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Ethernet cable for music streaming

I know there have been threads on this topic, including my own from last year, but I'd like to pursue this issue further, perhaps from a slightly different angle. Here's my conundrum: I'm not getting the sound quality from my Innuos PulseMini streamer that I think it's capable of and I've never been able to put my finger on what the weak link in my system is. I'm streaming Qobuz through the Innuos SenseApp on my Samsung tablet. While some parts of the frequency range sound really good (bass, mid-bass, lower mids, e.g.), when we get to the range where vocals live and above, the sound loses fidelity and definition. Things sound fuzzy and muddled, especially if the music is complex or dense. Loud orchestral passages can be really unpleasant to listen to.

The streamer is connected via USB to a Sonnet Morpheus DAC, and is fed via ethernet cable from my AT&T router. It's about a 35 ft. run of CAT5 that goes under the house and up through the floor of my listening (living) room. It doesn't run near any other electric lines. There's an ethernet switch that divides the signal between the TV, the Roku box, and the streamer. I do have the option of running a dedicated line from the router to the streamer, but I need some advice on whether this will improve things any. I tried plugging the existing ethernet cable into the streamer directly, bypassing the switch, but this yielded no improvement. 

Would it help to use CAT6 or CAT6a cable for this run? And should it be shielded or unshielded? I've read some posts that indicate shielded cables introduce their own distortions into the signal, so I'm really not sure which way to go here. 

I'd be grateful for advice from the many of you who are more expert on this subject than I am. Thanks.

cooper52
mclinnguy's avatar
mclinnguy
283 posts
 

Forgot to mention another thing to try would be to get a Wi-Fi extender or Mesh system....

I need to try this. I have read this a few times over the past while. 

About a year ago I removed the router from my hi fi room to eliminate unnecessary wifi waves near the components (ethernet cable connection to the streamers, not wifi), and replaced it to the upper floor of the house. But then thought I am using an iphone as a remote controller in the room anyway, and of course there are hundreds of frequencies of electromagnetic interference travelling through our rooms, components and brains continuously all the time, so unless one wanted to build a hifi room inside a faraday cage, and not use wifi controllers, I think the point is mute. 

Therefore, there should be no difference having an auxillary wifi extender, (or a sub-router essentially?) somewhat near the hifi > sotm ethernet > streamer, instead of the 50' long piece from the upstairs router into the etherregen > sotm > streamer, and comparing that. Then comparing inserting the etherregen, or Cisco switch, between extender and streamer. Hmmm. 

Any suggestions for extender models/brands? 

toneranger58
128 posts
 

For extender I use a tp link AX3000, it’s 99 from Amazon. Works great, it’s in my upstairs loft and the router is in my basement. Great strong reception it has one out for Ethernet cable. Simple set up. 

cooper52 OP
160 posts
 

Thanks to all for the very helpful responses. Of course, now I'll have to figure out which remedy to try first, and I'm leaning in the direction of upgraded LPS and wi-fi extender. I see that Small Green Computer offers a 12v power supply at a reasonable price that will almost certainly be better than the Chinese one that came with the Innuos streamer. I'm trying to keep this budget in line with the value of the component(s) in question, so spending kilobucks (I think I just made that word up) on any of this doesn't make sense to me. 

I'll post my results--or lack of results--as thing progress. 

benanders's avatar
benanders
224 posts
 

cooper52

…

I'm not getting the sound quality from my Innuos PulseMini streamer that I think it's capable of and I've never been able to put my finger on what the weak link in my system is.

…

 

That’s probably not the firmest stance for avoiding the pitfalls of upgraditis.

dogearedaudio
7 posts
 

You might consider switching to fiber ethernet.  You need a pair of converters and whatever length of optical cable you need.  You could convert the longer run, or you could do a local conversion just from the switcher to the streamer.  It does add a bit of clutter but it can smooth out the sound quite a bit.  It's not very expensive, maybe $150 to implement.

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