Effect of Internet Service Quality on Streaming?

@nyev I don’t see anything in recent posts as to whether you’ve gone back to your ISP to have your ONT checked. That’s the converter to change fiber to either coax or RJ45. Fiber itself doesn’t use a modem,

Your previous post said that you’re using the ISP provided fiber modem and wifi router. Is the modem truly a fiber to RJ45 or coax to RJ45 connection? If it’s coax to RJ45 then get the ISP to get you a connection into your house that’s an RJ45 ethernet connection (they can do this if the outside connection is an ONT panel that’s a Motorola or Calix which they can set to provide both). The problem with the coax is that it’s usually using the old RG6/RG11 that’s interconnecting throughout your house through a number of splitters. The ISPs usually like doing this because it means that they don’t have to rewire your house when they put the fiber in.

As far as the ISP provided router is concerned, dump it and get something decent. The ones provided by the ISPs are usually cheap (for them) Arris or Actiontechs that probably cost them about $2 each. Go buy a decent wifi router such as a Netgear Nighthawk X5400 or TP-Link Archer X5400 or a mesh system such as Netgear Orbi, Eero Pro6, or TP-Link Deco. You’ll probably find that this is where your problem was. I’m surprised that with all the money you’ve spent on filters, conditioners, and the like that you didn’t do this first.

like others have said in this thread, I think it must be a power issue as opposed to network.

That is where I was headed. I haven't had any comments regarding my comment on ev's, so let me elaborate. Where @nyev and I live in BC there is zero incentive for off-peak hours to charge ones electric car, unlike most states which have adopted time of use for electricity to attempt to shift the load on the grid and balance the system. Therefore, without incentive to change ones habits people will do what is most convenient- charge their car when they get home from work, the same time as they turn their electric heat on (there are many homes on the island without gas, and it has been cold in BC lately), turn the lights on, and start their microwaves, ovens, TV's, then put in a load of laundry etc. The reason for peak demand for electricity and the reason for the poor sound quality, I am assuming due to the increased noise on the lines moreso than actual reduced capacity- I think our infrastructure has eliminated the potential for brown-outs. Most or all here know about this, I am not saying anything you all don't know already, but maybe all aren't aware in my case at least when I plug in it is a 240/60amp breaker? Which is the same amount of electrical draw as 2 arc welders. Now imagine there are 3 neighbors on the same transformer as the OP, essentially 6 arc welders are being used the same time as he wants to listen to his tunes, and of course in addition to all of the other "peak use" electricity appliances listed above. What if it is 10 neighbors with ev's? Which is quite possible. It must have some effect on the quality of our electricity. The term "peak electricity use" did exist before electric vehicles, now it is even more of a factor.

Maybe grounding boxes will help, but that would be an expensive shot in the dark to hope it’s the solution! I’ll keep trying things.

It is definitely more cost effective to just not listen critically during 4-7 pm 😁

@mvanwoert  Google "Roon buffer size" and you'll find several useful discussions about this.

Open up the Roon ap, right click on your DAC / streamer and then scroll to the bottom and look under advanced options.

@nyev Have you considering running your system on batteries?   I have an Ecoflow Delta 2 Max and a Growatt 1300, (both are lithium iron phosphate with pure sine wave inverters) and I can run my system on them for over 24 hours before recharging.  

@tonnesen that is a very interesting option (running off of batteries).  Are there any downsides to the SQ vs other more traditional alternatives?  

I did read a report from a fellow Audiogoner who had much experience with conditioners before going to a Stromtank - which is a very, very expensive solution.  But even that he mentioned in a post that he felt there was some loss of dynamics.