Can anyone tell me how the wireless protocol works?

[aubuti]

Yes but there's RFI everywhere - one more wireless connection won't make a difference surely?

Anyway - whats the lesser of two evils - directly connected to an electrically noisy computer - or RFI (which is all around us anyway)?

Yes there's RFI everywhere, but some believe that the RFI is more damaging to SQ if one of the RFI sources (the Touch's antenna) is inside the same little box as the DAC, CPU, etc. Inverse square law and all that.

As for "directly connected to an electrically noisy computer", well, that shouldn't affect the integrity of the digital data that gets sent down the ethernet cable.

Reasonable (and unreasonable) people differ on whether either of those matter.

[Mnyb]

Yes Ethernet is isolated current loops unless you opt for shielded cat 6 then you must take care but shielded Ethernet is total overkill at home , just don't use that .

And switches isolates further .

There migth be some capacitive leakage bla bla but that's clutching at straws audiophile style .

No Ethernet problems is going to give you "congested midrange" or less " fluid treble" you will have a real problem that would be very noticeable .

[darrenyeats]

Yes there's RFI everywhere, but some believe that the RFI is more damaging to SQ if one of the RFI sources (the Touch's antenna) is inside the same little box as the DAC, CPU, etc. Inverse square law and all that.

As for "directly connected to an electrically noisy computer", well, that shouldn't affect the integrity of the digital data that gets sent down the ethernet cable.

About your comment about the integrity of the digital data - I agree but you mention it for ethernet and of course the comment applies equally to wifi. The question about wifi AND ethernet is about noise which might affect the player, not data.
Darren

[stop-spinning]

Hmmm - I am trying to work out a solution that will allow me to stream music files from my PC upstairs over wireless and preferably without loss of audio quality - the SB Touch in terms of size and convenience would have fit the bill nicely.

However, what about the new NAD DAC-1, that looks interesting and is geared up for high quality uncompressed wireless streaming. Whereas it does have a DAC incorporated I will probably use it as a bridge to my own DAC because it has SPDIF out.

[Soulkeeper]

Somebody ought to set up a feature comparison table between the Touch and various other streamers like the NAD. Wouldn't the wiki be perfect for that?

[garym]

Hmmm - I am trying to work out a solution that will allow me to stream music files from my PC upstairs over wireless and preferably without loss of audio quality - the SB Touch in terms of size and convenience would have fit the bill nicely.

However, what about the new NAD DAC-1, that looks interesting and is geared up for high quality uncompressed wireless streaming. Whereas it does have a DAC incorporated I will probably use it as a bridge to my own DAC because it has SPDIF out.

I may be missing your point, but the SB TOUCH can ALSO do high quality uncompressed WIFI streaming.

[guidof]

Hmmm - I am trying to work out a solution that will allow me to stream music files from my PC upstairs over wireless and preferably without loss of audio quality - the SB Touch in terms of size and convenience would have fit the bill nicely.

However, what about the new NAD DAC-1, that looks interesting and is geared up for high quality uncompressed wireless streaming. Whereas it does have a DAC incorporated I will probably use it as a bridge to my own DAC because it has SPDIF out.

Apparently, the NAD supports audio sample rates only up to 48/16, according to the NAD site. And it has no display. The SBT supports rates up to 96/24 and has a display.

Guido F.

[aubuti]

About your comment about the integrity of the digital data - I agree but you mention it for ethernet and of course the comment applies equally to wifi. The question about wifi AND ethernet is about noise which might affect the player, not data.

Point taken. Although actually, for some of the fringe on this forum the question is also about how the noise will affect the data over ethernet. Personally, considering the distance, floors, walls, switches, etc that come between the computer and the SBs, I'll take my chances on an electrically noisy computer affecting either the data or the player. :-)