Streaming Music Via NAS Over WiFi Or Using USB?

There are a couple of obvious answers you can expect to hear, including that it shouldn't make any difference (the old bits are bits position), and "try it yourself."

Hi res streaming over wifi causes problems for many folks, at the throughput of their home wifi often can't keep up.

Technical factors about your particular network that MIGHT make a difference do lead me to the "try it and see" answer.  Let us know what you hear!

I recently set up a NAS and US ssd with the US streaming wirelessly via an apple Time Capsule to a UQ in another room. UQ has the larger antenna option; WA5 I think its called. I have no issues whatsoever with drop-outs or sound quality, even with hi-res files.

I was a little dubious at first after reading about so many problems but my experience has been positive.

What may help is the larger antenna and streaming via Time Capsule in bridging mode. The UQ is connected via ethernet to Airport Express which serves as modem and household wireless network. I think this means my music effectively has its own network between Time Capsule and UQ (I might be completely wrong on that - I dont know) and it works perfectly.

I just need to figure out how to use the Time Capsule for back up now......

Gtiboy, wifi has many variables such as local activity on the spectrum near your home and what other devices are sharing your wifi channel in your network. So hires might work one day and then frustratingly give drop outs the next.

USB is more reliable as it does not suffer from these environmental considerations although some USB memory drives do sound different from others (reflections, power line modulation etc).. So a track you grow to like on one USB drive can sound frustratingly different on an other. (albeit subtly)

The most consistent method IMO is wired Ethernet.

Simon

Guiri in the set up you describe your network is still shared between your wired and wireless, so the more devices on your wired LAN the chances are the performance on your wireless LAN will diminish.  You would need to typically set up separate subnets via a proper router to separate the networks.

However if you only have your UQ on your wireless network (and no ipad etc) that will help on the wifi segment as the UQ can receive on the wifi network without waiting for another device to finish (unless it happens to be sending at the same time).

However other wifi SSIDs share the radio spectrum in your neighbourhood, so if lots of wifi networks are visible and active you might find performance drops (as channels over lap).

Simon

Thanks Simon - Not sure I understand all of what you said so will start another thread rather than hijack this one....