Can Airport Express be used without wireless?

[SuperJoe]

I have a Windows network that is 100% wired. Since buying an iPod and ripping all of my CD's to my hard drive, I want to play them on my stereo. The Airport Express seems to be the best way to integrate the two, but without a wireless network, will it work? I can't tell if the Ethernet port is only for DSL/Cable or if I can connect it to my network.

 

[wwooden]

It seems to me that if you don't have a wireless network, the easiest way to connect to the stereo is from the headphone jack of the computer. Seems like a waste of $130 just to connect to a stereo.

 

[jsw]

You can connect any network cable to the AE - it doesn't need to be from a DSL/cable modem. Whether or not the stereo link will work, I'm not sure, but my guess is that it will work perfectly - I don't think the AE cares if it gets the iTunes info wirelessly or via the network cable.

However, as mentioned above, audio cables are vastly cheaper.

 

[Bear]

The AirPort Express has an option to play music (AirTunes) through the ethernet. It's in the Music tab in the AirPort admin utility.

 

[SuperJoe]

My computer is at the other end of the house. My house is wired with Cat5 cable, so I have a wired network for all of my computers. There's a network jack by my stereo.

Thanks, Bear, I'll probably pick one up.

 

[ChrisBrightwell]

EDIT: d'oh. nevermind.