31-May-2018, 09:35
Wifi can be a cause, especially if it is 2.4GHz and there are other devices that use it.
Just note, when you stream via Tidal/Roon, you transfer the same information THREE TIMES over your WiFi before it reaches your amp.
First time - from your WiFi router to your laptop, when Tidal downloads it from its server.
Second time - from your laptop back to your router when Roon sends it to the amp (it cannot do this directly).
Third time - from your router to your amp.
If your laptop or your amp is not in a direct visibility from your router, the wifi speed suffers. If you use 2.4HGz and there are other devices using it, your wifi channel is split. If you browse internet when streaming, your speed suffers again. When the noise is high on your WiFi channel, the speed suffers.
Then, your 24/192 signal needs 4Mbits of the bandwidth. Three times this means 12Mbits. This is already quite a lot for a typical WiFi. Factor in other things and you can easily get the bandwidth deficiency that leads to distortions.
So, the best thing you can do is to connect your laptop by the cable (so the music only streamed once via wifi), or, alternatively, use another channel for laptop. Next, connect your amp with the Ethernet cable. Next, increase the "Target Device buffer" in the AIR config.
If this does not help, then it means your laptop is not powerful enough to process the music and doing other things the same - then you need a dedicated streaming computer.
Just note, when you stream via Tidal/Roon, you transfer the same information THREE TIMES over your WiFi before it reaches your amp.
First time - from your WiFi router to your laptop, when Tidal downloads it from its server.
Second time - from your laptop back to your router when Roon sends it to the amp (it cannot do this directly).
Third time - from your router to your amp.
If your laptop or your amp is not in a direct visibility from your router, the wifi speed suffers. If you use 2.4HGz and there are other devices using it, your wifi channel is split. If you browse internet when streaming, your speed suffers again. When the noise is high on your WiFi channel, the speed suffers.
Then, your 24/192 signal needs 4Mbits of the bandwidth. Three times this means 12Mbits. This is already quite a lot for a typical WiFi. Factor in other things and you can easily get the bandwidth deficiency that leads to distortions.
So, the best thing you can do is to connect your laptop by the cable (so the music only streamed once via wifi), or, alternatively, use another channel for laptop. Next, connect your amp with the Ethernet cable. Next, increase the "Target Device buffer" in the AIR config.
If this does not help, then it means your laptop is not powerful enough to process the music and doing other things the same - then you need a dedicated streaming computer.
