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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
sns
3,561 posts
 

Don't understand why others don't try this. Run your ethernet provider output next to your audio system (modem next to your stack). Short run of high quality ethernet cable to gaming router, disable wifi in this router (for audio system only), run long ethernet cable to second router, this now serves as wifi router for rest of house. From router ethernet to network optimizer (in my case JCAT NetCard XE, and then fiber conversion via your choice of converters (I use Sonore). Every single piece on audio system LPS and power conditioner.

 

Running wifi on audio system network adds noise, switching power supplies same, I've found cheaper ethernet cable inferior to higher quality, ie higher resolution/transparency with better cable ( short length of high quality ethernet out of modem much preferable to the long length cheaper cable most running from remote modem). Keep all cabling short as possible, all quality cabling, no switching power supply, optimizing every single component in streaming setup has to be considered. In my case no switch, I've tried audiophile switch, vs optimized audio system only router, adding switch inferior, adds needless complexity.

debrajray OP
33 posts
 

@sns yes, obviously, and I agree. I do have that setup. The problem is that I have a second audio system at the other end of the apartment.

@erik_squires (and @fthompson251) please correct me if I misunderstood, but after each ethernet run to each of my two audio systems (one of them is over 40'), I have a short fiber-optic "moat" which gets reconverted to ethernet via etherregens before they enter the audio system; already noted in my original post. Would that not suffice against surges? (And point taken on the iFi.)

steakster
1,966 posts
 

OP: I can’t seem to read a good forum thread where the usual stuttering’/buffering problems (that we all know about)

Apparently, I don’t know about it. My WiFi has been rock-solid with an 8 year old Auralic Aries streamer. No hiccups at all. Perhaps, it's because both TX/RX are extremely tricked-out. I’m very pleased with my Fidelizer Audio Airstream.

debrajray OP
33 posts
 

@sns let me take that back. In theory I could isolate both audio systems (plus Roon server) on one LAN port and run an Eero mesh in bridge mode on the other port, and keep them all on the same subnet. It does not solve the problem of a long ethernet run for one of the audio systems, but it separates the wifi completely, which is also worth trying. Thanks.

debrajray OP
33 posts
 

@sns would a Ubiquiti Dream Router be a good recommendation for a main router in your setup, or would you suggest something else. I guess there must be something simpler as I don't need the main router to have wifi. Thanks so much.

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