Looking for a WiFi interface


I’m using an under-$100 consumer BT wireless transmitter to send signal to rear speakers in a 5.1 home theater. This is a mid-fi system in which the ambience channels consist of $500-$1000-ish Cambridge Soundworks speakers connected to an $1800 Audio Alchemy stereo amp. The amp receives line-level input from a $2000 Marantz A/V receiver via the wireless interface. My "serious-listening" stereo is something else all together, T+A / Harbeth / Audioquest Niagara, etc., but this CSW/Marantz/Alchemy setup has been satisfactory for Dolby-soundtrack ambience channels.

Except for one thing: No matter how I position the wireless xmitter/receiver modules, I get annoying dropouts. And if I could improve the SQ even a bit, that would be wonderful, since I’m starting to get into vintage Quadraphonic mixes. AptX HD would be an upgrade, I’m sure, but I’d prefer a WiFi solution.

It wouldn’t be a problem to invest a few hundred bucks (or more) in an interface, but all I’ve been able to find so far are more no-name Amazon interfaces & pro-audio products intended for stage performance. The few name-brand audiophile-grade wireless interfaces name-checked on this forum don’t seem to be in production today.

Can anybody make a recommendation based on first-hand experience? This has got to be a common problem, no?

 

 

cundare2

Showing 7 responses by cundare2

Sigh.  If running cable in this room was an option, I wouldn't be asking specifically about wireless interfaces.

The SVS SoundPath Tri-Band looks like a pretty good fit for a mere $200.  Stereo, full-range frequency response, three selectable WiFi frequencies.

 

 

@aschuh  The Denon looked like a good fit, but unfortunately, it's discontinued.

The SVS & Rel interfaces seem to target powered subs, so they're mono.  I see expansion modules, but I'll look first for a simpler topology.

FWIW, just for the heck of it, I moved my current wireless receiver a few feet away from a little amp in the back of the room. That amp has built-in Bluetooth, and although it's not paired with anything, I don't think the radio can be completely disabled. 

This was a long-shot, but, at least for one day in a row, the drop-outs have vanished.  Holy cow, could a fix be as simple as that?

My copy of Rhino's "Quadio" Joni Mitchell Asylum Albums SACD arrived last night.  One thing that was strange was that the Atmos mixes -- downmixed by my receiver to 5.1 -- seemed to have greater ambience than the remastered stereo tracks.  Almost like added reverb.

This suggests to me that my wireless interface has more latency than I'd like.  I may order the SVS Tri-Band interface today.

 

...and I just did. Thanks, everybody, for your help.  This low-latency, stereo, WiFi interface looks like just what I need to do the job, no more, no less.

Follow-up: after a few days of extensive use, the SVS unit still works great.  No latency issues, no drop-outs, although I did lose some volume. 

Nice little product.