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Audiophile router configuration

I'm not sure why no one shared their experiments with router configuration that can improve sound quality after years of audiophile network switch hitting mainstream audiophile. So here's my recommendation for you guys to try and see if it will help in your system.


1. Use WiFi 2.4GHz for lower noise level

2. Setup 2.4GHz to use legacy mode (So you can disable WMM)

3. Disable WMM Support for lowest possible latency


Although your maximum bandwidth will be limited to 54Mbps only. However, you can get smooth bandwidth with lowest ping spikes with more micro detail. I'm quite surprised how WiFi can sound better than my expectations.


And if you want to have faster internet, you can always use 5GHz network and leave 2.4GHz for dedicated audio only. Some other options also affected sound quality too and I'm still testing to find optimal configuration.


windowsx
mattmiller's avatar
mattmiller
1,479 posts
 
The problem is WiFi is not where the sound quality happens no matter what speed, this is all irrelevant, US audiophiles want stability, steadiness, strength! that's what using WiFi means to us. Ones and zeros are ones and zeros until they hit a High Quality music server that is...mmmwwwhhhaaaa! 
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,393 posts
 
Also to reduce noise, the router needs to be on a separate circuit than audio. Substitute the wall-wart SMPS with an LPS. 
There was a recent thread regarding how to get better performance from a router.

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,393 posts
 
I live in the city and there's too much traffic on 2.4GHz. Streaming was no fun with all the buffering and waiting.

mastering92
870 posts
 
As a former Network Admin/Engineer, I think you should probably get a better router. Sounds to me like you have a router that maxes out at 54Mbps for media consumption. You should be aiming for at least 300mbps in full duplex mode - with any performance settings maxed out. A router with 2 or more high-gain antennas is ideal.

FYI - get a CAT 8 cable if using with a laptop or desktop computer. Much better shielding and reduced latency in packet delivery. It can be like 10-15 bucks..and it'll work better than previous iterations like CAT 6.


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