Avoiding wired connection without using optical. Flawed idea or not?

[nbpf]

@Simon-in-Suffolk

@nbpf

Also, the ND555 can replay from attached USB drives. This does not require any wired connection to the LAN, just a wireless connection for controlling replay.

If replacing components in the wired network upstream the ND555 has a perceivable impact on the sound quality, an even greater impact should be obtainable by eliminating the wired connection altogether and just streaming from an attached USB drive. Does this yield higher or lower sound quality?

But USB memory sticks can be inherently noisy… so I can’t see why you are neccessarily preferring it over an Ethernet connection.

Remember at the relevant low levels, Ethernet and USB look rather similar… albeit half duplex connection for regular USB.

Am I necessarily preferring it over an Ethernet connection?

[Simon-in-Suffolk]

Sorry I should have used the third person.

My point is any preference would be on personal tastes and combinations rather than any notion of ‘sound quality’

[nbpf]

@Simon-in-Suffolk

Sorry I should have used the third person.

My point is any preference would be on personal tastes and combinations rather than any notion of ‘sound quality’

Sure but isn’t it always like that when we compare different interfaces, cables, etc. on the basis of what we hear?

The OP is considering changes in the network upfront the ND555 that, under normal operational conditions, should have a minor impact on the sound quality.

The test that I have suggested is likely to yield a greater impact (in which direction I do not know, of course) and seems (to me) a necessary first step to establish a baseline for more subtle comparisons. All based on the OP’s ears, of course!

[Chris_Shorter]

Hi KJC

Your network diagram is almost exactly what I have and have been using successfully for about 5 years. The construction of our house is such that linking the upper and lower floors with a cable would be impossible.

I did it using two ASUS routers, one of which was set to “Media Bridge” mode in the setup. The WiFi on the bridge is used exclusively to communicate with the main router, which is the only one giving out IP addresses. I get a connection speed of around 200mb/s, plenty for Tidal streams. The Tidal tracks are fully buffered in the Roon Core anyway.

[KJC]

Update fwiw…
I followed @james_n suggestion (great idea!) to try pulling the plug on the router connection after setting an album to play vs playing same album with a connection and found the sound a tad smoother and more relaxed with the plug pulled, but quite a lot of dynamic impairment and a significant loss of engagement, so I guess I’ve answered my own question. I’ll stay very happily plugged.

[james_n]

That’s saved a bit of fiddling about. More time for music Kevin

[KJC]

Indeed James! It’s sounding particularly superb these last few nights. Could be the rebuilt Fraim arrangement or the ER switch burning in further after 4 weeks. Might even be that my 7 month old ND 555 has taken a leap. Whatever it is I like it