Tag Archive for Streaming

Introducing StreamHub, Audiophile Streaming Router as wireless router + network switch + DLNA server for high fidelity streaming

October 1, 2023 in News

StreamHub - Streaming Router

After successful launch of AirStream2 wireless router with over 100 units of AirStream products being sold with no return, it’s quite certain that wireless network improvement is the missing key to complete media streaming in future.

We also found network switch in AirStream2 performing very well enough for customers to remove several audiophile network switches and use switch in AirStream2. This made us realized how great it would be if we could have:

audiophile network switch
audiophile wireless router
audiophile streamer

all in a single product at very affordable price so most audiophiles and even Netflix users can enjoy better streaming experience.

Despite being the most affordable audiophile wireless router already, $549 audiophile wireless router is still far from being reasonable for products like $500-1000 streaming DACs, soundbar, TV. So, we decided to develop a new category product to fit market’s demand perfectly.

StreamHub will improve both ethernet network as audiophile network switch and create a new Wi-Fi 6 access point called “StreamHub” with password “fidelizer” as audiophile wireless network, just like AirStream2 but at only half of the price at $279 USD.

Plus, you can also plug USB storage into StreamHub and system will prepare DLNA server for you to stream music library from router to streaming DAC directly without a computer or configuration required as true plug and stream solution.

To ensure StreamHub will meet the Fidelizer’s standards of feel the real sound, we chose the most important modification to improve StreamHub product as below:

-Upgrade Capacitors with high capacitance and low impedance tuned in power supply section
-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

If you use DLNA/uPNP or Airplay / Chromecast, streaming packets will be sent from application through Wi-Fi meaning there’ll be some wander jitter in streaming packets before reaching network switch. StreamHub can offer low-jitter / low-noise network to minimize total jitter in your system.

The product price will be $279 USD with 30-day money back guaranteed and free shipping until 31st October 2023. You can read more about StreamHub Streaming Router product in details before ordering and happy listening.

AirStream Wireless Router review on Positive Feedback by Marshall Nack

September 17, 2021 in Review

AirStream - Wireless Router

The first review of AirStream Wireless Router is now published by Mr. Marshall Nack who also reviewed EtherStream with ultra highend system before. This time AirStream is reviewed with daily devices bringing audiophile’s spice in daily life.

Last time I couldn’t send EtherStream with Nikola Classic as it was still being developed. This time I was going to send AirStream with Nikola Classic but I decided to send AirStream with Nikola Signature with 2 outputs instead for upcoming project.

It’s really assuring to start this review with Qigong class as I also had a lot on my plate recently. I’m glad to hear that AirStream also resolved his issues with Zoom software during online class on top of audio/video improvements in daily life.

As consumers of electronics, we are damn lucky to be the beneficiaries of trickle down. There are a few specialist companies that ensure we eventually get the advances. All you need is patience and meanwhile, the wallet stays healthy. Besides, it is always best to avoid being a Beta tester.

The improvements an audiophile ethernet switch brings to hard-wired music streaming are by now well established. That leaves all those internet apps that you access via Wi-fi, like Netflix, YouTube, or Zoom—what about them, they have the same issues. The root cause in both cases is the consumer-grade router at the head of the chain.

The idea is so obvious in hindsight. Why not port the fixes developed for the EtherStream switch over to a Wi-fi dedicated router? What the EtherStream switch did for the audiophile market, the AirStream does for household apps accessed via Wi-fi. However, the quality of results depends a lot on your local setup and devices. Video streaming with my MacBook Pro showed variable results: some apps were marginally better; others, no difference. With my iPhone, it was consistently better.

What was never in doubt, though, was AirStream’s effect on streaming audio from a high-quality source, like Qobuz. The improvement here was pretty remarkable, nearly equaling that of the EtherStream switch for hardwired connections. I expect the video side will evidence similar improvements for consumers who watch movies on high quality screens.

Thank you for this wonderful daily life experience review with AirStream product. You can read his full review and see how AirStream can improve WiFi audio and video streaming quality in details.

Introducing AirStream, Audiophile Wireless Router from Fidelizer Audio

May 1, 2021 in News

AirStream - Wireless Router

Today I’d like to introduce a new product I’ve been working for over a year now. It’s a wireless router with modification that can bring high fidelity audio in the air for the first time. You could call it wireless version of EtherStream for devices that you can’t use wired connection with.

I chained EtherStream with WiFi router for improved WiFi signal to use with my smartphone and my desktop computer in bedroom. They sound a lot better but still miss important information compared to direct wired connection. AirStream will deliver those missing bits.

I examined and modified a few routers in market and chose ASUS RT-AC1300UHP that has very good flagship design with quad core processor. I applied modification based on EtherStream with a lot of adjustments for over a year, tuned with EtherStream and Nikola.

AirStream with EtherStream + Nikola Classic combo

Some may feel skeptical towards wireless improvements but wireless radio modulation and pulse amplitude modulation shares similar basics on modulating data with time domain. After a lot of research and development, here’s how Fidelizer brings high fidelity audio to the air:

-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

AirStream will be configured as an access point by default so you can connect AirStream to main router and enjoy high fidelity wireless streaming through new WiFi network as plug and play. You can submit an order with your own WiFi name and password.

Personally, I don’t use wireless connection on Nimitra server but there’s a lot more areas in my audiophile’s life outside main system. I also listen to music and watch video from smartphone and PC in my bedroom so AirStream will improve my enjoyment outside listening room.

The product price will be $495 USD with 30-day money back guaranteed and free shipping until 31st May 2021. You can read more about AirStream Wireless Router product in details before ordering and happy listening. 🙂

EtherStream Network Switch review on HiFi Knights by Dawid Grzyb

August 16, 2020 in Review

Actually, this review was published for a while but I’ve been so busy with delivering EtherStream Network Switch and many other products so I forgot to publish this until now. I’m so sorry and also very thankful for you guys’ continuous support.

This review is written by Dawid Grzyb and is the first Fidelizer product review in HiFi Knights. It’s thoroughly investigated review with every nook inside examined and shown. Not that I mind since I also showed and explained what I did for personal use.

I like how he compare EtherStream to his reference USB reclocker and galvanic isolation components and see that he can find similar improvements on network at more affordable approach as below.

The micro iUSB3.0 reclocker and EtherStream were quite alike voiced to my ears. The former’s action was more audible, but as previously not by a lot. Once again I thought that better LAN cables could even things out a fair bit, but today’s skirmishes with my USB boxes weren’t important per se as one doesn’t replace the other. Their action stacks. These investigations were conducted mainly to ease my own curiosity, but also to find out whether Keetakawee’s box could keep up with two fine examples of iFi audio’s USB engineering and remain just as relevant elsewhere. If today’s put up against USB sorters strikes you as odd, all fundamentally shave excess noise and make music more liquid, that’s their common ground. That’s why the main disparity was in their different junctures of my setup, not audible job. Even handicapped by stock LAN cables and away from streaming services, Fidelizer’s deck held its ground very well all things considered. What this switch was able to accomplish in my room, was already not too shabby for its coin and sub-optimal conditions. Something tells me that supported by better LAN cables, PSU, and used with streaming services, it would go faster, bigger and bolder, but that’s a story for another time. What’s important now is EtherStream’s audibly potent and beneficial input, with no strings attached. Yes, please.

I didn’t send switch with Nikola linear power supply so reviewer can review network switch on its own merits but you can upgrade linear power supply for better sound quality too. You can read his full review and see his journey about network improvements for more details.

EtherStream Network Switch review on Positive Feedback by Marshall Nack (Featuring CH Precision C1 with Quboz)

April 19, 2020 in Review

Although EtherStream Network Switch was reviewed before in Positive-Feedback by Tom Gibbs. However, EtherStream works very well with CH Precision C1 DAC so it gets another review with highend networked audio setup.

This is probably the first review of EtherStream with ultra highend networked audio setup. We have some reviews with great systems but I wouldn’t expect $395 modded switch to be paired up with over $30k DAC in review for sure.

I’m really happy to see fellow highend audiophiles appreciating EtherStream too. Here’s his listening impressions and I’m glad he noticed that EtherStream doesn’t produce the stereotype of bleached, hyper-detailed, fast, and edgy audiophile sound.

After hitting PLAY, it only took seconds before my eyes opened wide. The piano was crisp and sparkling, with good edge definition and texture. WOW! Just like that, the culprit was nailed—and this was only my first sip! For confirmation, I swapped back to the TP-Link switch and, sure enough, the excessively soft presentation was there again. The TP-Link did not produce what we call a soundstage. It only had width and height, no depth, it was 2-D flat like a paint gun splatter. The images were swimming together as notes emanated from an ill-defined place, indistinct, hollow sounding, and lacking a tonal center. This is what happens when the music doesn’t have a good foundation. Without support, the soundstage gets spongy.

A firm foundation underpinning the stage is very important. When you build a house, the foundation is laid first and everything that sits on it, depends on it. If it’s unstable, the whole structure becomes insecure and wobbly. Same with instruments on a soundstage. The EtherStream firmed up the structure and presented a 3-D stage layered side to side and front to back, populated with decently sized images.

Well, this was quite a flip from the last time I streamed with Ethernet. My brain struggled to process what just happened. Unawares, I had slipped into the mindset of the audio objectivists, the deniers of differences. I put together these streaming front-ends on the cheap without giving them much thought, thinking parts is parts. It never crossed my mind to give the switch a second thought. Damn! It’s the same old lesson I have to relearn (let alone the undesirable association with the deniers). Remember: rule number one in the High-End is everything counts. When you’ve been doing this long enough, time and again, it’s the things from out in left field, the stuff you think can’t possibly matter, that blindside you.

The foundation of the soundstage was not the only thing that changed. After burn-in (yes, a new EtherStream needs about 200 hours for optimal performance), the music had a decidedly acoustic bent with nice flow and satisfactory timbre. Tonal balance was evenly disbursed from the decent low-end up to a natural treble, plus there was some flesh on the bones. The EtherStream is positioned to appeal to the audiophile market, but it didn’t produce the stereotype of bleached, hyper-detailed, fast, and edgy audiophile sound.

One other thing: according to the Fidelizer website, a primary design goal for the EtherStream product was to address many consumers’ poor opinion of streaming vs. music files on local storage. Based on my own explicit comparison, the EtherStream gives you the same playback quality from Qobuz as music files on local storage. There was no audible difference.

He also asked me for linear power supply upgrade too but the suitable product was yet ready at that time. I’ll launch new products to use with EtherStream soon and I highly recommend to read his full review and see how EtherStream can perform in highend networked audio setup.

Fidelizer.Audio

Feel the "Real Sound"