A multiresolution coding and modulation system for preserving audio continuity in a digital wireless audio system in harsh RF environments is provided that includes an audio codec that produces codewords having bits differing in perceptual importance coupled with a non-uniform hierarchical modulation scheme. When the wireless audio system is operating in a harsh RF environment, the RF SNR for decoding bits having a high perceptual importance may be decreased while the RF SNR for decoding bits having a low perceptual importance may be increased, while having no adverse effect on the latency of the wireless audio system. The audio may be subjectively degraded instead of muting the audio, which mitigates intermittent interference and multipath fading issues.