Well, the install of the new Devialet firmware succeeded but after the configuration step we were not able to access the wireless network. We’ll have to spend a little more time on it, I guess. This was the case during the original go-around with wireless on the D-Premier.
I liken wireless to TOSLINK in the sense that although there are no electrons flowing directly you add stages of conversion that MAY affect the quality of the information delivered to the DAC. Perhaps I never had the right optical equipment on either end of the chain (to be sure, I have never used the PWD’s TOSLINK) but I’ve not been impressed with optical in other systems. Wireless presents a whole new set of problems with stability, interference and conversion that might alter the sound quality. I am by no means saying that I know the slightest bit about what those factors are but I have been toying with Windows 8 and it is surprising how you can improve the sound of the streaming audio by altering what Windows does with it’s “free time,” or rather what it does NOT do with that time. Sort of like curing ADD in the computer realm. If I extend this to the network, I kinda come up with the same conclusion; less is more. I really don’t know why minimizing what the operating system does has such a large effect on the sound. Is it timing? Lack of interruption? Less jitter? All of these together? It’s way beyond my pay grade to understand but it is becoming clear that there is a lot going on here that makes “no sense,” but has a clear (pun intended) effect on the final product. I look at wireless as more of a “*telephone game,” form of transmission.
Of course I could be hopelessly wrong. :(|)
*Where a group of people relay a message discretely from one to another then compare what the final person says to the original, usually with humorous results.
Well, the install of the new Devialet firmware succeeded but after the configuration step we were not able to access the wireless network. We'll have to spend a little more time on it, I guess. This was the case during the original go-around with wireless on the D-Premier.
I liken wireless to TOSLINK in the sense that although there are no electrons flowing directly you add stages of conversion that MAY affect the quality of the information delivered to the DAC. Perhaps I never had the right optical equipment on either end of the chain (to be sure, I have never used the PWD's TOSLINK) but I've not been impressed with optical in other systems. Wireless presents a whole new set of problems with stability, interference and conversion that might alter the sound quality. I am by no means saying that I know the slightest bit about what those factors are but I have been toying with Windows 8 and it is surprising how you can improve the sound of the streaming audio by altering what Windows does with it's "free time," or rather what it does NOT do with that time. Sort of like curing ADD in the computer realm. If I extend this to the network, I kinda come up with the same conclusion; less is more. I really don't know why minimizing what the operating system does has such a large effect on the sound. Is it timing? Lack of interruption? Less jitter? All of these together? It's way beyond my pay grade to understand but it is becoming clear that there is a lot going on here that makes "no sense," but has a clear (pun intended) effect on the final product. I look at wireless as more of a "*telephone game," form of transmission.
Of course I could be hopelessly wrong. :(|)
*Where a group of people relay a message discretely from one to another then compare what the final person says to the original, usually with humorous results.
Have you chosen in the Devialet configuration online the wireless option, then you have to type out your SSID and password etc. Once you save that and all the other configuration onto the sd card and boot from the sd card plugged into the devialet, you should see the Devialet activate the AIR and connect to the wireless network.
Main thing is when you are running the configuration online one needs to make sure AIR is selected and the SSID is specified for the existing home network and of course the password.
@cat3600 I love how companies borrow each others words: and clearly these guys have lifted ours about "there's no preamp like no preamp" to their advantage about wireless. However, I would have to disagree. And forgive me, but I am only being argumentative and not based on any experience.
But wireless isn't "no cable" it's just a different cable. When we invented the terminology of "there's nothing better than nothing" that only works when there actually is nothing. In the case of our lack of a preamp, it refers to to removing a piece of gear - so there's one less object in the path.
You can't expect to replace a cable with a wireless version and call it the same as removing the path entirely.
Just my two cents.
Paul I thought it sounded familiar, lol!!
Also interesting analogy by you and ELK that no cable or no physical connection doesn't mean there is no "cable" really interesting concept and much to ponder sometimes.
But wireless or wired through Ethernet, this streaming can be a pain and I don't know if we will ever have a full proof system. I mean when I am using the Internet I don't think I will loose connection on my laptop, In fact I can count on maybe 10 fingers how many times the ISP provider's network has gone down over 5 years, rarely.
I know Linn, Naim and almost virtually everybody has this streaming problem, it is a pain to be honest, even when I had the PWD there were issues, in fact it was almost a cat and mouse game to see if i will hear music, and it seems nothing has changed with the new Devialet unit.
Well, the install of the new Devialet firmware succeeded but after the configuration step we were not able to access the wireless network. We'll have to spend a little more time on it, I guess. This was the case during the original go-around with wireless on the D-Premier.
wglenn the wireless network router positioning is extremely important. I have a Linksys EA6500 AC category router and since I have other equipment connected to it without a problem, I assumed my network is fine. I couldn't be more wrong, the AIR needs very very strong signal and positioning of router and the Devialet is very important.
So my router is located upstairs and the Devialet is downstairs, after re-positioning the router (still upstairs) I have much better signal. Also the Devialet which is downstairs is inside the AV cabinet and opening the door actually degrades the signal, go figure!! Keeping the door closed probably amplifies something which may not be the case for someone else, in my case it is better.
So essentially i wasted 2 to 3 days simply overlooking such an obvious thing, with the AIR app started on your computer check for the signal level in the AIR app, provided you are able to first connect to the Devialet. Now I am sitting at -61 to -62 dBm which is still quite high as it should be much much lower. Before re-positioning the router I was at about -70 to -72 dBm which is very high and a good reason for the AIR not working or dropping connections!
Devialet themselves specify the signal should be at -45 dBm or lower so I will see what can be done to come even lower from my current -61 dBm
@cat3600: Thanks for the tips. David’s router is so close to the D-Premier that they can feel each other’s hot breath. :)) It is connected now. He just assigned a static IP address to the Devialet an “poof” he was on.
@cat3600: Thanks for the tips. David's router is so close to the D-Premier that they can feel each other's hot breath. :)) It is connected now. He just assigned a static IP address to the Devialet an "poof" he was on.
Can you please tell me how he assigned a static IP as I would like to do the same also, thanks.
I’ll dour check the details tomorrow but you go into Air under “advanced” or something similar and disable DHCP and enter an address manually. There is an iPhone App called “F’ing” that will show you the IP address of everything on your network. Just adjust Thea’s number to something that is close to the range assigned by DHCP currently. Make sure it doesn’t match anything else on your ntwk. Sorry, I don’t have a computer in front of me because I am at a concert. m/
EDIT: Oh, har har. That App is FING. Not what my iDevice preferred; F’ing! I guess these things really get to know a person…
@cat3600: Sorry I’ve been busy and haven’t checked into the specifics of just how it was accomplished. Any success on your end?
I just saw this device up close at my dealer. Wow. It’s slim. I am thinking this would be perfect for my bedroom system.
Cat3600
Any updates on you DVLA 170?
Would love hear how you are getting on with the new machine. 
cat3600
We are very interested in how the Dev 170 is working for you,