I am over 70 as well and what I do not want to spend my time screwing around with electronics… and especially not the network (I was in IT most of my career). Just buy a better streamer. A great streamer will isolate you from the network. I have swapped enough routers and extenders and Ethernet regenerators. I just have great streamers. My Aurrender on my main system sounds as good as my great $45K vinyl leg. Life is too short to waste time stringing stuff together to improve the network (at least for me, I am not bored) when I can just have one good streamer.
Streaming, Getting the Signal, Then What?
I feel so stupid not getting the streaming thing though at almost 70 years old I have moved more toward digital then any time previously. My PS Audio AirLens into a PS Audio DirectStream DAC MK1 gets its signal from a Netgear Nighthawk CAX80 modem/router purchased in Jan. '22. I know I get a signal. I hear music play. Is this Netgear product better than the freebie that the ISP provider installs? I think so. But following discussion FORUM I tend to think I may be able to do better, maybe?
So chime please as to what perhaps I should considered considering my AirLense & MK1 DAC. PLEASE, do not tell me why what I have could be so much better if.... This post presumes I have the equipment I have. From modem/router to sources is a high end AudioQuest ethernet cable product. That also is out of the equation for whomever wants to opine as to my cable choice.
Recommendations please. If it matters the sources feed into a PS Audio BHK Signature pre, then into a pair of PS Audio M1200 monoblocks. Speakers are Ohm Walsh Tall 3000. Love love love the flexibility I get from omni-directionals. O.K., you can share your thoughts about my Ohms. But budget doesn't allow MBL or German Physiks. Thanks one and all.
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@ghdprentice +1 all you need with a good streamer is basic solid network setup which is either hard wired from router, mesh or extender with a good Ethernet cable. I use amazon EERO with Purist Audio Ethernet cable and iFi LAN iSilencer passive filter between the Purist and Aurender N200. I keep the iFi filter in mostly because, inlike the fiber optic converters and the Network Acoustics Eno Streaming System that I owned, it doesn’t hurt anything and it’s cheap. Not even sure it improves sound quality as I’ve compared with and without numerous times and can barely tell it’s there on some recordings. But some people like to tinker with the network stuff as it’s a low hanging fruit that’s entertaining and cheap compared to getting a proper streamer. To each his own. |
@ghdprentice Absolutely agree as a fellow 70 year old to your sage advice re getting a really good streamer. You in fact influenced me earlier this year and I ended up investing more and upscaling my original plan - purchased an Aurender N200. However, being a bit curious I am adding a quality LPSU to my router, which arrives next week. I will be interested if I can hear any difference and report back. Not a big investment but would urge those with an entry level streamer to put their dollars in upgrading at the streamer level first. |
Adding and LPSU is news to me. But consider I run a dedicated 8 gauge home run into PS Audio Power Port II outlet which has a PS PowerPlant 15 plugged into that. And my modem/router in the next room is also fed by a dedicated 12 gauge home run. Between the wall socket and the modem/router is a Panamax MR4000 line conditioner and surge protector. I've got to think I have this pretty well handled. |
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