AIR 3 Beta for Mac

[Jnan_devi]

any glue why Air via wifi sounds differently than Air via Ethernet ?

With ethernet cabling there are two types of 'noise' which are typically present - common mode (coming from the signal source in this case usually a router or switch often powered by a noisy SMPS), and airborne RFI.

Precisely. There is indeed spec for CM noise and primarily depends on the Supply. even a DC variation in supply affects CM noise and what it does is; Example instead of reading a '1' sent from Driver, the Rx will read it as a '0' a simple example.

CM noise : Rise and Fall time of the differential signals cross at the center. Will it ? not really.

However the ETH protocol is packetized. there is CRC which actually checks the correct data sent. Each word is padded with pre-fix and post fix to the actual data sent out. However i m not sure how this is implemented in Audio system. In true (Financials) protocols if data is corrupted then the protocol sends back ACK to send back the data once again. Anyways not going in details good cable helps in making the EYE diagram appear good wide squarish waveform at the Rx end.

Hence I always forgive if AIR drops or pauses because I know its not the AIR protocol but our own system needs enhancements = Hence i add more delay in AIR shamelessly. ETH CAT 5,6,7 cables makes the signal appear very good at the RX. The Square waveform sent from Driver appears like a human EYE at the Rx. these good cables make it appear widened and better rise/fall time (faster rise/fall time, more squarish it is) at Rx.