Wireless USB

I believe Icron has a dongle too. See picture in this link:

http://www.icron.com/products/usb/wi_ranger.php

From the link:

The WiRanger Cable Free USB 2.0 Hub is a four-port hub and dongle set that will enable immediate high-speed wireless connectivity with maximum reach extending beyond 30m.

The dongle is only an idea at this point, perhaps for an OEM. They have no design plans for this.

Pardales - Yes, it will work with my Off-Ramps, but the clock in it will undoubtedly need to be replaced with a Superclock4. I expect it to be too jittery stock. My hope is that the same clock used in the Off-Ramp can also drive the WiRanger. If not, then I believe that a Pace-Car still may be necessary to get really low jitter.

For other USB DAC's the WiRanger can also be used, but I believe the clock will need to be upgraded first to reduce jitter. Using it stock may be worse-sounding than wired USB. I guess we will find out in about 1 month.

If the Geffen device is based on Ultrawideband, then it will probably not work.

It appears that the Icron does not support 16/44.1 yet.

Email I received today from Icron about the Wiranger:

You had previously expressed interest in operating an Icron WiRanger set with USB audio. I am not sure if you ended up getting a WiRanger yet or not, but we have released a WiRanger firmware update that provides support for USB audio devices.

If you have any questions about getting a unit with the correct firmware or about updating your existing unit, you are welcome to contact me. Once you get a WiRanger set with the new firmware, feel free to let me know how well it works as we are always interested in customer feedback from actual customer installations.

Best Regards,
Dan

I enabled Icron to do the testing and development of the new firware for audio streaming. I have the first prototype and have tested the Wi-Ranger and it does work with streaming audio and at 24/96. However, there are two issues:

1) it adds significant audible jitter

2) if you step between the two antennas, you lose signal and your DAC makes very loud hiss etc...

I am looking at the units to mods them to solve #1. It may require a Pace-Car reclocker to reduce this jitter, but may be solved with improved clock and other mods.

#2 is up to Icron to address. I have notified them of these two issues.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio