Wireless USB

Did you read this:

"Note: The Wireless USB Extender does not support isochronous USB"

I believe it will not work with typical USB audio converters.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
Manufacturer

Pardales - that is correct, I dont believe it will work with an Off-Ramp or USB DAC.

I think this UWB stuff just wont work. Need to stick with Wi-Fi.

Steve N.

If the Icron device supports Isochronous, it should work. I hope the B/W is sufficient for 24/96. Since it is based on 802.11G and not ultrawideband, I think it should work fine. Kind of spendy though....

It's interesting that the "cablefree" thing has changed from ultrawideband to 802.11g.

I read the white-paper and it makes sense. Essentially, what happens is instead of the device acknowledging the transaction, the software sends a bogus "NACK" or non-acknowledgment and then later after the host retries again, the actual ACK is received wirelessly and sent to the host. So, it's a deferral of the ACK, knowing that the host will do a retry. It may cause the host to send the data multiple times though, until it finally gets an ACK, which could reduce bandwidth or cause dropouts. I guess it depends on how much buffering they put in the hub devices. As long as the buffers dont empty, then it should work without hiccoughs. Seems to me that isochronous does not do retries though. I'm no expert on USB though. Interestingly, they only show the protocol in the read direction. The spec sheet also says max bandwidth TBD.

I will give them a call. I think I'll have to buy and try this one.

Steve N.

I've pre-ordered one. I am thinking about putting one inside my new Formula One DAC. After talking with the rep, I believe it will work fine. Working with Icron to determine FCC requirements for OEM boards.

The dongle is only an idea at this point, perhaps for an OEM. They have no design plans for this.

Pardales - Yes, it will work with my Off-Ramps, but the clock in it will undoubtedly need to be replaced with a Superclock4. I expect it to be too jittery stock. My hope is that the same clock used in the Off-Ramp can also drive the WiRanger. If not, then I believe that a Pace-Car still may be necessary to get really low jitter.

For other USB DAC's the WiRanger can also be used, but I believe the clock will need to be upgraded first to reduce jitter. Using it stock may be worse-sounding than wired USB. I guess we will find out in about 1 month.

If the Geffen device is based on Ultrawideband, then it will probably not work.

I enabled Icron to do the testing and development of the new firware for audio streaming. I have the first prototype and have tested the Wi-Ranger and it does work with streaming audio and at 24/96. However, there are two issues:

1) it adds significant audible jitter

2) if you step between the two antennas, you lose signal and your DAC makes very loud hiss etc...

I am looking at the units to mods them to solve #1. It may require a Pace-Car reclocker to reduce this jitter, but may be solved with improved clock and other mods.

#2 is up to Icron to address. I have notified them of these two issues.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio