Thanks to Gene!

[highfigh]

Another thing that bugs me, is the claim that ethernet sounds better than Wifi for streaming music. Crazy audiophiles (I was one in the past, so not judging), with their 3000$ ethernet switches and 500$ ethernet cables, just drive me nuts.
I went Wifi and the sound quality was exactly the same!
I brought up this same subject on the Naim forums (of which I am a member, even though I no longer own Naim gear).
One poster actually said he gets better sound quality with ethernet. He claims Wifi "flattens the soundstage". I kid you not.
More audiophile BS!

WiFi isn't the best way to do a lot of things, but flattening the soundstage isn't something I would expect. Narrowing it and making it less chocolatey, OTOH.......

 

[highfigh]

The answer to that is not a clear cut as you claim. It all depends on how strong and dependable the Wi-Fi signal is. If the signal is poor and or variable, then your equipment will lower the bitrate seamlessly. This is not an uncommon occurrence. So best advice is to have your units interconnected by Cat6. I have everything that does not move connected by Cat6. I have a pro patch bay and hub in the AV room, and local hubs at the distant locations. It works very well. Certainly never do a Firmware upgrade via Wi-Fi. That is a good way to get your gear bricked, as some members have found out over the years.

And some have tried to use WiFi for updates, even after being told not to. TBH, Cat6 is overkill for a lot of audio needs, but it's good to be future-proofed, to some degree.

The signature line at the bottom of my posts is what I have told people for 25 years and I still hear "But I thought everything is wireless" when I start installing ethernet cabling.

 

[m. zillch]

WiFi isn't the best way to do a lot of things, but flattening the soundstage isn't something I would expect. Narrowing it and making it less chocolatey, OTOH.......

Well actually, those of us with a truly discerning ear can not only identify when the sound stage is more or less chocolately but even what brand of chocolate.

Recently I switched the antenna for my WiFi router and I'm noticing definite hints of Hershey's pre-1998 almond chocolate bars when listening to massed strings from Columbia pressings.