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Laptop vs music server when streaming over WIFI

It is widely agreed that PC’s and laptops are sub-optimal sources. They have noisy power supplies, heavy OS’s running tons of background processes, and poorly implemented USB modules. A PC or laptop can spit out tons of EMI that can pollute the rest of the audio chain when connected directly to a DAC.
However, streaming over WIFI galvanically isolates the computer from the rest of the chain. So, would there be a perceived difference in sound quality in the following scenarios?

A) Laptop streaming over WIFI to network streamer
VS
B) Music server streaming over WIFI to network streamer
sonic79
ljgerens
152 posts
 
I could not detect any audible differences streaming via WiFi between a Mac Mini running headless and several dedicated music servers. I disabled all non-essential functions on the Mac Mini. I have been streaming via WiFi for over 11 years, initially with a MacBook Pro and for the last 3 years with a Mac Mini, and never had a dropout or any other issue. It has been flawless.
tom6897's avatar
tom6897
1,484 posts
 
Short sweet and to the point.  Thank you.
skypunk's avatar
skypunk
499 posts
 
Cat6 to Moon280D.

laptop is only an interface to Roon.

sonic79 OP
80 posts
 
@ljgerens Thanks for the response. I'm of the belief that the Roon core matters far less when streaming than the rest of the chain. In this case the quality of the streamer/Roon endpoint is far more important, as it's the device actually connected to the DAC. You want this component to be ultra low noise.As always, results may be system dependent.
sonic79 OP
80 posts
 
@skypunk Have you tried streaming over Wifi? If so, did you notice a difference from ethernet?
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