2. home-theater
  3. 189647-185607

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
chrshanl37
835 posts
 

I have both the SVS and a similar device from Rel for my rear surround speakers. Both work great without drop outs however both of them do emit some feed back when the music is not playing. I’m currently using the Rel hooked up to a Fosi V3 which has volume control so I just backed it down a smidge and now it’s dead quiet and sounds great. 

cundare2 OP
267 posts
 

Thanks -- I'll check out SVS & Rel, both trusted names in my book.

aschuh's avatar
aschuh
42 posts
 

Denon makes a decent wireless audio transmitter/receiver kit. Works well for me.

 

cundare2 OP
267 posts
 

@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?

cundare2 OP
267 posts
 

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

 

 

More to discover