The route of data transmission from router to streamer in my house is as follows:
- Router connected to (tp-link) Mesh box #1 via an Ethernet cable
- Mesh #1 connected to Mesh box #2 via Wi-Fi (mesh technology)
- Naim streamer connected to Mesh box #2 via Wi-Fi
So, as you can see the streamer connects via Wi-Fi and not via an Ethernet cable.
Can the quality/spec of the Ethernet cable used between router and mesh #1 make any discernible difference to sound quality?
There are plenty of threads relating to this on the Forum.
Use the search facility and you will find plenty.
I think they can make a difference and you don’t have to spend Mega-Bucks. Also preference hardwired to Wi-Fi.
DG…
Hey Diggy.
I’ve read a lot about the effect of ethernet cables on SQ when wired to a streamer but never seen anyone mention them in the context of a mesh system.
S
My mesh system is Fibre to house —> Fibre router —> CatSnake —> First (Main) Mesh Node (Hallway) —> CatSnake to NetGear Switch —> CatSnake to NetGear Switch —> CatSnake to Linn Selekt / Ethernet to Second Mesh Node (Dining Room) / Ethernet to Third Mesh Node (Conservatory) / Ethernet to upstairs TP Link Switch / Ethernet to Fourth Mesh Node (Office).
Initially tried linking the Mesh Nodes using the Wi-Fi, but the further the distance from the First (Main) Mesh Node, the worse the Wi-Fi strength became.
We have a 200 GB service, but typically get 230 GB with anything that’s hardwired, plus we also get 240GB Wi-Fi wherever we are in the house / conservatory / garden.
DG…
No not really. Not in terms of SQ… you might hear a very slight shift in audio, due to out of band affects … but I think it’s unlikely.
The benefit of wifi is that it completely avoids the issues of common mode noise… the downside is that the wifi card has to do more work for second of sound not least due to the AES-CCMP decryption processing.
If feasible, as an alternative, have you tried a, Ethernet cable from the TPLink Mesh #2 to your Streamer and see if there is a SQ difference?
Also are there any issues with it currently?
Similar question to mine ((Link above) I’d say. Whilst I’ve established that the cable between the mesh disc and the Core has an effect in my case, I haven’t explored the cable between router and mesh as yet. Nor have I experimented with cable into the router. Inevitably everyone will have a different opinion and a different environment to base that opinion on.
Thanks for your insight, Simon.
Hi, no I haven’t tried an ethernet cable from mesh #2 to streamer. Its a bit awkward as it would entail drilling through a wall.
Hi Steve,
Yes similar situation I think, just a different placement of the ethernet cable. But ultimately your streamer connects via wifi like mine.
I’ve got caught up in all the ethernet cable chat on here. I think its given me a dose of FOMO 
It’s certainly interesting and it the issue of Ethernet cables generally seems to be subject to some impassioned debate! As with all of these things, I think the answer is to experiment in one’s own system.
Buying used makes that less of a gamble if you buy wisely and don’t mind the hassle of selling if it doesn’t work out. Or a demo loan from a dealer, but I’d dislike that option if I’m not going to buy.
My experience generally with cables etc is that it takes me some time to decide if there is any improvement and to actually appreciate the contribution the can make to the listening experience.
In the meantime, I’m watching the various debates with a degree of impartiality.
So what?
So what what? In terms of processing and possible resultant coupled additional noise power from the streaming board? In an ideal world this should not couple in a perfect design, but where people can hear the the effects of Ethernet leads and Ethernet data flows, by extension, they may well hear the noise from the wifi data block decryption from the WiFi decoding and encoding chipset in a less than ideal decoupled product.
Personally I think wifi can give greater noise isolation potential compared to Ethernet, but on a poor implementation this could tip to being best with Ethernet.
Noise power is a function of work.
Of course this noise would be marginalised by a streamer undertaking TLS1.2/1.3 decoding from a cloud streaming service provider using encrypted flows from a CDN. Therefore I see streamers being designed with better and better network decoupling to make them as transparent as possible to network and transport related noise… so this will become increasingly moot for hifi products.
Sure there is a lot of ‘coulds’ in there that will wind those susceptible to tweakery up the wall.
I can only imagine the transfer of audio over wifi is a menial task at best for modern equipment.
This is menial, digital audio replay is not a complex thing, but don’t fall into the trap that thinking something that is menial doesn’t produce noise… and the effects of noise coupling will depend on the quality of product design. Basic systems theory all functions produce noise… or technically an error product.
The reason there are ‘coulds’ is because the effects are going to vary with product design, implementation and operating environment.
For example a Naim current digital streamer driving an external DAC provides pretty good transport and network effect separation… not 100% perfect, but enough for it to be mostly inconsequential.
But simon at what point do you say ‘lets move on’ ? I am certain the laptop charger in my living room is making ‘noise’ as is my fridge and freezer.
I say move on when any such underlying interference or error becomes irrelevant or inconsequential. I believe I am there now, but it hasn’t always been.
Hi Steve,
So I read that you connected your core to your mesh via a chord shawline ethernet cable with very noticeable results. Did you like those results now you’ve had some time to evaluate?
Considering your streamer is connected to a mesh via wifi, its quite intriguing how the ethernet cable in another part of your network changed the sound.
There is definitely an increase in detail and a little more body to the sound. I was very sceptical regarding the potential but thought I’d give it a try. I guess it makes sense to a degree but I suspect all of this is dependent on system / environment variables. The original cable was a very cheap giveaway one which came with the mesh discs. The change is noticeable and beneficial. Whether anything really exotic would bring more improvement is a question which I’ll leave unanswered at present!
Thanks, I may need to do some dabbling