The Case for Analog Audio

The wireless system is an unmistakable innovation with wide applications and potential, and the technology is getting better. No debate there. But before analog goes the way of the dinosaur, a few things to consider for the audiophile and purist. And maybe even the wireless audio fans who don’t know what they’re missing.

One thing to consider is that wireless signal and detection is a less refined system than suggested. Those of us who remember the early days of Bluetooth know how delicate the signal was, how easy it was interrupted or lost. This was improved with strengthened signals and more intricate pairing mechanisms, but below the surface, is this a good thing?

The landscape of corporate science and technology seems to follow a principle of "apply the latest and greatest as soon as possible, and we either find out consequences later… or we don't. Who cares?" For the consumer, this means an accelerated, dynamic litany of new and exciting products coming at us at a million miles an hour; too fast for us to care about potential trade-offs. We trade having what’s new for what we may actually want.

This is especially sinister when it comes to wireless technology.

A wireless device sends an electrical signal through physical space in the form of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). This EMR is not contained in any physical housing, it is simply blasted out into space, into objects, into you, in the form of a pulsing electrical signal. The signal sent from a source is sent in a specific pattern that allows it to be detected by a receiver, which also sends out a receptive EMR pulse.

These signals continue to pulse back and forth to maintain a connection. This is true of every wireless device you own. If we could see these signals, it would be intensely pervasive and unbearable to witness. An excessive pollutant.

In contrast, when you send data down a wire, it travels as an electrical current directly from the source to the receiver. The physical wire contains this current and provides pinpoint accuracy through a physical conductor, little-to-none of the signal is lost, and it’s entirely contained in the physical housing of the cable.

Another reason to consider implementing analog technology in your home is the incomparably higher quality. Any true audiophile will preach to this.

Don't get me wrong, you can get great audio from Bluetooth headphones or wireless speakers, but a lot of that sound-data gets "lost" in the ether, not to mention the potential for signal interruptions that disrupt the listening experience. There's always going to be some "loss" with wireless, but again that's not the case with a wired system—nothing is lost, and nothing is wasted.

True audiophiles aren't afraid to invest in high quality sound equipment, but quality cables are understated and easy to overlook. Great cables make all the difference. That's where we come in. Here at Austere, we provide the connective tissue for your sound system for incomparable audio quality that could never be matched by a wireless system, or even a wired speaker with your cheap throwaway cables. Check out our III Series Speaker Cable and our Banana Adapters. We promise you’ll never look back.