For wi-fi streamers--a discovery to increase wi-fi strength

@seekerbob 

Thanks for that tip.  I also have a MacBook Pro, but didn't know you could test the wi-fi that way.  My readings aren't quite as good as yours, though, so you've got great wi-fi.

I am not running an ethernet cable to my streamer.

Occasionally, my wi-fi strength drops and that sometimes causes problems with the streaming, but generally that isn't an issue and the wi-fi usually remains in the "Excellent" range.  When the wi-fi signal weakens, a quick reboot of the Node often fixes the problem, and that can be done with the BlueOS software.

The Node was described as a wi-fi streamer, and it may be designed to work better that way than other streamers, I don't really know.  It is about 45 ft. from my modem, so I think wi-fi is the way to go rather than running a 45-ft. ethernet cable, although I could run a 10-ft. cable from the mesh extension to the Node if wi-fi didn't work well.  I had to do that at one point with a so-called "Smart" TV that wasn't working well with my wi-fi network, but an update of the router firmware solved that problem.

@soix 

Thanks for the recommendation of the ethernet cable.  I can move my mesh extender and use a shorter ethernet cable I already have to see if it makes any difference.  I'm skeptical that it will, although I think even a Bluesound tech support person said it could, and there seems to be a consensus on Audiogon that hardwired is better.  So I will experiment with the cable I have, and maybe order the one you recommended, since I presumably could return it if it's not helpful.

@soix  @ghdprentice 

I tried to connect the Node with an ethernet cable to my mesh extender, but couldn't get the BluOS app to work.  I've put in a support request to Bluesound,

Today I reviewed my notes about the Node and see I already tried using the 5e ethernet cable that came with the Node.  I listened to the MQA version of CSN's
"In My Dreams," and heard no difference between the cable and the wi-fi connections, but this was using the Node's DAC, which I think is pretty good, actually, and which does unfold MQA.  But perhaps a test with classical music, with genuine room ambience, would be more revealing.  Does anyone have evidence that ethernet cables require a break-in period to sound their best?

So it is still possible that a higher-quality cable, DAC, or source material might reveal a difference  between ethernet and wi-fi. I'm using a Denafrips Ares II DAC, but I haven't heard a noticeable SQ difference between it and the Node's DAC, even though I'm using my best interconnects (Cardas) with the Ares II.  I thought the Ares might have sounded better than my Cambridge Audio CXU's DAC on one classical CD, but that could have been because of the difference in the interconnects connecting each component.

I think I'm pretty good at detecting sonic differences when they exist without being too influenced by auto-suggestion (like thinking something should sound better because of deductive reasoning or because of its higher price).  My system is transparent and good enough to reveal differences in soundstage depth and other aspects of ambience that I pay attention to.  In addition to having spent decades comparing audio components' and cables' SQ, I've also honed my hearing by learning guitar and other musical passages by ear, as well as figuring out how to replicate various guitar tones.  I've also spent a lot of time comparing the tones of various electric-guitar pickups and other musical equipment.  Fortunately, I haven't spent so much time performing live as to ruin my hearing, although I admit I have damaged it some and have some slight tinnitus that I rarely notice.  I can still hear triangles and other high-frequency sources. A hearing test decades ago showed some loss around 7kHz, if I recall correctly.