An Edifying Journey ...

[bluesman]

On 8/25/2020 at 2:57 AM, fas42 said:

Interesting ... I was under the impression that Bluetooth was inherently 'slugged', at a technical level - but the lack of wiring perhaps compensates enough to make up for this?

The latest Qualcomm chips with aptX adaptive (HD and low latency codecs) are really good.  It’s still compressed (4:1) but it transfers 24/96 files at 420kbps and is described as being lossless.  As part of my research for an upcoming article on wireless for audiophiles, I bought and have been using two powerful $45 transceivers with dual antennas and two tiny $20 ones with internal antennas for everything from simple stereo to full wireless MC using multiple 2 channel DACs driven by 8 channel sound cards.

 

It’s not your father’s Bluetooth. With latency below 40 msec, it works very well for rear HT channels. And it’s consistent enough (at least if you use the same brand and chips throughout your system and keep them all away from other transmitting devices and in the same room) to use for some or all channels of a MC audio system. The qualifier is that you need the same aptX codecs running at both ends, and few BT speakers have this yet.  The Edifiers I bought for this project (1280s) are great, especially for their price.  But their BT is not LL, so I’m driving them with the optical output from a LL HD BT receiver.
 

BT has really improved.  SQ has gotten much better - I’m wringing it out now.  Wait for the article.  I’m also looking forward to trying Edifiers built with the latest, best version.

[bluesman]

6 hours ago, botrytis said:

So far, I have not been impressed with the sound quality I have heard from Bluetooth.

If you haven't heard the latest aptX codecs on the newest Qualcomm chips, you're in for a surprise.  I'm not talking about BT from phones.  I'm talking about using dedicated BT transmitters and receivers to connect quality digital audio sources to the digital inputs of DACs and digital amplifiers across the room.  Most of the good new BT transceivers have optical inputs and outputs.  I was amazed at how good it sounds driving the optical inputs on my DACs (SMSL SU8, Emotiva Stealth into Prima Luna power amp and Focal 726 towers) and digital amplifier (Wadia 151 into Rogers LS3/5As or Focals), as well as my Edifier powered speakers.

 

It's not the best reproduction I ever heard, but it's so much better than any prior effort that it'll open your eyes to the possibilities.  I did this as research for an article, but it turned out to be pretty fine.  It doesn't replace my good systems, but it's much more than just listenable.  It's a hair down on crispness, transparency, and coherence among the instruments compared to hard connections. Bas may be a little less alive.  But with decent electronics and speakers, it's far better than most of the second and third systems I've had or heard in friends' homes.  It's also acceptably quiet in the background.

[bluesman]

1 hour ago, botrytis said:

I have heard them. People at work use them. Still not impressed.

People where you work have audio systems at their desks that include low latency, high def BT transceivers with good components? Wow - I wanna work there.
 

I’m talking about serious home systems with good sources, DACs, amps & speakers using optical in and out AptX LL / HD BT to connect the source to the DAC instead of wires.  I’m not talking about BT phones and active speakers, very few of which have the latest Qualcomm BT yet.

[bluesman]

On 1/14/2021 at 5:34 PM, fas42 said:

Yes, you have to stop the cable from touching the "wrong things", anywhere - and for a very long cable that can be an irksome thing to, umm, organise.

This begs the question of whether and how branch circuit wiring affects SQ.  The outlet is getting power from long, convoluted wires that are generally held in place along studs and joists inside the walls with metal staples, and run by / across / against many things.  The wires are clamped by plastic or metal when they enter and leave junction boxes, switch boxes etc.  They’re joined by wire nuts and connected to breakers and other devices by push-contact fittings, screw terminals etc.  They run through magnetic fields generated by multiple devices on the other side of those walls.

 

If you’re correct about the audible effects of any of these, we should be running dedicated mains feeds from pole or trench directly to our audio components.  Forgive me for being a bit skeptical, but the magnitude of these interactions seems like it should be rather small.  If it’s not, we’re all fooling ourselves.