I use a WiiM mini hooked up an Echo Link to stream audio to all of my Echo speakers throughout the house. They also make WiiM Pro and Plus versions that are equivalent to this Eve Play product. I recommend the WiiM line of products as a replacement for the Airport Express if you can’t find one.
Actually shocked eve beat Sonos at their own game. It’s baffling how little risk taking there is in the smart home audio space, just hope this leads to more in the space.
It’s a good point. I think companies like Sonos are taking a high margin on their own ecosystem, but AirPlay 2 gives you lots of similar features, in this case for a lot less money.
As well as being so cheap & simple to use the Apple Airport already has a great onboard DAC …. and supports lossless ALAC AirPlay streaming unlike the lossy AirPlay 2 format. What’s not to like for £25 used?
Ok, SOLD! One for me and one for my audio buff amigo in Los Angeles. We both have studio monitors, and Eve Play looks to meet the DAC challenge over either WIFI or Ethernet. Good job explaining, Eric and Seasons Greetings to you and yours.
Rather than paying $150 for a device that only supports AirPlay, I think that I’d be inclined to go for a Wiim Mini, which-for $50 less, even-supports AirPlay, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect? (Granted, its DAC is nothing to write home about, but you’ll probably be connecting it to your receiver using SPDIF/Toslink anyway?)
This looks interesting. I've made about a dozen attempts to use AirPlay in different ways, and none of them have worked well. It seems that the walls in my house are made of cast iron or something, because music over WiFi just doesn't work well. Would this let me play music from my *Mac* (which is direct-connected to Ethernet) to multiple Eve Plays? This might finally let me put speakers around the house (both 1st floor and 2nd floor) and get good reliable sound quality from them all.
Interesting concept. I have two home theatre systems in the house with really nice speakers connected to a receiver (one with AirPlay support and one without). In both cases, I have an AppleTV connected to them. Although I don't have a use for something like this, I can definitely see instances where it would be an ideal solution. Nice review, as always.
Does this unit have an amp? where doe the amplification come from? SONOS has 2 choices for this option. They have SONOS amp and SONOS Port. If you are hooking the device up to a receiver or an Amplifier, you use the PORT. I f you have speakers that don't have amplification you use the SONOS Amp
I’m interested in possibly using the Eve Play to drive my Kohler SoundTile speakers in my shower, currently these are driven by a Bluetooth module connected to the shower controller. I’d have to find a compact preamp for the speakers and plug the Eve Play into that.
I was waiting for "It can play Hi-Res from apple music" I would have bought it in a heartbeat but knowing so many other options like wiim (and pro), airport express, volumio (raspberry pi) does it the same or even more for less money kind of makes this fall into the "bose category" from an audiophile standpoint.
@@EricWelander Got 3 of them for 45 bucks on FB market...hard to beat and they work perfectly with all integrations, still best ratio quality/price option so far if indeed you score one as they are getting harder to find
My home theater receiver does AirPlay, and so do my TV and AppleTV, and yet I still use a regular Bluetooth speaker 99% of the time when I’m playing music, because AirPlay does some really weird things on the iPhone when you use it. It’s like it creates a second audio stream independent of what’s playing on the iPhone. So if I return to playing the music on the iPhone (put on headphones, leave the house, etc.) I lose the playing queue that I was listening to. Same going the other way. It’s also really clunky (at least to me) to switch back and forth between the two “streams”. Once you are connected to AirPlay it feels like the iPhone makes it really difficult to get back out of that (sometimes I enable AirPlay by accident, for example) and return to what you were listening to before. I have just always felt it was a really clunky interface that I didn’t feel I wanted to waste my time on. But maybe it’s just because I don’t use it much.
I’m glad other people notice the annoying things about AirPlay. It’s clunky for audio and video. It’s like Apple isn’t even attempting to compete with Google.
1. Airplay 2 don't support Loseless Audio. So this device is crap. Just buy an Apple TV instead. 2. This product is good only if you have a pair of active speakers like yours, and would like to use the Airplay 2, which don't support hi-res audio quality. 3. Wiim Mini, for 99USD is far way better option than this, and not only supports Airplay2, but the most famous hi-ress streaming platforms too. 4. For the money i don't care if i have to buy a separated DAC. Probably you have one already if you are an audiophile.
Eve made an AirPort Express 😂
Literally
I use a WiiM mini hooked up an Echo Link to stream audio to all of my Echo speakers throughout the house. They also make WiiM Pro and Plus versions that are equivalent to this Eve Play product. I recommend the WiiM line of products as a replacement for the Airport Express if you can’t find one.
I was looking for a solution to play through my echo system with a sub. I’ve been trying to find a solution to my issue
Actually shocked eve beat Sonos at their own game. It’s baffling how little risk taking there is in the smart home audio space, just hope this leads to more in the space.
It’s a good point. I think companies like Sonos are taking a high margin on their own ecosystem, but AirPlay 2 gives you lots of similar features, in this case for a lot less money.
You forgot the AirPort Express! Still can do AirPlay 2
That’s a good point. A distant memory at this point 😒
Way less expensive can pick them cheap on eBay
As well as being so cheap & simple to use the Apple Airport already has a great onboard DAC …. and supports lossless ALAC AirPlay streaming unlike the lossy AirPlay 2 format. What’s not to like for £25 used?
Careful…not all models.
Ok, SOLD! One for me and one for my audio buff amigo in Los Angeles. We both have studio monitors, and Eve Play looks to meet the DAC challenge over either WIFI or Ethernet. Good job explaining, Eric and Seasons Greetings to you and yours.
Thanks Mark! Enjoy your new toy and gift
Bro get the AirPort Express 2
Spend just a few more bucks over the Sonos AMP and get the Bluesound PowerNode. I’m so happy with mine.
Rather than paying $150 for a device that only supports AirPlay, I think that I’d be inclined to go for a Wiim Mini, which-for $50 less, even-supports AirPlay, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect?
(Granted, its DAC is nothing to write home about, but you’ll probably be connecting it to your receiver using SPDIF/Toslink anyway?)
This looks interesting. I've made about a dozen attempts to use AirPlay in different ways, and none of them have worked well. It seems that the walls in my house are made of cast iron or something, because music over WiFi just doesn't work well. Would this let me play music from my *Mac* (which is direct-connected to Ethernet) to multiple Eve Plays? This might finally let me put speakers around the house (both 1st floor and 2nd floor) and get good reliable sound quality from them all.
Interesting concept. I have two home theatre systems in the house with really nice speakers connected to a receiver (one with AirPlay support and one without). In both cases, I have an AppleTV connected to them. Although I don't have a use for something like this, I can definitely see instances where it would be an ideal solution. Nice review, as always.
Does this unit have an amp? where doe the amplification come from? SONOS has 2 choices for this option. They have SONOS amp and SONOS Port. If you are hooking the device up to a receiver or an Amplifier, you use the PORT. I f you have speakers that don't have amplification you use the SONOS Amp
Yes the Sonos Port is arguably a better high end comparison since it doesn’t have an amp. The Eve Play does not have an amp.
I’m interested in possibly using the Eve Play to drive my Kohler SoundTile speakers in my shower, currently these are driven by a Bluetooth module connected to the shower controller. I’d have to find a compact preamp for the speakers and plug the Eve Play into that.
Yes I’m not familiar with those speakers but you would have to use a preamp if they aren’t powered. Otherwise that should work fine
I would of have possibly tried one of these with a klipsch soundbar. But they’re not even sold in the United States apparently.
Hi Eric! Just wondering if that Eve play can be added to home automations and shortcuts like homepods and apple tv?
So could use this as a whole home audio system right like you can with Sonos?
I was waiting for "It can play Hi-Res from apple music" I would have bought it in a heartbeat but knowing so many other options like wiim (and pro), airport express, volumio (raspberry pi) does it the same or even more for less money kind of makes this fall into the "bose category" from an audiophile standpoint.
Why not just buy a used AirPort express? I have bought a couple very cheaply
Did they get AirPlay 2 support? I thought apple killed them before the upgrades
Same. Works great. Insanely easy to setup & config.
It does support AirPlay 2 but they are getting older and harder to find since they aren’t made anymore
@@EricWelander Got 3 of them for 45 bucks on FB market...hard to beat and they work perfectly with all integrations, still best ratio quality/price option so far if indeed you score one as they are getting harder to find
Tried Apple Express, but sound quality was very very poor.
My home theater receiver does AirPlay, and so do my TV and AppleTV, and yet I still use a regular Bluetooth speaker 99% of the time when I’m playing music, because AirPlay does some really weird things on the iPhone when you use it. It’s like it creates a second audio stream independent of what’s playing on the iPhone. So if I return to playing the music on the iPhone (put on headphones, leave the house, etc.) I lose the playing queue that I was listening to. Same going the other way. It’s also really clunky (at least to me) to switch back and forth between the two “streams”. Once you are connected to AirPlay it feels like the iPhone makes it really difficult to get back out of that (sometimes I enable AirPlay by accident, for example) and return to what you were listening to before. I have just always felt it was a really clunky interface that I didn’t feel I wanted to waste my time on. But maybe it’s just because I don’t use it much.
I’m glad other people notice the annoying things about AirPlay. It’s clunky for audio and video. It’s like Apple isn’t even attempting to compete with Google.
Airplay is perfectly fine. You just have to learn how to use it.
What is that iPhone holder at 0:20?
1. Airplay 2 don't support Loseless Audio. So this device is crap. Just buy an Apple TV instead.
2. This product is good only if you have a pair of active speakers like yours, and would like to use the Airplay 2, which don't support hi-res audio quality.
3. Wiim Mini, for 99USD is far way better option than this, and not only supports Airplay2, but the most famous hi-ress streaming platforms too.
4. For the money i don't care if i have to buy a separated DAC. Probably you have one already if you are an audiophile.
Wiim Mini is better and half the price
AirPlay 2 sadly, so 256 AAC compressed lossy audio only. The Ethernet is massive overkill.
hitting that minus button 3000 times? lol, how about pressing and holding it for half a minute
First