Fuzzy playback

Now I confused myself. If it is a connection issue with digital, it either works or it doesn’t. Correct? This sound has been from RCA cables or volume controls in the past. I assumed it was ethernet cables after I unplugged the patch cable from the add powr to the streamer and plugged it back in. The clarity came back but not for long.

I looked at the Linkup cat 8 cables. They do look nice. There is a 22AWG and a 26AWG. Is there a preference?. A closeup shows the wires appear to be flat which would give a better connection. The price is not bad. $38 for 22 gauge and $13 for 26 gauge The factory is out but Amazon has them.

Thanks for the help.

I put deoxit on the rest of my interconnects today. That may be it. I should have known. My crossover is about 30 yrs old. The volume controls are not the best. The RCA bases are not the best. I should call Phil Marchand and get a crossover made. I also have an unknown power supply with lamp cord. So there is bang for the buck there.  Too many plug ins as we used to say on the farm.

Hello @rockrider. As usual it was those RCA connections at the crossover. A new crossover is $750. I chose to fix this Rean RCA base, gold plated. $10 for a set of 6. While I have it out I am replacing the volume potentiometers. I wanted stepped attenuator instead of the old one. Would not fit. So I am installing SMPT volume controls, $20 each.  $100 labor. Or I buy a new case, then I might as well buy the new crossover. We will see how this sounds.

Just an update;  I got my crossover back after the jacks, cord and volume controls were replaced.  Really nice results.  More presence, wider sound stage.  I am not sure how this all breaks in but it sounds better than ever right now.