AUDIO over IP - REDNET 3 & 16 Review. AES67 Sets A New Standard for Computer Audio

[gefski]

Atterotech unDAES-O w/power supply $643 from Full Compass. DVS download $30. BJC ethernet and XLR cables. Put me at $700ish complete. unDAES-O has (cheaper?) Ultimo chipset, 4 channels max, 24/96 max.
 
I'm doing a (happy) review of it. Compared to the several USB interfaces in house, two or 3 panes of glass are removed, Windex used on the rest. The essence of "master of Redbook" Yggy remains. Touch, timbre, texture, more transparent yet more relaxed!
 
Thanks to Seattle Head-Fiers rb2013, muziqboy, soundsgoodtome, johnjen, atomicbob, grizzlybeast for enthusiastic AOIP info, listening at meets, and PCWar for pointing out the unDAES-O.
 
IMO
YMWV
 
(Response to thisisvv question on previous page, quote didn't grab it)

 

[mourip]

  Long time lurker, then went off the grid. Now got some funds to put on AOIP. Does any final verdict is there that Rednet3 or D16 is better? are there any cheaper solutions?

 
Assuming that you already have a DAC that you like the RN3 is probably your best bet. If you want to use AES you will need to add an adapter cable.
 
I have not heard of any commercial products below this price level that will do 192K and have the same level of sound quality.
 
Pretty much everything that is known about AOIP for audiophile use has been at least mentioned in this thread. If you find any other forums with informed posts please let us know...

 

[gldgate]

 The only differences that I am aware of between the two units are:
 
1) D16 can do 176Khz sample rate (Brooklyn 2 card)
2) D16 has 2 Ethernet ports
3) D16 has Smaller footprint
4) RedNet 3 needs a DB25 snake cable
 
I have not heard any claims from Dante or Focusrite regarding better SQ between units so my assumption is that they  equivalent.  
 
Agree with Mourip above. RedNet 3 is likely better buy for majority of folks looking for 192Khz.
 
For those who are fine with 96Khz limit the Atterotech unit mentioned above looks like an interesting alternative. 

 

[Adosero]

Long time lurker as well, I was also wondering if we also should invest in a fancy audio server pc for a superior SQ or a cheap fanless win10 or win 2012 R2 based pc would give the same or similar results (both will be fed by a LPS).
 
Thanks a lot..

 

[Iving]

  Long time lurker as well, I was also wondering if we also should invest in a fancy audio server pc for a superior SQ or a cheap fanless win10 or win 2012 R2 based pc would give the same or similar results (both will be fed by a LPS).
 
Thanks a lot..

 
If you would care to review my posts (under the theme "The PC *does* make a difference") you may find much of what you're looking for. One can remark reliably only on what one has experienced - but there is a fair resource there - both direct, and from which to extrapolate (on to your own experience).

 

[mourip]

  Long time lurker as well, I was also wondering if we also should invest in a fancy audio server pc for a superior SQ or a cheap fanless win10 or win 2012 R2 based pc would give the same or similar results (both will be fed by a LPS).
 
Thanks a lot..

 
There seems to be some consensus that with AOIP the PC/server tweaks make less of a difference. I will not say "none". I have an Intel based fanless PC with two SSD's, one for OS and one for music, all running off of an HDPlex LPS. I use JRMC and Windows 2012R2 with Audiophile Optimizer running. I feel this is the middle ground between a budget fanless PC and an expensive "audiophile" server. I am very happy with the sound in my system and feel that improvements downstream now only unveil better sound quality....so far

 

[belgiangenius]

Is there any requirement that the computer connect directly to the rednet device with an ethernet cable, or can you simply have your computer (i.e., mac mini) and rednet 3 sitting on the same network?
 
Is a rednet 5 suitable as an endpoint to receive AOIP and provide AES to a DAC?

 

[Golfnutz]

  Is there any requirement that the computer connect directly to the rednet device with an ethernet cable, or can you simply have your computer (i.e., mac mini) and rednet 3 sitting on the same network?
 
Is a rednet 5 suitable as an endpoint to receive AOIP and provide AES to a DAC?

No, Yes, No

 

[blitz1856]

Hi.  New to posting but have been reading for quite a while.  I've read large parts of this thread but not all 174 pages so I apologize if I missed this question being answered.  I saw it asked early on but did not see a definitive reply.  My listening room is a finished third car garage stall that does not have an Ethernet run (I had it wired while the house was built but it must have been severed by a screw somewhere).  I do have a dedicated wireless bridge to the room.  I believe that Dante (or AES67 in general) will not work with wireless anywhere in the chain due to the PTP protocol being used?  Anyone know for sure based on specs or having tried it?  Thanks.

 

[gefski]

Hi.  New to posting but have been reading for quite a while.  I've read large parts of this thread but not all 174 pages so I apologize if I missed this question being answered.  I saw it asked early on but did not see a definitive reply.  My listening room is a finished third car garage stall that does not have an Ethernet run (I had it wired while the house was built but it must have been severed by a screw somewhere).  I do have a dedicated wireless bridge to the room.  I believe that Dante (or AES67 in general) will not work with wireless anywhere in the chain due to the PTP protocol being used?  Anyone know for sure based on specs or having tried it?  Thanks.

Dante is very specific that it won't work wireless. They have a great series of videos "Getting Started With Dante". Here is one mentioning wireless:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrWU41Q2F7I
By the way, you don't have to connect to the existing switch or router in your home. The Dante LAN can just stand alone in your listening room, no switch needed for two devices, or buy a switch for more.

 

[blitz1856]

Thanks for the video.  That is the information I've been looking for and confirms that I don't have an EASY path to implementing AOIP.  I would love to go straight to AOIP and bypass a USB chain as I move from LMS and Logitech devices for streaming to something more versatile.  Unfortunately I don't have a music server in my listening room so can't do a direct connection.  So I need to figure out how to get new wire out there or forget about AOIP.  I wish I knew where the break was in the Cat5 so I could patch it but I don't even know what route the electrician ran it and I'm dealing with insulated walls...

 

[Golfnutz]

  Thanks for the video.  That is the information I've been looking for and confirms that I don't have an EASY path to implementing AOIP.  I would love to go straight to AOIP and bypass a USB chain as I move from LMS and Logitech devices for streaming to something more versatile.  Unfortunately I don't have a music server in my listening room so can't do a direct connection.  So I need to figure out how to get new wire out there or forget about AOIP.  I wish I knew where the break was in the Cat5 so I could patch it but I don't even know what route the electrician ran it and I'm dealing with insulated walls...

Doesn't your dedicated wireless bridge have an Ethernet port? Can't see why this wouldn't work. Google Dante WiFi, as there were changes in July, 2016 to support WiFi.

 

[Tboooe]

  Doesn't your dedicated wireless bridge have an Ethernet port? Can't see why this wouldn't work. Google Dante WiFi, as there were changes in July, 2016 to support WiFi.

I was about to post the same reply.  Get a wireless bridge.  Most will come with at least 2 ethernet ports.  I have been using the Dlink dap 1650 wireless AC for over a year now to get music from my NAS upstairs.  I have had zero issues getting high res or DSD to my room which is downstairs and in the back corner of my house while my wireless router is upstairs in the front corner of my house.

 

[Golfnutz]

  I was about to post the same reply.  Get a wireless bridge.  Most will come with at least 2 ethernet ports.  I have been using the Dlink dap 1650 wireless AC for over a year now to get music from my NAS upstairs.  I have had zero issues getting high res or DSD to my room which is downstairs and in the back corner of my house while my wireless router is upstairs in the front corner of my house.

His first post mentioned he has a wireless bridge.
 
Even shows in network config within Dante Controller.
 

 
 

 

[jabbr]

Dante WiFi support is only for controling the devices, not for 'streaming' the audio.