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Ok now I am frustrated with streaming

Help me out here please. I was really enjoying getting into streaming. Just purchased a Node 2i 2 weeks ago and have been enjoying it. Testing Tidal and Qobuz, leaning toward Qobuz. I was testing both wifi and ethernet connection. I seemed to pick up some noise and distortion on what I thought was the ethernet so I have been listening on wifi. I really enjoy finding new music on the streaming service. Tonight I was enjoying Sierra Hull because I listen to a lot of Alison Krauss. I was listening to Sierra Hull's new 25 Trips album and got to track 7 Escape and I heard a bunch of static/distortion, almost like a blown tube, except I have solid state equipment. I switched to Tidal to see if it was a problem with the Qobuz stream and same thing. Hooked up my MacBook pro to rule out a problem with the Node 2i, same thing. Now I am listening to Clapton's Unplugged and I hear the same thing. Is it my internet? I have a brand new modem, a Motorola MB7621, and a brand new Asus AC3100 router. I did a speed test and we are getting 237 mbps. My daughter was watching Netflix on a TV upstairs at the time, when she was finished I did a reboot of the cable modem and reboot of the Node 2i and then it was fine after that. I listened for about an hour after that. Is it my internet speed? Do I need to call Comcast/xfinity and up my speed package? Is it something else? Its getting frustrating and its not supposed to be like that, I am at the point where I may just send the Node back on the return policy and stick with CD's. 
128x128jmphotography
jcder
28 posts
 
I agree with Mapman. Wifi problems shouldn’t be causing distortion.
When I experience internet/wifi problems, the signal simply cuts out.
I hope you held on to your old router and modem. Swap in each of the older components, one at a time, so see if the problem can be isolated to either your new router or your new modem.
Then, if possible, swap out each of the other components in the signal path, one at a time. ( I realize that swapping out the DAC might be tough, as most people don’t have more than one DAC lying around. If necessary, you could pipe an analogue signal directly from your streamer / computer to your pre-amp. )

If your problem isn’t caused by a bad signal coming in from the ISP, you’ll find the problem this way. Stick to streaming. It’s definitely worthy it ! 
rabbottmke
20 posts
 
Fixed or Variable volume selected on your Node2i?  (be sure it's Fixed).  I know it sounds dumb to check... but just check.  jcder and Mapman are on point.  SQ won't really vary if things are working.  They will just stutter and cut.  (been there, done that, swapped my DNS pointers to Google's DNS direct (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4).  

You sound like you've got a signal path issue.  Would almost wager on your low voltage side...
parker65310
210 posts
 
It certainly could be a setting issue I’ve never experienced with my Node2. It sounds like it certainly could be your bandwidth. I’ve never had an issue streaming even the highest bit level MQA over WiFi with my Node2. Particularly HD, or even worse 4K, video streaming takes a huge amount of bandwidth. I would either prioritize traffic on your router or up your bandwidth package. In the meantime, you could test their theory and mine and take advantage of Tidal or Spotify offline mode so the songs are directly on your iPhone or laptop’s local storage, for instance. Just make sure you change the settings to the highest audio quality level that you can accommodate with the storage available on your device. I use this mode pretty often, particularly on road trips, where I know the data download bandwidth is going to be spotty at best. If you still have issues with particular songs this will eliminate your bandwidth as the culprit.
p05129
483 posts
 
Everybody here is guessing what could be wrong, why not look at your network stats to see if you have any issues. Also, you can call your network provider to have them run a trace to your house to see if they see any errors. When you say you have 200Mb speeds, is that what you are paying for or are you doing a network speed test? 2 different things.
Is your internet connection copper, wireless, or fiber? If it’s copper, you could be running into issues after work hours because more people are fighting for that bandwidth, same for wireless. Fiber is the way to go if you want the most reliable, noise free connection possible. 
jmphotography's avatar
jmphotography OP
161 posts
 
OK, so tonight I listed for a little over 2 hours and everything was perfect and resulted in a great listening session. Working from home right now has its privileges. Spent my whole lunch hour on the phone with both Xfinity and Asus. First Xfinity ran some test and did see some errors. I ran a speed test as well as Xfinity asked me to run one while on the phone. It was 212 mbps. At night both my wife and daughter may be streaming Netflix, and they both were last night when I had issues. Xfinity suggested for like $12 more month I could up the speed to 400 so I did, thats pennies a day. Asus helped me with some QOS settings to maximize priority to the Node. Ran a new speed test and now we are at 400 mbps. So tonight I was listening to Qobuz on the Node 2i via Ethernet with the CD player on standby, both my wife and daughter were watching netflix and I had no issues. Tonight was one of the most enjoyable sessions, listening to a couple new artist, everything sounded clear, detailed and wide open.
I am not sure exactly why type of line we have from Xfinity. We are in the country, rural area, our area is new construction, less than 8 years, homes are all on like 2 acres so its not congested, but I don't know how much that effects things.
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