suggestions? Thanks.

Just keep in mind wired toslink 24/96 verses Airport Express 16/48. If you do any video there would be possible delay issues too. On the upside the Express would give you iOS AirPlay support, which is very nice.

There's the Squeezebox Touch, which would get you back to 24/96, though no video and other limitations.

Ric, so you know if any of the updated AEs have changed that spec?

Haven't heard anything there or officially any other Apple product supporting above 16/48 (though ways around in iTunes, iPhone, etc.). There have been rumors about future though.

Thanks Ric, no video and most (99.9%) of my music files are 16/44.1

Doesn't the 2nd Gen Apple TV support 24/96 audio via optical, or is that only for HDMI? You can stream to that with AirPlay, although it won't extend the network or act as router later if you need that from the AExp.

Not sure as Apple doesn't list, but there are some saying it's limited (not above or below) 48 kHz on either toslink or HDMI.