Dialog vs. Airport

[hydr]

That explains the difference between our results.  Your setup looks like this:

        Spark ----[home wifi]----> Dialog ----[Dialog wifi]----> Phantoms

So clearly, replacing [home wifi] with a mesh network has an effect.  Mine looks like this:

        Source----[optical]----> Dialog ----[Dialog wifi]----> Phantoms

Note that my home wifi network doesn't figure in to the equation at all.  The Dialog is only using it for firmware updates and to communicate with Spark, which I never use unless I have to.  Thus, turning my home network off completely or replacing it with an Airport Express has no effect.  

If I could get the damn thing to simply maintain a given state without randomly un-selecting my one audio source or spontaneously rebooting itself, I would unplug it from my network entirely, and ditch Spark altogether.  The only reason I ever open Spark is to re-setup the Dialog when it's crapped its pants again.

 @meeotch - any news on your setup or support with Devialet? I´m stuck in a quagmire.. I asked about Spark 2.0, and was told that it would probably allow you to select Dialog Wifi or PLC as a preferred method, but no to using external wifi. :-( 

I don´t think I can ever solve my issues without adding ugly ethernet cables all over the apartment, and with ceiling to floor windows that should look real good. /s