Ethernet isolation

[Dizzie]

After grounding all my electronic chassis and speakers using Shunyata products and finding a tremendous improvement, I am now wondering about Ethernet treatment.

I use an Aurender N30SA with all music files stored internally. I do not stream. I only use the Ethernet connection to control via an iPad. The Ethernet connection to my router is via a long CAT5e. The cable runs in my attic and down an outside wall inside a metal conduit.

Is there much for me to gain by using an isolation device? If so, I would appreciate recommendations. Thank you.

 

[Randy Myers]

In my view it is a waste of money. I could see considering an upscale audio router if you were streaming and your signal was traveling through it, but having your music stored locally the only involvement of your router/switch is sending control codes through it to your server. Your audio signal will not even travel through it.

Even streaming I question the benefits of ultra expensive routers/switches (other than reliability, but audio specific upgrades). Any streamed signal has passed through hundreds if not thousands of routers/switches all across the world prior to entering your home. If anything was going to affect the signal it probably would have long before getting to your ISP let along to your router/switch.

My answer comes from being an IT professional for many years including high security DOD positions. I was a software engineer doing all kinds of projects including severs, routers, switches, etc. I had a specialization in data systems for much of my career. I also know that some people swear up and down what a difference these audio specific switches make. I tend to believe it is more psycho acoustic than anything, but to each their own. I guess improving the final step in the signal path may have small advantages if the signal is still in tack after traveling thousands upon thousands of miles through all kinds of levels of routers and switches .

 

[GSOphile]

With streaming I think what is done in the last few meters is about cleaning up noise and perhaps slight timing anomalies riding along with digitally encoded data in an analog medium.

 

[crwilli]

Why don’t you stream?

 

[Randy Myers]

Why don’t you stream?

I don't know about Dizzie but for me I don't stream because I prefer to keep my files locally on my server. Not only do they sound better when played from local storage but there are not issues coming from network/internet. I understand it has improved; however, I also know that networking issues are not uncommon.

But at least as important it the resolution of the files themselves. I prefer higher resolution, especially DSD. No streaming services can offer DSD albums for streaming. I currently have almost 400 albums in DSD. No streaming services offer this type of files and certainly not higher levels of DSD. I have many DSD256 and DSD512 files (a few are over 20GB in size). For myself, redbook is the absolute minimal that I have and I prefer higher bit rate files versus 16bit of redbook (yes, I do indeed hear a difference all else being equivalent).

I also already have a difficult enough time deciding what to listen to. I can't imagine if I were streaming from the Internet.

 

[Randy Myers]

With streaming I think what is done in the last few meters is about cleaning up noise and perhaps slight timing anomalies riding along with digitally encoded data in an analog medium.

And therein lies a major problem with streaming in my view. The cleaning up noise and timing issues is the major crux of streaming versus being stored locally on your server. This is the effect of having your stream going through hundreds and thousands of non-audio related network equipment long before arriving to your "final" step is your signal path.

 

[Mr Peabody]

I thought the same as Randy, your function is just utility not anything to do with actually playing the music so adding a tweak wouldn't do anything.

Randy you should check out the Uptin website or other manufacturers of internet gear for music. There is definite gains to be had. I've only used the Ether Regan, it made a nice improvement.