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Wireless router "contamination" of sound?

I'm thinking about getting a laptop. If I do, I will be going wireless at home. I'm wondering if people have found that using a wireless router has affected the sound of their systems negatively. On the one hand, I think "there's already so much potentially negative stuff in the air; what's a little more?". On the other hand, as audiophiles, I know you understand the concern.

Thanks for your thoughts and experiences.
jfz
realremo
460 posts
 
I don't think the wireless network gear has as much an effect on sound quality as the source/transport and DAC components do. Let's say you were using an Apple TV for a source. Feeding your DAC via toslink from your Macbook vs. networking the Apple TV to your Macbook's hard drive is an interesting comparison, but it introduces other variables, such as the Macbook's toslink interface vs. that of the Apple TV's, and the quality of the toslink cables.
You'd get greater differences in sound quality by switching out these components than you would switching out your wireless router. If there is a problem with the network, you will get sound dropouts, not a decrease in sound quality, IMHO.
jfz OP
570 posts
 
Thanks Realremo. I'm not going to be using the computer for music, however.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,347 posts
 
When you setup your wireless network for your laptop let us know how many other networks are in your vicinity. It might surprise you how much contamination you're already living with.
jfrech's avatar
jfrech
1,816 posts
 
Hi I think onhwy61 nails it. If you're in a neighborhood, vs out in the country, you likely already have several wireless routers penetrating your room, wires, and snooping on you...

Good quality interconnects and power cables/conditioning always seem to help...maybe it's this reason.

PS...have a cell tower close?
slothman
311 posts
 
Your should name your network something like "DEA", "ATF" or "FBI".
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