Can a apple airport express be part of a audiophile system?

I meant "newer" as in current version

I'm using an earlier generation AE with Toslink to a Rega DAC-R and I'm deeply reluctant to part with it. My wifi router in the office is within 8 feet of the unit and dropouts are rare. SQ is great. I've compared it with USB direct from my Mac to the DAC-R and it's incredibly hard to distinguish. (Easier with high-res files, which AE/AP doesn't support).

I've also compared SQ streaming Tidal to the AE unit versus iTunes playing on either my office PC or Mac. Again, hard to tell, though I think the local source edges Tidal (barely). The convenience of the AE is pretty wonderful. I suspect I'll use it until it gives out then I'll hunt another one online.

Embarrassing confession: for the first year I owned it I didn't know there was a digital out.  At that time, I owned an older Harmon-Kardon AV receiver and even the DAC in the HK was superior to the onboard AE DAC (to my ears). Discovery of the optical out was an instant upgrade, haha.

I'm a fan of the AE, but only with the digital out, of course.

Don't want to go off on a tangent, but you may want to consider the following. If you can find a used Wadia 171i (not 170) or a Cambridge Audio ID100 Ipod docks then hook them up to your DAC you are in business. Read reviews on both items and decide for yourself.

I have both but my preference is the ID100. I have 100gb of music (apple lossless) on my Ipod Classic, and I never have to leave my seat to look for a CD. Put it on shuffle and wait for the next surprise. Life is good. Sound quality is as good or better then any CD transport I have ever used.

Good Luck   
 
   

I tried AE but now I use Bluesound for the whole home audio thing.  Bluesound wipes the floor sonically with AE--it's not even a fair fight-and while it is far from perfect, I prefer the Bluesound app
to i tunes for managing the collection.  I also enjoy being able to play my music without having to have Apple sell me something every time I want to relax

Of course it can...give me an Apple Express connected to a great pair of speakers in a well-treated room over a $5000 DAC connected to a mediocre set of speakers in a carelessly set up room everyday and 23 times on Sunday.