Wifi VS ethernet for sound quality on Wiim Amp Ultra?

[FreakyKiwi]

Given that the wifi signal travels at the speed of light I would be very surprised if you could hear any synchronisation issues caused by packet loss and retransmits.

I'm sure it could be measured but audio synchronisation and overlap at the much slower speed of sound would be a bigger issue.

All things bring equal though I wire anything I can which supports it and doesn't need to move.

Pinging my router over wired ethernet takes 1ms.
Over Wi-Fi it varies from 2 -7ms

This is over a distance of only around 5 metres so sound would travel the same distance in 29ms (ping there and back - 10m)

I'll continue to prefer wired connections to be sure.

 

[rubato]

Kudos to @rubato for [finally] getting to the meat of the legit 'wired vs. WiFi' question.

The OP's ask was a straightforward verging on simple 'audio over network' question, the answer to which is "It [USUALLY] makes no difference at all with a reliable connection". The qualifying 'it depends' comes in when your musical goal is whole home networking that involves speaker groups in overlapping zones.

So, to add meat to @rubato's excellent point about latency and stability, and to bring this surprisingly lengthy thread closer to my own questions, I posed a question on this point to Gemini ["Thinking" free LLM] within an ongoing 'Chat' about my new loft apartment audio project. The LLM's response is pretty good in this case.

[SIDE Note] I sorta apologize for my previous posting of AI drivel (even if it was at least labeled as AI drivel 'for grins'). AI is a tool worth learning to use, and while the previous AI share was Amazon's free-with-Prime LLM (Alexa+ - that I suspect is highly tuned to bolster the user's ego and keep them engaged and I was playing with only because I had just setup Alexa on my phone for the WiiM Ultra Alexa-enable), the following is from Gemini's "Thinking" LLM (with my 'instructions to Gemini' asking for 'zero unlabeled speculation' and in general no bullishit). I always appreciate it when folks posing questions on forums like this do a little research first . Such research using AI is a many-edged-sword for all us forum participants. Moving on...

PROMPT: "How would the lower latency of wired Ethernet connections to the WiiM Ultra and a WiiM Pro improve upon my current (strong) WiFi-6 connections to the Ultra and a WiiM Mini? Would it make a difference? My goal is uniform and synced sound throughout the high-ceiling apartment and loft."

Gemini's RESPONSE:

Switching from a Wi-Fi 6 connection to a wired Ethernet setup for your WiiM Ultra and WiiM Pro (replacing the Mini) will provide a measurable and audible improvement in synchronization, specifically addressing the "echo" or "drift" often heard when moving between floors.

Jitter vs. Raw Speed​

While Wi-Fi 6 provides high bandwidth, audio synchronization relies on timing consistency, not raw throughput.

• Ethernet Reliability: A wired connection eliminates jitter (the variance in packet delivery time). In a multi-room group, the WiiM Ultra (Group Leader) acts as the master clock. If the WiiM Mini (Follower) receives packets with even millisecond variations due to Wi-Fi interference, it must constantly adjust its internal buffer, leading to micro-drifts in timing.
• The Apartment Factor: Speculation: In a high-ceiling loft with concrete elements, multipath interference (Wi-Fi signals bouncing off hard surfaces) is common. This can cause the "Follower" device to lose sync packets, forcing a re-sync event that breaks the "uniform sound" goal.

WiiM Pro vs. WiiM Mini: Processing Power​

The upgrade from a Mini to a Pro is a significant leap in "decoding horsepower" required for stable grouping:

• Processor & RAM: The WiiM Mini utilizes a Dual-Core A7 with 128MB RAM, while the Pro and Ultra use a Quad-Core A53 with 512MB RAM.
• Buffer Depth: The larger memory on the Pro allows for a much larger network buffer. This enables the system to handle network hiccups more gracefully without falling out of phase with the Ultra downstairs.
• Low-Latency Mode: The WiiM Pro and Ultra support a Low-Latency Multi-room (Beta) feature that reduces the grouping delay from ~200ms down to ~100ms. The Mini's hardware is generally excluded from this high-performance sync mode.

Audible Impact on the Stairs​

• The "Hollow" Effect: When two zones are slightly out of sync, you hear comb filtering (a "phasey" or hollow sound) as you move between them.
• Wired Sync: Hard-wiring both the Ultra and the Pro allows the system to lock the 48kHz/16-bit multi-room stream with microsecond precision. This ensures that the sound transition on the stairs feels like a single, continuous acoustic space rather than two separate systems fighting for dominance.

Feature	WiiM Mini (Current)	WiiM Pro (Proposed)
Connection	Wi-Fi 6 (Subject to Jitter)	Wired Ethernet (Clock-Locked)
Processor	Dual-Core A7	Quad-Core A53
Buffer Size	128MB (Standard)	512MB (Deep Buffer)
Sync Stability	Variable	High / Low-Latency Capable

Speculation: Given your loft's concrete and high ceilings, the WiiM Mini's smaller internal antenna is likely working harder to maintain the Wi-Fi 6 handshake than the Ultra, making the Mini the "weak link" in your current synchronization chain.
Would you like me to find the specific CAT6 cabling or shielded RJ45 connectors recommended for your "Apartment" group wiring project?

I'm sorry, that's a load of nonsense, without even being amusing nonsense. "it must constantly adjust its internal buffer, leading to micro-drifts in timing", WTF? I'm packing for a trip and don't have time for a detailed reply, but the short form is that while latency is important it isn't the supercritical issue that your overexcitable chatbot would have us believe. Modern wifi is more than good enough for multiroom audio, except perhaps in very specific situations, and then it should be obvious that you have a problem.

 

[Dude]

Just to clarify: the discussion of impact of wire or wireless on audio quality is not direct but indirect impact based. Translation: some audiophiles want a galvanic separation, so wifi makes sense in thier view. The thinking — and I am not taking sides, just relaying — is that ethernet brings electronic noise. With the assumption, it does or if it does, it impacts audio. But I have never detected any. My pref is wire, simply for reliability. But I ran out of cable on two devices I added and, just use wifi for those. I have some older components that just have ethernet. They get the cable.
Underlying all of this is the fact that streaming music data goes through thousands of kilometers of wire and possibly dozens of computers and routers, before it pops out of your DOCSIS modem or fiber box.

 

[dominikz]

Just to clarify: the discussion of impact of wire or wireless on audio quality is not direct but indirect impact based. Translation: some audiophiles want a galvanic separation, so wifi makes sense in thier view. The thinking — and I am not taking sides, just relaying — is that ethernet brings electronic noise. With the assumption, it does or if it does, it impacts audio. But I have never detected any. My pref is wire, simply for reliability. But I ran out of cable on two devices I added and, just use wifi for those. I have some older components that just have ethernet. They get the cable.

Galvanic isolation can definitely be helpful in cases where we get audible noise/hum when connecting two devices together (the so called "ground loop" noise) - regardless if the connection is ethernet, HDMI, RCA or something else.

However if there's no audible hum, then there's no need for galvanic isolation.

 

[steadyshot]

Is the wifi module super isolated from the rest of the circuits? In case it is not, which in most cases is not, then having wifi on degrades the sound.

 

[azoriusmage]

Is the wifi module super isolated from the rest of the circuits? In case it is not, which in most cases is not, then having wifi on degrades the sound.

 

[Aquaman]

Is the wifi module super isolated from the rest of the circuits? In case it is not, which in most cases is not, then having wifi on degrades the sound.

I think you would feel very much at home on the Naim forum.

 

[steadyshot]

I think you would feel very much at home on the Naim forum.

Sure

 

[TonyE]

It makes no difference once you've updated to at least 802.11g and 100Mbit ethernet.

Been doing this since '99.

One caveat... WiFi operates as a hub, meaning you're sharing the bandwidth, whereas ethernet nowadays operates as a switch. But given the bandwidth of even 802.11g, you shouldn't have an issue nowadays.

However, I prefer to use wired whenever possible. Just my own prejudice... so two of my Ultras and the Sound are wired, the other two are wireless with the access point in the same room. But, for a home setup, I believe mine is a bit on the extreme... daughter and I both work, wife watches Roku, we have Netflix and Tidal going all the time.

 

[Indydan]

I brought up this same subject on the Naim forums.
One poster actually said he gets better sound quality with ethernet. He claims Wifi "flattens the soundstage". I kid you not.
More audiophile BS!

 

[HansD-NL]

It's always the damn soundstage

 

[Indie 1.0]

A general rule with home networking is if a device is a fixed in location, it’s better to have it on ethernet if you can. This leaves your WiFi bandwidth for mobile devices that require it.

 

[Aquaman]

A general rule with home networking is if a device is a fixed in location, it’s better to have it on ethernet if you can. This leaves your WiFi bandwidth for mobile devices that require it.

I think a lot of these arguments result from ‚family‘ or ‚appartement‘ situations with crowded networks. I can appreciate bandwith concerns in such environments. Living alone or at least without a horde of movie-streaming kids in a generously spaced house this is just not an issue.
In any case, it‘s all about reliability, not audio quality.

 

[steadyshot]

omG

 

[FreakyKiwi]

It's always the damn soundstage

It only makes a difference if it's an audiophile grade OFC ethernet cable - LOL

I've been attacked on this very forum for criticizing a home made ethernet cable noise filter and left for over a year so I should be careful.

If your room and gear are so resolving that you can hear a difference with cables, short of there being something seriously wrong with the network gear, then by all means go nuts with audiophile grade networking.

 

[s3igell]

One poster actually said he gets better sound quality with ethernet. He claims Wifi "flattens the soundstage".

Suggest that he looks out where he is sitting, so as to NOT flatten his soundstage.

 

[TonyE]

It only makes a difference if it's an audiophile grade OFC ethernet cable - LOL

I've been attacked on this very forum for criticizing a home made ethernet cable noise filter and left for over a year so I should be careful.

If your room and gear are so resolving that you can hear a difference with cables, short of there being something seriously wrong with the network gear, then by all means go nuts with audiophile grade networking.

Cryogenically cooled photons sound better... that's because the spin of their associated gluons is aligned as defined by their Pointcare rotational symmetry and it also removes the black body chaotic entropy of loosely coupled non Lagrangian vectors.

If you don't understand that... then you need a bigger diploma.

If you don't hear difference, the problem is fundamentally two fold:

(1) French classical music played by French musicians in a French Hall is required to exhibit the most benefit from Pointcare. (*)
(2) Your equipment is not of sufficient quality to reveal the benefits from aligned rotational spin non linear symmetry.

I recommend you run and buy a High End Ethernet switch and some Chopin Nocturnes.

Now... cables.... analog cables... yes you can hear the difference specially with speakers and amps... this is due to the loosened standards of the electronic interface ( impedance mostly ). It is however slight. (**) If you use balanced cables, however, things change... but so far I don't know of anyone who is using balanced cables and signals for speakers.... which IMHO would be fantastic.

Digital cables. Please see my research at

(a) Le journal de physique audio métamorphique avancée
(b) 高度な現代音響物理学と握り研究の報告 (Kōdona gendai onkyō butsurigaku to nigiri kenkyū no hōkoku)

I am currently involved on doing state of the art research on cryogenically WiFi systems.... biggest issue is the exothermic gear required for a human to survive in that environment... but we're trying.

(*) Oddly, due to antipodal quantum entaglement, modern Japanese Koto music shares the same qualities as Chopin on a rainy, winter night.
(**) Nonetheless, it's OK to buy expensive cables if you can afford them and get a kick out of them. They do tend to be better built, have higher quality parts and will last quite a bit longer. I still use some MIT and Audioquest interconnects that I bought almost 35 years ago!

 

[FreakyKiwi]

OP has started the same discussion here, based on his new found experience rather than a question. and is getting a lot more activity.

Wifi VS Ethernet for streaming quality

Yesterday, I put to the test, a long standing assertion in audiophile realms: ethernet is better than Wifi. I have seen countless threads on ethernet cables and switches. I have gone down this rabbit hole myself. Common audiophile wisdom is that a physical ethernet connection provides better...

www.audiosciencereview.com