Nexus 5 + AirMobi iReceiver = Wifi in Car

Just wanted to post this set-up because it works pretty smoothly:

picture link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4K7YJ77a6K4N1hyRUo4VXM4Q3c/edit?usp=sharing
This box basically creates a wifi network and then sends (lossless) audio out via an 1/8 in. audio output:

http://www.amazon.com/iReceiver-Wi-Fi-Music-Receiver-Extender/dp/B00I0Z427E

I'm using Airstream (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kineticgamestudios.airtunes.android), which I've found works better than AirAudio.

I'm also running a Tasker sequence, so when the Wifi box boots up, the Nexus 5 automatically opens my music app and sets the system volume to an appropriate level.

All in all, it's pretty smooth.

I think it's worthwhile for at least two reasons: 1) you can charge your phone without getting that ugly interference with an audio cable plugged in. 2) it's much louder than the output of the nexus 5 itself, so it's basically like having an amp.

Pseud0logik said:

How is the audio quality compared to BT?

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Bluetooth sound is highly compressed and the audio quality is slightly degraded. the advantage to wifi is that it is basically lossless.

for more:

http://wrensound.com/should-my-wireless-audio-system-use-bluetooth-or-wifi/

Pseud0logik said:

I was looking for more of a subjective comparison. I've tried both BT and wired audio side-by-side in my car, and while I can hear a difference, it's not enough of one to convince me to give up the convenience of BT. If you've compared BT and wifi directly and find them to be dramatically different, then this solution might be perfect for me.

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Well I haven't really used Bluetooth in my car for music, only for phone calls. But I would imagine that the Wifi sound quality difference would be audible. There was a noticeable difference between using the Nexus 5 headphone output into my car stereo aux input and streaming from the Nexus 5 to the AirMobi box into the same aux input. The Wifi sound was louder and had much more low-end.

I should warn you, though, that the AirMobi is configured in such a way that you can't access mobile data when you are connected to the wifi network. I don't really mind this, because incoming calls still come through; but you can't, for example, check your email while connected to the AirMobi. If having access to mobile data while streaming wifi audio is important to you, there is this option, which is more expensive and a bit clunkier, but will fix this problem:

http://airenabler.qnology.com/

D3_ said:

I've never streamed music over wifi before, is it possible to set this as the default playback device? I'm also getting a wireless charger for my car, I'd like to be able to have the phone automatically play music over that wifi thing when it's wirelessly charging if possible.

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If you have a rooted phone, you can send all phone audio via wifi using an app like AirStream or AirAudio. That's how I have it set up.

roshga said:

Looks interesting.
Could you please try using the AllCast app and check if that works with this device?

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Just tested this. Yes, it works with AllCast.