I’d like a device which connects to a wireless network, receives a stream of stereo 16 bit 44100 Hz PCM, fills a one second buffer and feeds the output to digital and optical S/PDIF.
The device should have a wired Ethernet port, through which it should be configurable via a ‘web’ interface. It should look for an address using DHCP. It should support WPA and WEP. The device should respond to a specifically formed UDP broadcast on a fixed port in order to be discoverable.
The maker of this device should provide an audio driver for Windows (WHQL certified and works on Vista) which streams data across to the device, plus technical details on how to find the device and send data to it. The device and its driver should not place any artificial restrictions on how audio is relayed, i.e. there should be no attempt at ‘copy control’.
When a signal is received by the device, it should fade it in from zero over one second. If the signal to the device is interrupted, it should fade out the audio.
The device should cost no more than GBP 25 including VAT and the driver should be free. I’ll buy two.
Much searching of the web found me the Sondigo Sirocco - no dealers in the UK, unfortunately, so it would come with VAT, customs charges and a possibly-useless PSU. It’s also apparently Windows-only, even though it runs on Linux. I haven’t verified that, though. Review here. I decided not to buy one because it would have cost me over £100 after VAT and customs charges.
After further investigation, I found that the Sirocco is based on the C-Media CMWS-01 OEM product, also known as the Wi-Sonic. It appears that C-Media have sold this product with their own badge on it, but it’s difficult to get hold of one. I eventually found somewhere that would ship to the UK and have ordered one. If it turns up (I’m not 100% confident that the shop actually had stock or will deliver to the UK), I’ll review it here. It’s impossible to work how how much customs will decide to steal, but the product and shipping cost about £45, so including VAT that’d be about £52. Fingers crossed…