Long time lurker here. I just wanted to provide my experience with working with AIR and maybe provide some ideas for some of you.
I have almost no problems with AIR and it sounds great. However initially I had the same problems that every one is mentioning. For the first six months it was a very fustrating experience. I had about a 20-25% success with AIR.....dropouts and white noise every 5-10minuites. Then I read the discussion on this forum about the benefits of the Entreq grounding blocks and decided to try adding local grounding (strictly for reasons of improving the sound, i had given up on AIR and was using a streamer/DAC combo into my Devialet). However after making some inexpensive DYI grounding elements and grounding my Devialet 200, Apple airport router, and computer my success with air shot up to about 95% with very few dropouts or white noise, just beautiful sound. It has been working great for the past 9 months since I grounded my equipment using local ground elements and not relying on house/building ground. My guess is that the resistance on house ground is in many cases far too high to properly shunt the small current noise that creates problems for high quality digital audio transmission.
I'm quite happy with AIR on my Devialet 200 since grounding my system. My audio now consists of computer wifi over AIR To Devialet 200 and a pair of B&W speakers. Sold all my other equipment and cables.
(03-May-2016, 12:57)Vivialet Wrote: [ -> ]....AIR was very reliable for me, maybe 1 white noise per week.
....
I wouldn't have labelled that 'very reliable' myself
Now, come on, own up.... Who's responsible for the windup post?!
(note, I don't mean Vivialet's post)
(03-May-2016, 12:57)Vivialet Wrote: [ -> ]yes, G2 and 800 is a perfect match. AIR was very reliable for me, maybe 1 white noise per week.
Was it very reliable or were there 1 white noise incidents per week there is no such thing as both.
(03-May-2016, 15:26)cimanera Wrote: [ -> ]Long time lurker here. I just wanted to provide my experience with working with AIR and maybe provide some ideas for some of you.
I have almost no problems with AIR and it sounds great. However initially I had the same problems that every one is mentioning. For the first six months it was a very fustrating experience. I had about a 20-25% success with AIR.....dropouts and white noise every 5-10minuites. Then I read the discussion on this forum about the benefits of the Entreq grounding blocks and decided to try adding local grounding (strictly for reasons of improving the sound, i had given up on AIR and was using a streamer/DAC combo into my Devialet). However after making some inexpensive DYI grounding elements and grounding my Devialet 200, Apple airport router, and computer my success with air shot up to about 95% with very few dropouts or white noise, just beautiful sound. It has been working great for the past 9 months since I grounded my equipment using local ground elements and not relying on house/building ground. My guess is that the resistance on house ground is in many cases far too high to properly shunt the small current noise that creates problems for high quality digital audio transmission.
I'm 1000% happy with AIR on my Devialet 200 since grounding my system. My audio now consists of computer wifi over AIR To Devialet 200 and a pair of B&W speakers. Sold all my other equipment and cables.
You are 1000% happy with 95% successful? Wow, amazing how many people will accept crap! No wonder Devialet doesn't care.
Hey, we are talking about Wifi. Ethernet was working 100% fine. I'm still not sure if the Devialet, the Router or the PC was the problem. I think Wifi is simply not the best option if you want a stable connection. Too many variables...
I would not trade in my Devialets for anything else even if AIR would fail 10 times per hour. Enough other connection options.
But of course Devialet should fix it or replace it with a better solution.
(03-May-2016, 16:43)Vivialet Wrote: [ -> ]Hey, we are talking about Wifi. Ethernet was working 100% fine. I'm still not sure if the Devialet, the Router or the PC was the problem. I think Wifi is simply not the best option if you want a stable connection. Too many variables...
I would not trade in my Devialets for anything else even if AIR would fail 10 times per hour. Enough other connection options.
But of course Devialet should fix it or replace it with a better solution.
For me, the problem with AIR was never about wifi. I have structured wiring throughout my home and never used AIR over wifi. The probems I've experience ran the gamut of BSODs, stuttering and white noise. I believe the BSODs were initial conflicts with Win 10 and somewhere along the way that problem stopped (Win updates?). What I most experienced was white noise when not expected.
But fundamentally, I agree - my Dev 200 sounds amazing and isn't going anywhere. While AIR is/has been/(will always be?) a disappointment for me, I agree that I'm extremely happy with the Devialet and will likely remain that way by simply not using AIR.
My only problem/concern is the way Devialet has handled (or more precisely, not handled) AIR. Truthfully, I want to love the company as much as I love the product. They're just not making it easy. Still, I'm pretty excited to hear whatever it is they're going to announce.
AIR works almost flawless for me but only on wired ethernet. I'm using Roon as source. When I go to bed and take out the network cable out of my laptop and the music was playing the music immediately drops out. When I do the same with my squeezebox the music keeps on playing for a few seconds. So i conclude that there is absolutely no buffer which explains why wifi would be a problem I suppose.
Now I know I can configure a target device buffer in the AIR application but this also results in the same time it takes to start playing which is very annoying. I find it strange btw that I need to configure a buffer at all. Again looking at the squeezebox, no buffer configuration required, starts playing immediately and then fills it buffer.
No news here. We all know that the AIR architecture has flaws and needs an overhaul to solve all issues. Maybe even a hardware update is required.... only Devialet knows but apparently don't care enough...
(03-May-2016, 18:32)iamwappie Wrote: [ -> ]....
I find it strange btw that I need to configure a buffer at all. Again looking at the squeezebox, no buffer configuration required, starts playing immediately and then fills it buffer.
.....
I thought that when I first tried AIR.
Most modern streaming protocols would check network bandwidth, and try and get an initial burst of data to the device as a cache as quickly as the recipient could take it. That way it starts playing back as soon as possible, but with plenty of headroom - its not like its streaming from cassette and can only buffer in realtime. Also, since Devialet are only streaming to their own hardware, this should be a doddle for them to sport out.
Oh what's the point of even discussing it I suppose....
That's fine but they have no control over the hardware you install AIR on or the network you stream over.
My AIR was working perfectly on a NUC but I am now playing with Roon RAAT to a Pi and HiFi Berry Digi+ from a QNAP NAS, their is no AIR for the Ubuntu server I am running as a VM but the sound quality is amazing via coax from the HiFi Berry.
My vinyl replay system is great without AIR as is my TV link via optical.
I am not sure to get the negative comments about the event in Versailles.
Treating one's ecosystem well (in this case dealers) is something most companies think is very important. How they do it is impacted by the cultural background of the people working in the company. And... like it or not, Devialet is a French company that is part of a culture of which high end hospitality is a key component.
As far as I am concerned, I judge companies based on their products alone (and I continue to be delighted by my 250), but those who think that the "personality" of a company they buy from is relevant shouldn't expect Devialet to become something it is not, or to apologize for what it is.
Cheers,
Bernard