I’ve been old school, wired internet is better than wifi. But this was based on speed. In a video, Paul also said that wired is better.
Just watched a switch review of an audiophile Anzus switch, which the reviewer liked but noted that WiFi bypasses the noise of wires and switches.
Since WiFi speed is more than sufficient for streaming, is it time to reconsider?
Give it a try and listen, if wifi is better in your system, you’ve save bunch of green.
Our listening environment are all different, only you can find out by experimenting.
Yeah, the noise bypasses wires and switches and just plops itself right down in your streamer. Wifi on the server is literally an antenna saying “hey hi frequency noise, over here!” IME disabling WiFi on my server was a big plus. If you have the ability to try it for yourself I recommend it.
just found this
WiFi is the only option in this house, and I use the highest ATT internet plan. Any noise-block improvement I have made on the main router upstairs did not do anything to the SQ. However, the PS and PC for the satellite hardwired to the system made a noticeable improvement. I use a separate Puritan PSM156 just for it, and all audio components are connected to a Gryphon PZ. The streaming SQ now is as good as playing discs, almost.
Auralic’s developers generally advise using wireless with their products in light of noise issues. It seems from the owners on Auralic’s community forum that they’re evenly split in preferences for wired vs. wireless depending on individual circumstances. My g2.2 Altair has galvanic isolation between processing and audio circuits built into its design and sounds pretty much the same to me either way. “Try it both ways and see what happens” seems to be common advice.
I think context matters.
For example, I believe Wi-Fi is preferable over Ethernet or USB to connect my iMac to the Hi-Fi.
My iMac hosts my music library software programs and most of my files. It is connected to the Hi-Fi (streams) over Wi-Fi to an eero Wi-Fi Mesh network and the eero base station serves as by initial Ethernet switch from that point.
Various and sundry bits and bobs provide galvanic isolation and purported noise reduction between digital sources and the network cables and hardware up stream of them.
YMMV
It’s also an old story. And many high end vendors don’t even provide WiFi in their products to enable maximum audio performance.
In most use cases Ethernet wins right away. But I would highly recommend the Network Acoustics ENO2 filter or streaking system which will achieve a considerable improvement in every single network / streaming setup.
When I set up my new Marantz Link 10n a few months ago, it initially worked via Wi-Fi. When I then connected it via LAN, the sound image became larger and more expressive, with richer tones. Now, I have to mention that I use my two switches with a high-quality power supply and additional Ansuz Sortz, Phonosophie clips and NA Muon pro. Very high-quality LAN cables, switches connected via fiber optics. This approach can probably be considered a high-end connection and the best way to go, at a very high price. A Wi-Fi connection requires no additional accessories and could be superior to a simple Ethernet connection.
Mine is not a true Wi-Fi connection, I guess. The Orbi sat. itself is really a router too. From it I implemented many noise reduction measures such as switches, fiberoptic, filter, and cable with filter. Wi-fi streaming should be going to the streamer from router without wires. Am I right on this?
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, EMI, and RF are all interferences that affect our bodies and our well-being. When these interferences are removed from the room, we feel better and can immerse ourselves in the music in a more relaxed and stress-free way, as we feel more at ease.
Interesting. I’m a Roon user and I know that they strongly recommend their subscribers use ethernet with Roon core devices, and that’s how I stream.
Interestingly feel better when being in the living room which I realized after some time using the Schnerzinger EMI protector. So obviously it makes something right in that regard too.