Audio Grade Ethernet Cable

Yes, that would be the cynical / conspiracy theory side. Reality is very different. 

That is not how manufactures think. It is simple to build something so expensive that no one will buy it. Each item must be carefully evaluated for what it sounds like. If it doesn’t sound better... then it is not going in. The more expensive a component the more it is going to be professionally reviewed... under greater scrutiny for performance... and the less units sold.  It is all performance driven in the high end. These are not highly profitable companies, they are made up of people dedicated to something they love. Have you ever heard of James Camron racing around or diving to the bottom of the sea with the CEO of VPI or Conrad Johnson? 

The increase in price is required because the more expensive the component the less that will be sold...so the price goes up. I know a lot of people in the industry. Many high end companies change hands after the founder dies... it isn’t because they are so profitable everybody wants to buy them... it is because it is really challenging to keep them solvent. 

You would think, but, in general, all things equal, no,  high quality separates are better. By putting too much circuitry inside a single box, internal noise becomes a problem. So, for instance Aurender's new flagship the N50 is a three box solution... streamer only. And for instance Audio Research's best preamp is a two box Preamp.

The Aurender N200, N250, N20... etc are streamers only... no DAC. This their primary business although they do make some combined Streamer / DACs. Their Conductor app, used for controlling them is very well regarded as well. 

I concluded the Aurender N200 streamer must be better than the Byston because streaming sounds as good as internal played files on Aurender.  

OP,

I'm pretty sure that @sns must have addressed this somewhere. 

There are two approaches. Fix the network or get a better streamer. "Fixing the network" involves becoming and IT person and upgrading / quieting the router, and lines for the whole house. Typically audiophile router, special power supplies, etherregen... stuff like that. 

Or, just get a better streamer. I would recommend an Aurender N200 or better. I own two Aurender and internal files and streaming sounds the same and simply stunning. My main system runs off a wall wart wifi extender and my $45K vinyl rig = CD = stored files = streaming... audiophile level sound quality. 

I'd recommend a high end streamer... just a whole lot easier for those of us who do not want to fiddle with the network. I was in IT most of my career... I'm retired... I want to stay that way. 

Ten feet is probably far enough. Hopefully the wall warts are not plugged in to the same circuit as your audio stuff. I am not completely sure a line conditioner will prevent degradation of sound if they are. 

Stored files should not sound any better than streaming. If same recording, my CD = Stored files = streaming = vinyl. It is worth getting streaming = other since your library goes up to millions of albums for the price of $14 / month.

That will slowly change everything in a really good way. Not just relistinging to the same music but finding hundreds of new and great music. I seldom listen to anything that is in my 4,000 CD / Vinyl collection. And my outlays for music are a flat $14 / month. I’m retired so having all that music is incredibly wonderful. I’m listening to five Cannonball Adderly album’s I never heard before. It’s incredible. 

@cleeds,

+1

OP, it's good you asked. I could see how one might think that. But this is different. 

You want to move your digital gear like switches away from your auto system. They are terribly noisy. Anything with a wall wart or extra box on a string should be far away. 

Optimizing sound of streaming... stored files and streaming service is easiest accomplished with a very high quality steamer. It will isolate noise carried in and cache the bits and give you audiophile quality sound.