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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
xaak
43 posts
 
Get a second cable hookup and use it just for streaming.
taww's avatar
taww
124 posts
 
FWIW I have been using either hard drive media or streaming for the last few years and left my CDs in storage since moving over a year ago. I started with my own rips and FLACs and still prefer those to streaming when possible, but the majority of my listening is streaming. First couple years were Tidal because Qobuz was horribly unreliable for me here in the States but it's been better lately. I still subscribe to both services as well as Spotify for convenience/catalog and since it's a relatively small price to pay for so much music (plus I hope it helps artists even with the pittance of royalties). Dropouts and noise are exceedingly rare for me and I never get any weird distortion - that sounds more like a potential software/hardware issue with the Bluesound? I'm interested in getting a Powernode (just got one for my brother) so I hope they are reliable.

I usually have my streaming DACs/endpoints wired with Ethernet but have used a WiFi bridge without issue. My network is admittedly pretty solid with Ubiquiti gear and usually gigabit broadband but I've operated fine with lower service levels. 100mbps is more than sufficient unless you are simultaneously streaming 4k UHD or have tons of clients (e.g. kids as someone pointed out).
77jovian
387 posts
 
Why does poor digital audio signal cause dropouts and poor digital video signal cause pixelization but no dropouts?
jmphotography's avatar
jmphotography OP
161 posts
 
@taww - no it was not the Bluesound, I also plugged my MacBook in and was streaming Tidal and Qobuz and it was doing the same so that rules out the Bluesound 

mapman's avatar
mapman
21,924 posts
 
If any volume controls are in play with any of the sources, would suggest lowering them and see if that helps. If the node device has an explicit setting for line level only (volume control bypassed) use that and set volume with pre-amp only.

Two high a voltage to the input of the pre-amp can result using source devices with volume controls and that WILL produce distortion if too high.

I’ve experienced it connecting a Chord Mojo DAC to pre-amp with volume control in play. That device has an explicit setting to bypass the volume control and output proper line level voltage only.

Probably no option like that using a laptop or other home computer. In that case just lower the volume enough at the source so no distortion is heard.
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