Dec 23 Podcast #1080: WiFi 6 and Amplifiers don't have to Break the Bank
This week we find out what makes wifi 6 something you’ll want to upgrade to, especially if you have a lot of IoT devices on your network. We also start a discussion on amplifiers. Do you need to spend thousands of dollars to get a quality amp? We also read your emails and talk about some of the week’s news.
| Download this Episode. |
Support the show with Patreon!
Listen to the show
Today's Show:
News:
- DIRECTV STREAM Price Changes for 2023
- Apple bows out of Sunday Ticket talks, leaving Amazon and Google as the finalists
- Sonos filing hints that its next speakers will support WiFi 6
- Matter Support Arrives on 17 Amazon Echo Devices
Other:
Wifi 6
We’ve talked about wifi 6 for some time now and have said it's better. But exactly how is it better than previous wifi standards. Today we’ll go through the main features and how it can help solve some of your wifi woes.
Key benefits of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6 technology include:
Higher data rates - 9.6 Gbps. That’s up from 3.5 Gbps on Wi-Fi 5 (theoretical maximums). Orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) effectively shares channels to increase network efficiency and lower latency for both uplink and downlink traffic in high demand environments
Increased capacity - Multi-user multiple input, multiple output (multi-user MIMO) allows more data to be transferred at one time, enabling access points (APs) to concurrently handle more devices. The MIMO technology allows a router to communicate with multiple devices at the same time, rather than broadcasting to one device, and then the next, and the next. Right now, MU-MIMO allows routers to communicate with four devices at a time. Wi-Fi 6 will allow devices to communicate with up to eight.
Improved power efficiency - Target wake time (TWT) significantly improves network efficiency and device battery life, including IoT devices. This allows devices to plan out communications with a router, reducing the amount of time they need to keep their antennas powered on to transmit and search for signals. That means less drain on batteries and improved battery life in turn. This feature is meant more for smaller, already low-power Wi-Fi devices that just need to update their status every now and then. (Think small sensors placed around a home to monitor things like leaks or smart home devices that sit unused most of the day.)
Routers are on the market and range in price from about $100 for a basic setup to as high as $600 for Netgear Orbi whole house setup. A Linksys setup to cover a 3000 SF house will cost you about $300.
Amplifiers
XPA-7 Gen3 7 Channel Audiophile Home Theater Power Amplifier $2199
Audio
Power output: 200 watts/channel RMS into 8 Ohms; all channels driven | 300 watts/channel RMS into 8 Ohms; two channels driven | 490 watts/channel RMS into 4 Ohms; two channels driven
Audiophile quality Class A/B output stage.
Balanced and unbalanced inputs for compatibility with a wide variety of preamps and surround sound processors.
Features
Fully modular construction for optimum flexibility.
Comprehensive yet transparent protection circuitry protects from most common fault conditions without degrading sound quality.
Hardware
Dimensions: 17” x 19” x 8” (including feet)
Weight: 53 pounds (unboxed)
Power Requirements: 100 – 250 VAC 50/60 Hz (automatically detected).
BasX A7 Seven-Channel Power Amplifier $699
Audio
90 watts RMS per channel into 8 Ohms; all channels driven | 120 watts RMS per channel; into 8 Ohms. two channels driven | 125 watts/channel RMS into 4 Ohms all channels driven; two channels driven | 175 watts RMS per channel; into 4 Ohms.
The BasX A7 combines classical audiophile amplifier architecture, based on a heavy-duty linear power supply, and a carefully designed high current short signal path Class A/B output stage, with advanced microprocessor-controlled monitoring and protection circuitry, to deliver superb sound quality
Unbalanced inputs
Hardware
Dimensions:
17” wide x 4” high x 15-1/2” deep (not including connectors).
21-1/2” wide x 8” high x 21” deep (boxed).
Weight:
30 lbs (unboxed)
36 lbs (boxed)
Reader Comments (2)
I just listened to this episode today. The thought that came to my mind when comparing the two amplifiers from the same company was which one is suitable for the size room and speakers that are connected. Every amplifier will have a distortion vs. power output characteristic. If the amplifiers were basically the same design except the power output ability, a given percentage load would have approximately the same distortion and sound quality on both amplifiers as long as they were running at the same relative percentage power output. So, if you were to set up those two amplifiers in the same space with the same speakers and ran them up to the same reference SPL, they would each fall at a different point on that distortion characteristic curve. If the room was big enough, the smaller amplifier would have a noticeable amount of distortion at the reference level, while the larger amplifier might not. So whether you need the larger amplifier or not depends completely on how you load it with speakers, room size, and volume level.
Thanks for the comment Mike! We'll share it on this week's show.
Ara