No it is, any streamer performance is nowhere of its potential if you will not put a decent effort in upgrading network. Buffering doesn’t prevent high frequency noise impact via mains and ethernet networks.
Does connecting a streamer to Ethernet make much difference compared to wifi?
- Thread starter JezmondTutu
- Start date
No it is, any streamer performance is nowhere of its potential if you will not put a decent effort in upgrading network. Buffering doesn’t prevent high frequency noise impact via mains and ethernet networks.
vacuum_tubes
pfm Member
Not an issue unless you have a really badly designed streamer or DAC.
That's just another marketing myth used by people selling audiophile switches.
And what do you run?
vacuum_tubes
pfm Member
Have bad knees so don't run anymore.
vacuum_tubes
pfm Member
Just no interest in a pissing contest or silly comments about how "your system isn't resolving enough for you to hear noise"
There won't be any really poorly designed DACs or streamers these days, even the cheap chinese ones will have suitable noise rejection.
It's a non issue that is promoted or perpetuated by foo peddlers or followers.
So I see kind of a contradiction vs your previous comment above. Plus it means that ‘suitable noise rejection’ doesn’t prevent cheap chinese dacs to sound horribly (what they typically do).
vacuum_tubes
pfm Member
No contradiction, I just said it won't be "an issue unless you have a badly designed streamer/dac" and that most dacs/streamers these days aren't badly designed, basically to reiterate that it's a non-issue.
Sounding horrible is a subjective thing and if you think they sound horrible am not challenging what you hear.
OTOH noise over IP networks WRT analogue has been scientifically measured and proven to be a non issue in most competently designed network or ADC/DAC devices.
Non issue for what exactly? To correctly preserve data - yes, sure. For sound quality it’s a disaster typically.
vacuum_tubes
pfm Member
In the case of transporting analogue over IP it is data.
But the term "sound quality" on forums is generally a subjective one, what is measured is how much the analogue signal is degraded during the conversion and transportation process. In modern and competently designed systems that equals zero.
But the term "sound quality" on forums is generally a subjective one, what is measured is how much the analogue signal is degraded during the conversion and transportation process. In modern and competently designed systems that equals zero.
davidsrsb
pfm Member
If you use WiFi, every packet sent by the streamer back to the router is potentially interfering with the streamer/dac. This is a strong signal.
Ethernet has to be very quiet conducted RF to pass CE regulations. The zero error rate on a decent cable means that the streamer processor is not having to do extra processing to recover the missed data, so less disturbance to playing out the file to the dac
Ethernet has to be very quiet conducted RF to pass CE regulations. The zero error rate on a decent cable means that the streamer processor is not having to do extra processing to recover the missed data, so less disturbance to playing out the file to the dac
tuga
Legal Alien
I have recently started using an Intona USB isolator between a Mac and a RME DAC. I wouldn't go as far as calling the RME flawed but its USB interface needs attention.
Salamander
pfm Member
I could not tell the difference between wired and wifi when I owned my first streamer (Auralic Aries). My set up is towards the rear of the property so we purchased a wifi extender, this worked wonderfully well and still does now with my Eversolo. No worries with long runs of cable and switches.
Potentially all the noise on the World Wide Web can find it’s way into your hifi. To prove this you only need to change your DNS server from 8.8.8.8 to 8.8.8.0. I didn’t believe it would make a difference either, but unless you try first you should refrain from both criticism and scepticism. Bits are indeed bits. But some bits are Marks and Spencers’ bits.
beammeup
pfm Member
I didn't know of 8.8.8.0, just the 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 when it comes to Google.
foxwelljsly
Me too, I ate one sour too.
I’m not sure what this means. If you connect an Ethernet plug to a device, Unless your streamer is running on PoE, it is astronomically unlikely to be picking up electrical noise via an Ethernet connection unless something is actually broken.
When I have had electrical noise on an ethernet connected streamer, this has always been a ground loop via a bnc or rca SPDIF connector or usb plug, not via Ethernet.
Absolute blather. What nonsense are you selling?
