Before spending $$$ on an Ethernet cable I’d get an external linear power supply for the Innuos — something like a Teddy Pardo LPS would be fine for around $400 and don’t need to spend more than double on the Innuos LPS IMHO. Just my $0.02 FWIW.
Ethernet cable for music streaming
I know there have been threads on this topic, including my own from last year, but I'd like to pursue this issue further, perhaps from a slightly different angle. Here's my conundrum: I'm not getting the sound quality from my Innuos PulseMini streamer that I think it's capable of and I've never been able to put my finger on what the weak link in my system is. I'm streaming Qobuz through the Innuos SenseApp on my Samsung tablet. While some parts of the frequency range sound really good (bass, mid-bass, lower mids, e.g.), when we get to the range where vocals live and above, the sound loses fidelity and definition. Things sound fuzzy and muddled, especially if the music is complex or dense. Loud orchestral passages can be really unpleasant to listen to.
The streamer is connected via USB to a Sonnet Morpheus DAC, and is fed via ethernet cable from my AT&T router. It's about a 35 ft. run of CAT5 that goes under the house and up through the floor of my listening (living) room. It doesn't run near any other electric lines. There's an ethernet switch that divides the signal between the TV, the Roku box, and the streamer. I do have the option of running a dedicated line from the router to the streamer, but I need some advice on whether this will improve things any. I tried plugging the existing ethernet cable into the streamer directly, bypassing the switch, but this yielded no improvement.
Would it help to use CAT6 or CAT6a cable for this run? And should it be shielded or unshielded? I've read some posts that indicate shielded cables introduce their own distortions into the signal, so I'm really not sure which way to go here.
I'd be grateful for advice from the many of you who are more expert on this subject than I am. Thanks.
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Forgot to mention another thing to try would be to get a Wi-Fi extender or Mesh system and run a much shorter, higher-quality Ethernet cable from that to the streamer. It’s not too expensive, and it may be an improvement over using a long run of lower-quality cable and an additional switch. Just another option to consider. |
What’s your budget? If you are going from one cheap Ethernet cable to another, I would say it ain’t worth it. Here’s my recommendation….try iFi LAN iSilencer. |
A few things I've done. Some cheapish, some pricey. Upgraded my router from the one supplied by my internet provider. LPS of my modem and router. Plixir and FiiO. Changed the fuses on these as well. Bought a wifi extender. Triode Wire Labs Freedom ethernet cables to switch and streamer from this. A Puritan PSM156 and Ground City. A Stack Audio SmoothLan, and Pink Faun Lan Isolator. A Teddy Pardo LPS on my streamer, with upgraded fuse. An ISO Regen (reclocks the USB from my streamer). Black Ravioli Big Pads under my amp/Dac/DDC/streamer.
This has been a process since late 2021.
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While I don’t think it will solve the problem, I would upgrade the Ethernet run regardless to Cat 6a. Not a big investment, Blue Jeans makes a nice product at custom length. That is unless you go the Wi-Fi extender route which is viable. You do not mention what kind of USB cable you are using, this might be something to investigate as well. |
missed it so I’ll go back and second @soix on a power supply recommendation. I would do that plus a nice power cord before playing with any Ethernet related tweaks. |
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May want to give an Etheregen switch a try? 30 day money back guarantee. Most have found it "smoothes" out their streaming sound by removing hash which enables you to hear a little better resolution from a blacker background. Not sure if that is the same as removing the "fuzzyness and muddled-ness". Probably not quite as good as the already mentioned passive Network acoustics filters, I have't tried one of those yet, but less than half the price also. I have a Plixir LPS on my etherregen. For sure a short run with a high end ethernet cable made (will make) a smaller difference in sq also, but that is not the best place to start (probably). It all matters, tackle the digital stream one notch at a time. You need to try things and see what makes a difference in your system to your ears. |
+2 ….. A upgrade to a linear power supply is a meaningful and important performance upgrade compared to a switch power supply in any case,….and significantly over the OEM throw-in crap POS wall wart supplied with the unit The insertion of a Wi-Fi extender is a cheap no-brainer. I was initially a hard skeptic of the audiophile network switch option too. Fortunately , I watched the following YouTube review ( first of several by Hans) , that encouraged me to finally set aside my bias, and give a SILENT ANGEL network switch a try. In brief , yes, a further audio improvement was here with - a blacker background, - It introduced added lifting of an ethereal “veil” from streaming “ jitter” and “noise” , - along with further incremental eliminations of streaming digital “edge” / “brightness’ . it is beyond my pay grade to explain the engineering tech reasons why , NOTE: As Hans points out in his reviews, the audio streaming benefits from audiophile grade network switches are very system dependent: - they are clear and unambiguous in his “A” reference system, and progressively somewhat less as he steps down into his “B” and “C” systems. He has several YouTube reviews of the different network switch contenders, = choose wisely
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I need to try this. I have read this a few times over the past while. About a year ago I removed the router from my hi fi room to eliminate unnecessary wifi waves near the components (ethernet cable connection to the streamers, not wifi), and replaced it to the upper floor of the house. But then thought I am using an iphone as a remote controller in the room anyway, and of course there are hundreds of frequencies of electromagnetic interference travelling through our rooms, components and brains continuously all the time, so unless one wanted to build a hifi room inside a faraday cage, and not use wifi controllers, I think the point is mute. Therefore, there should be no difference having an auxillary wifi extender, (or a sub-router essentially?) somewhat near the hifi > sotm ethernet > streamer, instead of the 50' long piece from the upstairs router into the etherregen > sotm > streamer, and comparing that. Then comparing inserting the etherregen, or Cisco switch, between extender and streamer. Hmmm. Any suggestions for extender models/brands? |
Thanks to all for the very helpful responses. Of course, now I'll have to figure out which remedy to try first, and I'm leaning in the direction of upgraded LPS and wi-fi extender. I see that Small Green Computer offers a 12v power supply at a reasonable price that will almost certainly be better than the Chinese one that came with the Innuos streamer. I'm trying to keep this budget in line with the value of the component(s) in question, so spending kilobucks (I think I just made that word up) on any of this doesn't make sense to me. I'll post my results--or lack of results--as thing progress. |
You might consider switching to fiber ethernet. You need a pair of converters and whatever length of optical cable you need. You could convert the longer run, or you could do a local conversion just from the switcher to the streamer. It does add a bit of clutter but it can smooth out the sound quite a bit. It's not very expensive, maybe $150 to implement. |
So, before jumping in and buying an LPS for this Pulse Mini, I’d like to rely, once more, on the expertise of those of you who have offered such helpful advice. The specs for the Taiwanese switching power supply that came with the streamer are: DC output 12V, 5.0A. The 12V output is easy to match with the iFi and Small Green Computer LPS’s, but what about the amperage? SGC is a bit elliptical about this on their website, though they do seem to indicate that their 12V LPS would deliver 8A max (if I'm reading it right), which would be plenty for the streamer. iFi, however, rates theirs at 12V, 4A and I’m not sure if this would be a problem. Similarly, does the output voltage have to match exactly, or would a higher voltage output still work? Sorry, I’m not very knowledgeable about this stuff, so I’d be very grateful for your help. Many thanks! |
Innuos website recommends 12v 5A. The Pulse Mini accepts a wide range of LPS voltages though. I’m not sure the amperage required if the LPS has a voltage other than 12v. Innuos would probably be keen to advise you on this. If you get a 12v LPS with a higher amperage, it will not damage your streamer. The streamer will take what it needs, so to speak. When you do purchase your power supply, I’m a fuse believer. Something like a HiFi Tuning Supreme would work well. Also a decent DC cable, if not already supplied. Ghent Audio has some reasonably priced cables. I was curious what network switch you have? If it’s just a standard computer switch, it’s possible it is draining life out of your system. You could perhaps try DXE Iso Plus at each end of your long run of ethernet cable. Again reasonably priced, but effective. Some people like the iFi power supplies, but I’ve read lots saying there is little to no improvement in their system. |
Thanks, jerrybj, for this helpful info. I've ordered the Small Green Computer 12v LPS, and we'll see how that goes when it arrives. Meanwhile, I discovered that my previous network switch was probably a bottleneck in the stream, as it was a bit old and topped out at 100 Mbps. I bought a new Negear one that boasts 1 Gps, and it has (I think) helped a bit. Next, I'm going to replace the old CAT5 cable that runs from the router to the switch with CAT6a. I can actually run that as a dedicated line straight to the streamer, and a separate one to the Netgear switch that connects to the TV and the Roku box which seem to work just fine as it is. All of this accomplished, it SHOULD improve things with the streamer, but I'll post the results when it's all done and we see what we've got. |