Why not more wireless connections?


Greetings

As far as I can tell, wireless is all around us but not so much in home audio systems. Why is that? Why not wireless connections between sources and amp and between amps and speakers? Why use wires at all? 

Thanks

bzawa

@bzawa 

Why not wireless connections between sources and amp and between amps and speakers?

The big fat wires normally connecting amps and speakers have to transmit power measured in tens or hundreds of Watts.  We are talking microwave ovens worth. by comparison, and you do not want to accidentally cook something in the radio beam, like a bird or your head.

Wireless data transmission over short distances usually needs only tiny amounts of power.  Many applications run for months or years on a single button-cell power source.

The only way to get rid of the amp to speaker wires is to put the amp(s) in the speaker box.

But you still need to run mains power so wireless is rarely actually wire less.

I have no technical knowledge on wireless versus wired, just my own user experience.  My experience is that wireless can be much more convenient, when it is working.  At the gym, no wires is a must.  At home, a traditional CD player into a good DAC, seems to sound "better."  Maybe because there is no stress that it can't connect.  In contrast, almost daily Roon cannot find the core, taking 2-3 minutes of fiddling.  Connected, Roon is great.  In sum, whenever possible, I'm wired.

Wireless WiFi data connections for streaming work 100% fine as long as you have a strong connection.  That’s all I use.  The key term here is it’s just another network data connection.  You just need enough bandwidth to keep the data streaming.  There is no sound making involved until the data hits the streamer and then goes to the DAC.  Same story with modern hi res smart TVs.  All you need is the network bandwidth. 
 

I own a Cambridge Audio Evo 150 all in one  among other hifi gear. The only wires with that when streaming is to the speakers .  So nice and sound quality is top notch/ big league for sure. 
 

Obviously wireless subwoofers are a thing as well.  I use one with a tv soundbar but have not tried in a good system.  
Wireless technology for hifi is everywhere.  Young people use it with no remorse.  Old, set in their ways, 20th century vintage audiophiles:   Not as much.  
 

I’ve heard some very impressive sounding Bluetooth headphones recently. AptX lossless does CD resolution over Bluetooth these days. So there is now also that. 
 

 

 

 

Wireless definitely has the advantage of convenience.  For me personally it's really more about reliability. I have suffered in one way or another through many versions of wifi, sometimes in very congested areas sometimes not.  

Devices overheat for no apparent reason and wifi drops, your neighbors new Comcastg router just added 8 new wifi signals on your band and is crowding you out.... that's my biggest beef with it. 

The other one is EMI/RFI interference and noise potential. Not sure if that's real or not but I worry.

From a pure numbers game, assuming you have a good connection and no competition Wifi has so much more bandwidth than audio will ever need, and I've heard good things about Wifi 7's ability to be stable even in a crowded environment, so, sure! Try it. 

Audiophile quality streamers that are capable of true audiophile quality sound exist. I own an Aurender W20SE ($22K) and Aurender has introduced the new N50 which is a three box solution and cost $38K. These devices may be operated off a wifi extender and give sound quality comparable to an analog system of similar cost. They catch all the bits, cache them and then restream them so they will sound the same as a CD or a physical media source. So, this part of it can be done. Less expensive streamers like and Aurender N200 can compete with physical media at these lower costs. 

The lure that has made these "wireless" devices possible has been adding a library of music for virtually no cost. There is no huge payoff for doing this between other components. 

What do you mean? What about AirPlay or other streaming over WiFi? I own both wired and wireless cans.

I dont stream and never will...I dont need to anyway with my 10,000 files...

But wait, don't people wirelessly stream Hi-Def files? Just saying. 

 

 

@mahgister@cleeds@ghdprentice 

Thanks for you responces! Much appreciated. Makes sense what you've all said. But wait, don't people wirelessly stream Hi-Def files? Just saying. 

 

I have experience with live sound reinforcement, and wireless mics have never been as reliable and foolproof as wired. As well, my KEF LS50 first generation work flawlessly, every time I listen to them. I have read many forum postings about the wireless versions having glitches, dropouts, etc. I like interchanging speaker cables as a hobbyist, as well. Cheers-

When you listen to home audio there are no diversions and your ears are extremely sensitive instruments. Nuances of sound characteristics and noise  is incredibly obvious. So, the absolute highest possible quality of interfacing is required. 

Wireless stuff isn't even close to competing with wired stuff. 

 

Because too much wireless , wireless headphone, wireless speakers add  to the  electrical background too much already...

More technological improvement sometimes is less...

And a cable can substract some quality or add some to the final result...

https://www.news-medical.net/health/Does-WiFi-Affect-the-Brain.aspx