Wireless Audio Streaming For The EleNanoKit ~ Bluetooth aptX and WiFi AirPlay 16Jan25

I'm interested in being able to wirelessly stream HD audio from a source like my mac, my iPhone or my Onkyo DP-X1 to an amp unequipped with wireless receivers. Adding wireless to the new EleNanoKit is "needed" so I do not have to get up to "change the album." And, comparing implementations is about getting continuous high def audio (at least CD quality: ≥ 16bit/44.1KHz) from my sources to the amp.

This wireless HiFi analysis is also relevant for streaming from a receiver or TV to modern wireless headphones or wireless speakers ~ the fidelity of using wireless anyway; it'd need to be in transmit mode of course... like receiving on with the Sony WH-1000M4/M5 kind of headphones when your source doesn't already have wireless.

Wireless Audio Background... Digital wireless audio has come a long way in the last 5-10 years and there are many codecs and schemes built into audio gear now to connect to headphones and wireless speakers especially. Sony's LDAC and Qualcomm's aptX & aptX HD, and LC3 are codecs for use on top of Bluetooth connections. Apple would never adopt these schemes whole hog as licenses to others would need to be paid. There are also plenty of companies using WiFi for wireless audio streaming; Sonus built a company on it, and Apple AirPlay is the scheme most relevant to me as I'm an iPhone and mac owner. So, the requirement is to get the sources below (files spit by the Onkyo Music app on Android on the DP-X1 or the FlacBox app on iOS on iPhone or the JRiver MC32 app on macOS on MacStudio) to stream high resolution flac files, wirelessly, to my 8200R.

Receiver Hardware... The TU-8200R does not have any wireless receiving capability. There are no products supporting both aptX and AirPlay (except new AVR receivers). My DP-X1 has Bluetooth aptX transmit capability as it's highest performing wireless audio connection. But, there is no consumer gear which receives Bluetooth aptX and converts that to USB (to allow staying in the digital domain prior to connecting to the DAC inboard on the 8200R). So, I needed to find a Bluetooth aptX HD (might as well get the latest) receiver with an audiophile DAC to receive an HD (high definition) stream and deliver quality analog to the line-in on the TU-8200R. I bought a relatively inexpensive 1Mii DS200Pro BT receiver supporting LDAC & aptX HD which employs a good 32bit/384KHz ESS Saber delta sigma DAC.

From my iPhone or mac I can send lossy, and highly variable, AAC over BT to the receiver above but that would not meet my high def streaming spec. So, researching the best wireless streaming scheme for iOS & macOS I concluded AirPlay over WiFi was the best way to go. Modern Apple gear is expensive, and even 3rd party AirPlay "receivers" are over $100. I discovered fine audio streaming performance exists in the now defunct 12 yr old Apple AirPort Express and there are lots of these Gen 2 boxes on eBay ~ I bought an A1392 for $20. I verified operation upon receipt; it's simple to use the AirPort Utility on macOS or iOS to configure it.

 I set up both receivers on top of the 8200R and it all remains "nano."

Relative Performance Of Streaming Audio Schemes, On Paper... We know I have aptX/Bluetooth and AirPlay 2/WiFi for wireless now but what is the performance of those and other current wireless audio streaming schemes? And what are the pros & cons of using these? How do they compare to hardwired connections for these same devices/sources.

Wireless Scheme	BT/SBR	BT/aptX	BT/aptX HD	BT/LDAC	BT/AAC	WiFi/AirPlay
My Application	NA	DP-X1	NA	NA	iPhone	iPhone
Range	~10m	~10m	~10m	~10m	~10m	~45m
Audio (bit depth/sample rate)	16bit/48KHz	16bit/48KHz	24bit/48KHz	24bit/96KBps	16bit/96Kbps	16bit/44Kbps
Variability	Very	No	No	Selectable	Yes	Yes
Real Max Bit Rate	328Kbps	340Kbps	576Kbps	990Kbps	264Kbps	1,411Kbps

Wired Scheme	USB/ALAC	USB/FLAC	Analog
My Application	iPhone w/ Ext DAC	DP-X1 w/ Ext DAC	DP-X1 w/ Int DAC
Range	1m	1m	1m
Audio (bit depth/sample rate)	16bit/48KHz	24bit/192KHz	2x24bit/384KHz
Variability	No	No	No
Real Max Bit Rate	384Kbps	~5Mbps	~10Mbps

Bit depth and sample rate are not the only determinants of audio sound quality over wireless of course, and many would argue humans can't tell the difference between a reasonable bit rate MP3 (say ~256Kbps) and a 32bit/384KHz flac file, if the original recording and encoding are good. But audiophiles, even low end guys like me, wouldn't agree. We don't really like the psycho-acoustic codecs which compress some content out of the material. I would agree that non-VBR (variable bit rate) 16bit/44.1KHz is good enough for wireless ~ though I have heard clear improvements in higher resolution versions of files to 24bit/96KHz streamed on wires, and buy them when I can. Using VBR is why some schemes have lower max bit rates than theory; constant bit rates at or above 16bit/44.1KHz are how audiophiles claim "to hear everything the engineer & artist intended" when listening to digital material. *Note - the WiFi/AirPlay max bit rate here is very theoretical and never achieved in practice; in fact, since 2018 with the advent of AirPlay 2, most AirPlay is variable bit rate and lossy, without any way to force ALAC or FLAC full resolution streaming. Notable on paper is the significant advantage wired connections have in delivering higher resolution files effectively ~ hard copper baby... but, copper comes with a tether and basically limits the source to being within a meter of the amp/dac, and not in your hand... one trades quality for convenience.

Listening Experience... Specs are good to narrow choices but the acid test is in production; how does it sound and how does it measure, and how convenient is the wireless use model? I installed the new wireless receiver gear with BT/aptX on source #1 (RCA) on the 8200R and WiFi/AirPlay on source #2 (3.5mm jack). So, I can quickly and directly make A-B listening and measuring comparisons. I streamed both from FlacBox/iOS and FlacBox/macOS using AirPlay through the AirPort and, as expected, they sounded the same, and very good with 16bit/44.1KHz sampling, but VBR. Comparing BT/aptX from DP-X1 and WiFi/AirPlay from iPhone, while again similar, the BT/aptX sounded better to me ~ it was just more lively and full.

The difference could be the slightly better 48KHz sample rate, but no it isn't as I saw the DP-X1 transcode from 24bit/96Khz to to 16bit/44.1KHz when using Bluetooth aptX... hmmm (it'd been easier to do the 48KHz aptX max). It's more likely that the aptX is full rate and the AirPlay is variable. I also tried BT/AAC from my iPhone for completeness sake, but AirPlay was just better. I could get the Bluetooth variants to stutter if I hid the transmitter (iPhone or DP-X1) in towards my body (a big bag of water)... AirPlay streamed nicely once initiated.

Measuring Wireless Audio... Measurement strapping was a bit of an issue... for WiFi/AirPlay and BT/AAC measurements I used REW on my old MacBook Pro and tied outputs to AirPlay or Bluetooth on the mac as required. For BT/aptX I'd hoped to lash my DP-X1 to a Win10 laptop via USB and then stream the sweep over aptX, but that function wasn't supported by the my DAP (digital audio player). So, I dove on materials from the macOS bluetooth development community and found a scheme to enable aptX on it. Then I could do as I wished and measured from REW choosing BT as the output. As expected the SPL sweeps of all the wireless schemes were basically equivalent but the Elekit DAC wired USB sweep was smoother. All this indicates that the speakers and the room dominate freq response measurements. Good news is that total harmonic distortion was generally less than 1% with the wireless schemes, and even lower on the wired alternatives. I do have a little concern now that I see possible baffle diffraction step "loss" from the NanoOnkens that I should probably correct with DSP or a circuit.

Wired vs Wireless Listening... I did A-B listening of BT/aptX vs Wired/Analog of the very same high rez 24bit/96KHz files streamed from my DP-X1 DAP (digital audio player). While I wish my DAP supported aptX HD for the extra bit depth, I could readily tell the difference between wired & wireless; on display was the DP-X1's killer dual 24bit/384KHz DACs streaming 24bit/96Khz on wired and a 16bit/44.1KHz downrez on wireless. I'll likely again allocate the DAP to portable use with my stellar balanced wired buds, but it's served sources well on the EleNanoKit. I can't really measure stuff wired through the DP-X1 however so I have to trust my ears.

I even did A-B listening of the same files streamed from the iPhone via AirPlay and via a Lightning-USB camera dongle to the PS-3249R 16bit/48Khz DAC inside the Elekit amp. The iPhone couldn't drive the DAC with it's limited power so I had to use a $10 powered USB hub to power the DAC. Wired is again smoother and more dynamic to my ear.

Finally, I disconnected all the wireless stuff, and connected my DP-X1 analog to source #1 and my iPhone via Lightning-USB to the Elekit DAC (which was strapped to source #2), and listened to Sarah Jarosz's latest and lots of Molly Tuttle. Here I heard the better definition of the DP-X1's dual DACs shine through again. Hard to beat hardwired for the best consumer sound.

Wireless Audio Conclusions... Wireless is "OK" if casting at 16bit/44.1KHz (CD quality) or better. It is in fact good when using Bluetooth/aptX or better. The fidelity of wireless with BT/aptX is better than WiFi/AirPlay; LDAC or aptX HD would likely be better yet. I don't know if these newer high fidelity wireless schemes could compete with the better wired schemes and good DACs ~ I doubt it. AirPlay stutters much more often than aptX. The liveliness and dynamics I hear in the music with non-VBR, higher bit depths & sampling rates, and better DACs is real and matters (to me).

January Music Appreciation ~ Random Thoughts From My YouTube History 13Jan25

If Google knows, and parses and uses my inclinations, so should you. I spend some time on YouTube listening to mostly live recordings of new and favored bands ~ yeah, on one of my audiophile kits of course.

Shallow Alcove ~ Breakthrough Alert! I knew they were from the northeast from the get-go; go Philly sounds.

Shallow Alcove Various  In Chicago on Audiotree Live 08Aug24 (release only last week)
Shallow Alcove Various on WXPN 29Oct24
Shallow Alcove “Dream Song” in Somebody’s Bedroom 20Mar24

I’m With Her ~ Wow, back in the studio together for keen harmonies on covers.

I’m With Her cover Sabrina Carpenter “Espresso” OA 09Jan25
I’m With Her cover Vampire Weekend “Hannah Hunt” OA 09May24

Jade Bird ~ finally found a performance after the breakup; she's awesome but needs new material.

Jade Bird @ XPonential Music Fest Various 30Oct24

Christina Vane ~ Includes Official Vids ‘cause resonator, songs, country, blues; total rockstar.

Christina Vane OV “You Ain’t Special” 07Jun24
Christina Vane OV Everything Is Fine 02Aug24
Christina Vane OV “Getting High In Hotel Rooms” 24Oct24
Christina Vane “Travelin’ Blues” @ Santa Cruz Guitar Company 28Oct24
Christa Vane, Hannah Juanita & Brennen Leigh ~ Atlantic City Bruce Springsteen cover on Western AF 31Dec24

Postmodern Jukebox ~ Just cool retro stylings with fun guest vocalists.

PMJ w/  Sweet Megg ~ Runnin’ Up That Hill 29Dec22
PMJ w/ Veronica Swift - Rag Doll ~ Aerosmith 14Nov24

AJ Lee ~ Cool cover of a fav song from a fav collaboration.

Brothers Comatose ft AJ Lee - “These Days” Jackson Browne cover 13Aug24

Deep Sea Diver ~ New album alert, but Moroccan Lounge is live (not great sound), but a keen collab!

Deep Sea Diver “Lights Out” @ Moroccan Lounge” 23May24
Deep Sea Diver “Secrets” @ Moroccan Lounge 23May24
Deep Sea Diver “Shattering The Hourglass” @ Moroccan Lounge 23May24
Deep Sea Diver (with Madison Cunningham) “Let Me Go” @ Moroccan Lounge 23May24

NestDesk Update ~ Corktop And Flying Blandas 11Jan25

The current NestDesk system sounds great IMO, and in the opinions of others who've heard it. It's my nearfield system with Blanda108NS salad bowl speakers, Blanda sub, Black Ice FX10H tube amp and Denafrips Enyo 15th DAC. Though, an audio nut is rarely done and the speakers are directly sitting on the desk with a plane (the desk) in front, which can bugger high frequency reflections. Too, when presented to DIYAudio, comments yielded an idea to try a desk pad to absorb some reflections. I got a pretty cheap, but large, cork and pleather 2-sided mat which covered the monitor & speaker width well. I bought a real leather one too but it would not unwrinkle so I returned it.

I remeasured the kit at my listening position before and after the new pad to check the notion. The mat did make the SPL sweep seem smother than the naked bamboo desktop, and it didn't matter much which side of the pad was "up," but I could not hear a great difference. I'll keep the grey pleather side pad in place ~ heck it protects the desk too.

I also had a wild notion to "fly" the Blanda108s abreast of the monitor, up in the air by a foot or so. I knew suspending the speakers would be a challenge but I fabricated a brace from 1/2" x 1/8" aluminum bar and attached it to the Vesa monitor adapter on the back of my monitor... I simply put the ends of the bar into the bass ports on the back of the speakers. It worked but was too wobbly and orienting the speakers was unwieldy. I abandoned the idea. 

Sierra Hull Concert @ Riverwalk Breck ~ Awesome Fun With Sheldon & Kala In Summit 11Jan25

Kala and I headed to Summit the back way after her morning return from Boulder on I25 was 10mph in blowing snow. We had no big issues, even over Wilkerson and Hoosier passes; I drove Kala's great new Lexus car. Too bad LPC & MLC, I made you fried rice servings but we avoided Denver. We were heading out for some winter fun and a concert with the spectacular Sierra Hull.

When we arrived in Frisco we stopped at ORB for a hazy DDH and to pickup my Jan allotment. So good.

Then, we ate the fried rice stuff. Dave met me at Keystone for some corduroy dreams Fri morning... yeah it was -4° when I left the Nest so it was a cold, at least windless, day on the slopes. We got runs mainly on Outback & Bergman; it did warm to mid-low 20°s.

We rested during the afternoon then primped for dinner and the concert. Breck was gorgeous with holiday lighting for the team selfie that included Dave's lifetime buddy Rod, who came out with us. We dined at the excellent Aurum, of course during happy hour pricing, and then headed to Riverwalk. I said "it's GA so let's queue at 6:30 for 7pm doors." Yikes it was cold but we were 1st in line and actually were let into the building by the security volunteer. Nice.

The show opened with Stephanie Landring who had a humorous shtick, good songrwriting and a great voice. She's touring with Sierra, who she met in her town of Nashville, so that says a lot. She'd written others' songs for 10 years before going solo in 2024 with her first album.

Sierra Hull was outstanding as always. Sure she's 3 time mandolin player of the year... but her range of material and styles, songwriting, singing, and band-leadership combine with those outrageous technical skills to deliver truly great shows. She played 3 different mandolins, and a guitar, for the show. The pic far above is an Octavia, a larger, lower octaves, mandolin. She also played her classic bluegrass mandolin as well as a 3rd newer larger one that she most often plays. Styles of course included bluegrass but they did rock; they did folk/Americana; they even did a cool swing number. There were great covers from Doc Watson and Bill Monroe but also Tears For Fears! The accompanying band was very tight, now being in their 3rd year together. The sound in the Riverwalk was also improved from our last event attended there... it was really very good, as was the locals' vibe in the audience. All band members were not only jacked in with pickups but also miced over their sound holes... and there was a band sound man "behind the curtain" doing an initial mix before passing to the venue sound man in the back (we were initially sitting next to him). On a couple occasions they altered the micing to electrostatic/condenser to better pick up all the vocals in a tight harmony; most of the time they are all individually on dynamic mics. The floor layout was unexpected for the show but turned out advantageous... there were only 4 rows in the back with seats and the rest of the theater was tiered, but standing room, mostly. We initially sat with a decent view in the front row of the back seating but we ultimately roamed about and moved up to 12 ft away for half the show. The crowd and opportunity were fun ~ hard to imagine but it was not sold out to the 1,000 ticket level. I was again thrown off the stage trying to grab the setlist. Sierra's moving on to a show in Denver @ Mission and then a show in Aspen @ Belly Up. It was a completely GR8 kickoff show for us for 2025... and enjoyed with good friends.

 

Best Fish Of 2024 ~ Smaller & Fewer 20 Inchers This Past Year 31Dec24

Well, a quick review of the better fish from 2024 shows them smaller and fewer... at least to my hand. I guess I didn't fish the PT a lot in the spring of '24 so that limits chances a bit. And, some camping outings to remote spots didn't yield big fish, just big fun. Yet, I think stuff is smaller overall and the people are more numerous, where I generally go. I didn't get a triple on the Gore this year either... hmmm.

20" Male Cutbow On The Arkansas Mar24

Decent Male Cutbow On SPlatte Apr24

Good 19" Cutbow On The Ark Tailwater Apr24

Strong 18" Brown On Williams Fk Jul24

18" Cutbow In 11 Mile Canyon Jul24

Best FoY 22" Fat Mama Rainbow On Williams Fk Aug24

20" Male Cutbow In 11 Mile Canyon Aug24

Holiday Happiness In The 'Hood ~ Ski & Party, Skiing Dutch, Party With Matt, Etc 29Dec24

We're wending toward close of another cool year; but first let's talk holiday season. We were, or I was, able to share some holiday times with good friends and great family. First up was a gift exchange with my Omaha buddy, Bro Brown. I got us matching beanies from the Partygrass Boys for us, seems so appropriate ~ Steve supplied the "party." Steve skied but I had to fix heating.

Matt and I headed to Summit together for a ski day ~ we stopped at Angry James for a pop before opening the Nest. I then snagged a ski day at the Key with the kid and some Dutch ladies when I was able to get Fredrique a buddy pass. Pretty fun; Matt & Eline exchanged boards for a run... pretty versatile all.

We, with LPC, were invited to Van Den Haak's for a very nice Christmas lunch early (no team pic), which was delicious. Eline prepared it all; Matt grilled; Kala did salad. Eline, as always, donned a fun Christmas sweater, which matched her twin Freddy's! Ms Van Den Haak scored a comprehensive ski bag from us, red of course. E gave Matt a keen McClaren jacket and Eline got nice ski goggles from him. Nice.

Christmas morning was snow-free on the Front Range but we had a spectacular sunrise, and a fine hearth.

After Christmas, Matt & Eline came to COS for lunch and some gifting (no team pics again... grrr). The kids scored "real" socks and some candy and we all shared some Proseco & Creme de Cassis (or red stuff) that Matt brought. Eline gave us beautiful yellow lilies (joy, happiness, friendship, gratitude, and new beginnings).

We really enjoyed the holidays and receiving or visiting family and friends, and all the cards and messages that arrived.