Wi-Fi versus wired a very basic question

[admin_exported]

HIA very basic question ....is Wi-Fi for music quality, still way behind wired, for Amp to speakers, than a wired connection?

 

[Anonymous]

In theory there should be no difference in the sound quality. It either works or it doesn't.

However, with higher resolution music files you might experience the signal dropping out on a wireless connection, leading to gaps in the music.

I assume this is one of the reasons that Sonos systems, which are wireless, can only play up to 16 bit, and Linn systems, which are wired, will play 24 bit.

 

[Anonymous]

24/192 is only about 4.7Mbps for channel, so wireless is not a problem. At least for N standard.

 

[mitch65]

Anything above 16 bit music you are likely to experience droputs no matter how good your wireless connection is (I know from my own experience). Linn, as mentioned, are hardwired for this reason. Naim advise hardwired for 24 bit music and Sonos can be hardwired as well as wireless.

Sound quality is not affected either way it's just that wired is the more reliable,

 

[audioaffair]

Traditionally wired has always been better. Having said that wireless technology has come along way and simple adaptors like Audioengines W1 offer an exceptional wireless connection - we've been using one of these for a PC in store for months and months - it hasn't cut out once and quality has been exceptional.

 

[nads]

But as WiFi is nothing more than an RF signal it is subject to interference from just about everything out there. so when it works it will be fine but it will not be as "robust" as a wired connection.