I moved my Hi-Fi to a new room and I’m experiencing an issue while streaming music from the computer.
Before the chain was: NDX2 > Router > Computer (2 ethernet cables)
Now the chain is: NDX2 > Wall Plug > Switch > Wall Plug > Computer (4 ethernet cables)
I wouldn’t like to go back to the first setup, but now sound seems to be less clean and crystal in the mid tones and soundstage, less punchy too, so I was wondering what the best solution could be.
Should I change the cable between the NDX2 and the wall plug? Would this be enough to solve the issue? What are the other possibilities?
I also noticed that now music from the USB port is better, in the previous setup streaming through ethernet was clearly superior (more punchy and clear).
It is conceivable that the new arrangement is picking up (and/or the switch generating) more RF noise than the previous, and that your DAC is susceptible: DACs vary, but it seems to be a recognised phenomenon that RF superimposed on the digital signal can affect the analogue audio output, presumably by some modulation effect. If that is the case then changing any of the components (switch and 6 cables) might make a difference - but which and to what degree is an unknown quantity, soluble only by trial and error - which can be guided by others’ experiences, but might not be the same for your situation, so could be expensive. It might be that an RF blocker of some sort in the music room between wall socket and streamer may be the simplest and best solution, though having no personal experience nor specific knowledge I can’t advise (I don’t stream across a network, the link between my music store and DAC being a direct cable). A specialist switch in that location might do it, but they are expensive, and I am sure there will be other possible solutions - simplest and certain would be your original setup!
It may help others make suggestions if you give more details of the cables (types - if generic whether Cat 5e or whatever and lengths, including the in-wall), and the switch model
What do you mean by Wall Plug. Is this just an Ethernet wall socket terminating an in wall Ethernet cable or is it one of those plug in Ethernet over mains (Powerline) adapters ?
Even more confusingly, the Boeing 787 that I fly has an airfield approach design philosophy named ‘Integrated Approach Navigation’, or IAN. So I am routinely, as an ‘Ian’ found flying IAN approaches!
How much is the change of sound due to a change of room? Is the new setup made optimal with regards to speaker positioning and hifi racks, and other furniture?
I am using a Pink Faun LAN isolator. It is a kind of plug that sits in the back of my Atom HE and it ‘filters’ the LAN signal. Not sure how it works technically, but it works for me. And it is a relatively cheap solution.
Its a type of galvanic isolator.
Each of your ethernet device RJ45 ports have them, Atom, broadband hub, NAS, computer, LAN switch (if you have one)
Now your Atom has x2
A 5 metre connection between my NDS and ER switch was, until recently, routed via a similar ethernet wall socket with internal wiring of dubious quality.
In a moment of extreme tweakery, I decided a direct connection (i.e single BJ Cat 6 cable from switch to streamer) was needed.
This did provide an uplift in SQ, but also required drilling through one wall and one floor, and I now have ethernet cable running along a bathroom ceiling. So possibly not one for the faint hearted.
@Innocent_Bystander 2 of 4 ethernet cables are inside the walls. I’ve been thinking about the switch as well, but it’s brand new and won’t change it right now. I agree with your general analysis by the way.
My switch is a TP Link TL-SG3424P. The cable between the NDX2 and the ethernet wall socket (sorry I used the wrong word @james_n. @robert_h the photo you posted is indeed what I’m using right now) is a 10m Chord C-Stream. Others are 6-8m shielded Cat 6 cables (hopefully decent ones).
@Darkebear thanks for the suggestion, I think I might be able to find a little switch to try that out. According to what you say, also a good cable from the ethernet wall socket to the NDX2 could do the job, am I wrong?
@graham55 poor me with all thesee issues. By the way the old LAN did nothing wrong, I moved to another house so I had no choice.
@robert_h I’ve been struggling with my new room (see New room and lack of bass - #38 by Blacknote) but now everything is decently optimized, even though I’m trying to understand if it’s possible to do more. I started noticing this LAN problem after I optimized most things. The computer and NDX2 are connected to the internet, the router is connected to the TP Link switch.
@afgverhart Interesting tool, thanks! I’d be curious to try that out too.
@Skeptikal I’m pretty sure this isn’t due to the different acoustics thanks to the extensive tests I’ve done so far.
Somebody might be happy, I changed the title of my post
Wall sockets can be a real problem when not correctly installed.
I rewired a friends house a while back & couldn’t believe how bad the original wall socket wiring was, cable sleeves cut back numbers of inches with the wire pairs untwisted & hanging loose.
I suspect the CAT5 was performing like Cat2
