Apple Airplay Sound Quality

I understand that Airplay for audio is the same as AirTunes on Airport Express.

NKBG you are correct, it is really nothing new. It would be nice if they changed the software to be able to stream higher resolution, I don't think any hardware changes are needed.

If i have all my music stored in Apple Lossless format and I'm streaming it directly from my iphone to my airport express and in to my Bryston DAC is it the same as streaming it from my laptop?

In other words, if the files are apple lossless on my iphone, are they streamed that way, or down converted somehow?

Stereophile says it's CD quality. 16 bits 48khz.

Airport Express is CD quality - 16 bits of and 44.1KHZ

Of course you need to CD quality (lossless) files in order to get the full benefit of CD quality.