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
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,502 posts
 

Run some wires if you want to eliminate dropouts.

Twin line is sufficient.

kr4's avatar
kr4
3,650 posts
 

Yes.  Run some wires to eliminate drop-outs and avoid the latency/delay inserted by any of the wireless links.  I run S/PDIF over Cat6 to my surrounds.

cundare2 OP
210 posts
 

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

deep_333
845 posts
 

Try the Rocketfish wireless rear speaker kit sold on Bestbuy for ~150 (not a hifi solution, should be fine for midfi/lofi). If it drops, you could return it.

The new Sony ES line of receivers have wireless speakers from Sony built for pairing with that line of receivers. Yamaha may also have similar options through their Musiccast eco system. But, since you have a sound united product, i.e., Marantz (they don’t make wireless speakers), the Rocketfish may not be a bad thing to try.

Don’t worry so much about delays. When you run your Audyssey calibration, the receiver should be able to account for delays.

 

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