Upcoming Move - Questions Ethernet Cable, Modem/Router, Ethernet Run & Electrical
My head hurts thinking through the options and alternatives I am facing in moving my audio system into a home we are remodeling a few hundred miles away. I will be moving all the components myself. I would really appreciate your thoughts on an efficient set up that does not impact the quality of my system and especially the digital steaming. I am pretty well dialed in at my present location with a large AV closet ( 12'X10' ) that is heated/cooled and has the internet coming in with associated wiring for the modem and router.
Quick overview - I have in the new home a good location for all components determined . The electrician is putting in a dedicated line/outlet thats a few feet from all the devices - amp, preamp, streamer, DAC, turntable, various power supplies for devices, power strip and surge protector. There is a 15' wall with bookcases built in on either side and a large window in the middle. Under the window and connecting the bookcases is a built in bench seat with accessible storage space that connects to either side and it has a hinged top - so I can run cabling the length of the entire wall that is hidden. The speakers will be around 12' apart on either end. With this setup the internet line is coming into the bookcases on the right side and that is where the present combination modem/router is now located. On the far left side wall by the bookcase is where the new power/outlet is being run ( due to access to the panel downstairs ) and where I will have a wooden three shelf rack for the components. Hope this helps you visualize the setup.
Option 1 - Since the modem/router supplied by Xfinity is on the right side I could run a new 5 meter ethernet cable from it under the window seat and out of the cabinet where the new power will be and the streamer and DAC will be located. The new ethernet cable would run it into an ethernet switch I have and then I would utilize my shorter Shunyata Theta ethernet cable directly from the switch into my Aurender 200 streamer
Option 2 - Run a longer length of internet cable from the wall on the right through the bookcases/window seat and place the modem/router on the left hand cabinets which puts this closer to the streamer and eliminates the need for a longer ethernet cable.
In either option above I believe I will purchase my own modem and router - suggestions please! With all the above in mind would one option lead to higher quality sound based on the location of the modem/router and length of runs? Is there a better option and am I missing something I have not envisioned. Again my head hurts :)
For long ethernet runs you may want to consider optical. I replaced my 50 foot ethernet run with these components and it was a very noticeable difference. Got the equipment on Amazon. Two converters and a multimode cable, under $100. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BYP5CZY?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P6Z7GZY?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_2&th=1 I have a Bluesound Node feeding a Denafrips Terminator II DAC.
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Modems/routers are noisy and best kept away from audio systems so I’d side with option 1, and a 5m Ethernet cable isn’t all that long. I’d also consider having two outlets/dedicated lines installed because it won’t cost much more than one and will give you flexibility if you want to say plug digital components into one and analog into the other. Outlets matter, and you might consider this Maestro outlet that compared favorably to more expensive units — I also attached a comparison review that’s a little dated but still useful and interesting I think. https://www.cruzefirstaudio.com/maestro https://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0114/audiophile_ac_outlets.htm Just some thoughts FWIW, and best of luck with the new room. |
I have a 30’ run of Blue Jean Cat6a with zero issues. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BT6N46DH?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1 And absolutely positively run a minimum of two dedicated lines for the system. Easier done now rather than later
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Optical is good choice but it will require conversions. Placing modem and router close to system is best, but then this requires disabling wifi on router so no rfi contamination of closely situated components, disabling wifi brings on more complications with a division of network. So if you want simple you're going to run long LAN cable. Some believe simple is best, some believe otherwise. |
FWIW I have my router far away (35 feet) from my rig, I run a long cat 8 to an LHY switch located near the Rig on the top shelf. That router is the main router, there is another upstairs linked to it. From the switch there is a .5 M of DH labs Cat 8 to my LHY EFI located. near the switch. From the EFI I have a Revelation Audio Labs RJ 45 to Aurender N200. This works great for me, maybe you can do something the same? |
The Audiogon crew has been a great help with all the suggestions. I was able to touch base with the electrician first thing this morning and now have him running two dedicated lines vs one. Great timing with the suggestions by @soix & @hbarrel @fthompson251 - your setup seems ideal. I am familiar with LHY and see their EFI is a new addition to their line. I will look into this. @ghdprentice - I will get some pics next time I travel up to the new home. |
@norust 12awg rather than 14awg. But you probably already knew that. |
It’s often true that your wifi router and cable modem’s ideal location are not in the same place. Thank goodness Ethernet cable for the most part does not care. Put your wifi router in the best place for transmission. That’s usually centrally located in the home. Check out my excessively paranoid intro to network surge protection while you are at it. :) If your home is pre-wired for Ethernet, and every room has a jack sometimes it’s also true that your Wifi router is far from the place your home Ethernet cables all come to. Thank goodness for switches and access points. I’d say try hard to keep it convenient above all, don’t worry about optimizing Ethernet for audio. Streamer buffers will take care of most of your issues. Wifi on the other hand is fussier. I’ve heard good things about Wifi 7. That along with multi-bandf ( I think stgarting with wifi 6) really have reduced congestion and improved reliability. If you want to go abolutely nuts you can get the top of the line Asus with an SFP port and run fiber to your audio room and no one will ever try to convince you to spend a lot in Ethernet cables again. :) That router is too much for me, but given the general prices for Wifi 7 it’s no longer worth it to buy a Wifi 6 router I think. Oh, and before I forget, free Wifi analyzers are available for every platform I know of. I suggest you use one to gauge the best place to put your router. They are really priceless. PC, Mac, iPhone, etc. there is a free version for all of them. You want good signal strength and lack of other signals. |
