Wifi vs ethernet revisited


For this discussion I want us to forget the usual problems of wifi: stuttering, buffering, loss of signal strength. Let’s assume we have a strong, reliable wireless connection. Questions: how would you rank the following:

1. [No wireless, my current config] Ethernet from router -> Switch (or OM) -> fiber -> Etherregen -> ethernet -> streamer.

2. Eero wireless mesh -> receiver -> ethernet -> streamer.

3. Eero Wireless mesh -> receiver -> ethernet -> Etherregen -> ethernet -> streamer.

Or, to really go hybrid and (probably nuts):

4. Eero wireless mesh -> receiver -> ethernet -> Switch (or OM) -> fiber -> Etherregen -> ethernet -> streamer.

I haven’t done [4] yet. But to my ears, [1] definitely beats {2] and (less emphatically maybe) beats [3] even though I have a very strong Eero wireless mesh system. Maybe my assumptions to begin with are still wrong? I can’t seem to read a good forum thread where the usual stuttering’/buffering problems (that we all know about) are removed. Thanks in advance everyone!

 

debrajray

@dbastin In quickly perusing your setup the only issue I see is the wifi RFI issue in both Mikrotik and Devialet. Now I can see heroic issues taken by manufacturers to shield other circuits and components within devices, don't know if that case with these devices. My other issue is with the wifi receivers themselves, this especially vs a cleaned up and optimized ethernet input in a streaming device. This what my server accomplishes via my JCAT NetXE card. In my early days of streaming I went through a series of three different diy modded Mac Minis, won't go through all the permutations, but at one point was doing wifi with the 1st mini, eventually one of the mods was going to hard wire input, another subsequent move was to remove wifi antenna and disconnect circuit board connection to wifi receiver. In direct comparison there was an incremental improvement I could detect even in this relatively low level streaming setup. Not saying the Mikrotik and Devialet may have superior RFI suppression in their components. My own conclusion is absolutely no wifi on 'clean' or audio side of home network.

 

I'd also add RFI is likely an issue for us even with a 'clean' network for audio streaming. Most of us live in a very rich RFI environment, what with all the radio frequency equipment used on a mass scale. Some years ago I had located a Linn Mimik cd player in this one particular place in my listening room where I was picking up an FM station through my stereo system, moved the player no more issues. Dimmer switches are another source easily heard.So point is while this extreme example think how much RFI is masked, we simply don't hear it as an FM radio station of whatever, I presume very few of us really fully hear the full potential of our systems due to environmental RFI. I don't doubt are physical health impacted to some degree as well, plenty of info out there on this. In any case there are reasonable steps we can take to minimize it's impact on our stereo system.

@debrajray I use Cisco from Afterdark Audio because I havent got around to Finisar.

@sns I used to have those concerns and avoided wifi.  Then I spent some time with Auralic Aries G1, tried my best wired solution with daisy chained ERs and Gigafoils with 'Audiophile' ethernet cables  (although some shared power sources because I didn't have more LPSs, and didn't know better then).  Then tried wifi instead (WAP replaced all the ERs/ Gigafoils) and wifi was a bit better.  Then thought I'd use wifi direct to Devialet and was shocked it was at least as good ... and the G1 and its $4k power cord became redundant ... along with the ERs, Gigafoils, cables, until I started putting them upstream and began a new avenue of discovery, followed by refocus on separating power sources, and optimising cable sheilds and grounds which led to paring back again.  Still so much to try and so little time.  DC cables and seperate battery for each ethernet device is the next avenue.

Streaming is so complex and crazy. Sometimes more is less, other times less is more. We have so many devices to choose from to the point we're not close to determining some reference streaming network. Choosing hierarchy of dacs, streamers easy compared to the network.

Streaming is so complex and crazy. 

Some people make it that way. But the fact is that streaming is r-e-a-l-l-y simple. That's why so many people are doing it.

@cleeds This is true, I started with a laptop. On the other hand, there is no end of streaming/network devices out there, some have found them to be helpful. Also, I presume those with more complex setups enjoy the entire process of experimenting with these devices, I find it fascinating and its provided continually improving sound quality.