Fidelizer’s new product is called AirStream and it is the world’s first affordable audiophile-quality wireless router. Over a year was spent tweaking this project to achieve perfection as a wireless version of the EtherStream network switch.
“There’s high fidelity audio in the air.”
After finishing EtherStream development, it has become core infrastructure of streaming services improvements chaining to WiFi router. However, I still feel WiFi network lacks satisfying performance compared to wired connection with EtherStream directly.
Maybe I can apply modification as WiFi version of EtherStream. That’s how I started working on this “AirStream” project for over a year with ASUS RT-AC1300UHP model. It has very good design based on flagship model with quad core processor for audio improvements.
Identifying problems in WiFi and solutions
I must admit I didn’t have expect expectations for WiFi improvements to be high at first. It’s just hard to see wireless can make big improvements like wired. However, modification changed my perception about WiFi’s capabilities and here’s why.
WiFi has modulation and also needs precision
WiFi use radio frequency with fixed modulation rate in different channel. Consumer grade router with bare minimum timing accuracy in clock and internal noise level can affect WiFi transmission to have blurred imaging with frequency distortion.
With improved timing accuracy and reduced noise in circuit, WiFi module can perform modulation more precisely having improved focus and imaging with less frequency distortion thanks to high quality clock and technology applied in EtherStream.
Noise in circuit can affect WiFi’s modulation and cause jitter
WiFi module will send and receive data through specified radio frequency and modulate signal from radio frequency into data. This process is similar to CD player sending pulse signal from laser drive to DAC and modulate pulse code signal.
So, having high noise level is like CD player having budget power supply grade. It can work but may have more signal loss during transmission. Can decode the same data but not on the exact timing with more jitter.
In digital world, it’s all about data and timing. Even if it’s wireless, if you can get the right data on the right time closer to zero jitter, you modulated data closer to ideal situation. This concept is what Fidelizer has been working on for years.
Never compromise for the best wireless streaming
I spent about 2 years in tuning EtherStream to get neutral sound meeting my standards. I thought AirStream can be done in a few weeks but it ended up taking over a year to complete. WiFi modulation is more sensitive than I initially thought.
AirStream has 3 stages power supply capacitors to handle modules in different roles and areas. It took a while to know how I should tune each stage correctly and to find out where I should emphasis on capacitor’s better specs or better sound.
- -Upgrade Capacitors with high capacitance and low impedance tuned in 3 different stages for optimal sonic performance
- -Upgrade Safety resistors with high power from Vishay Dale on DC input stage, power regulation stage, and isolation transformer stage
- -Re-energize power supply with special tantalum capacitors to reducing noise and interference in processor chip effectively
- -Crystal clock is upgraded with high precision clock optimized for network application with noise reduction tweaks
- -Components are soldered with high quality solder providing solid bass and dynamics
- -Router is configured for low-latency audiophile streaming applications
With high precision clock upgrade and technology to re-energize network packets from EtherStream, we can make WiFi streaming becoming much more resolving for the first time. And that allows tuning for highest fidelity audio possible after lots of trials and errors.
Setup and applications
One of classical problems in network is having some devices not visible from WiFi due to different network configuration. AirStream can manage network configuration as plug and play access point without network issues. You can hold WPS button to disable LED light to reduce noise in device too.
Access point configuration will allow you to connect wireless devices to devices in previous network with the same configuration. Devices in AirStream, modem router/network switch, and wireless devices can communicate in the same network.
After plugging ethernet cable to AirStream’s blue port, you can join “AirStreamSerialNumber” with “fidelizer” as the password. You can enter your own WiFi name and password before ordering. It’s truly plug and play which is good for computer illiterate audiophiles.
AirStream can deliver better streaming quality with EtherStream to get “fully energized” network packets with dedicated network circuit improvements before streaming into the air. I recommend EtherStream + AirStream + Nikola combo for best best streaming experience.
Specifications
- Network Standard: IEEE 802.11a / IEEE 802.11b / IEEE 802.11g / IEEE 802.11n / IEEE 802.11ac / IPv4 / IPv6
- Product Segment: AC1300 enhanced AC performance : 400+867 Mbps
- Antenna: External antenna x 4
- Transmit/Receive: MIMO technology / 2.4 GHz 2 x 2 / 5 GHz 2 x 2
- Memory: 128 MB Flash / 256 MB RAM
- Operating Frequency: 2.4G Hz / 5 GHz
- Ports: RJ45 for 10/100/1000/Gigabits BaseT for WAN x 1, RJ45 for 10/100/1000/Gigabits BaseT for LAN x 4 / USB 3.0 x 1
- Button: WPS Button (configured to disable LED light), Reset Button, Power Button
- LED Indicator: LAN x 1 / WAN x 1 / Wi-Fi x 2 / USB x 1
- Power Supply: AC Input : 110V~240V(50~60Hz) / DC Output : 12 V with max. 1.5 A current
- Dimensions: 207 x 148.8 x 35.5 ~ mm (LxWxH) (Without Bezel)
- Weight (g): 395 g