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Comparing Powerline Ethernet to WiFi for streaming audio

Thought I would share my findings.
I have a ROON based music server system with Tidal and Qobuz streaming services. Using Small Green Computer’s SonicTransport i9 Optical as ROON Core, connected via optical cable to a Sonore Optical Rendu (powered by Sonore Linear Power Supply) acting as ROON endpoint. This then connects to Chord Blu Mk 2 via USB, which upsamples and connects to Chord DAVE DAC via dual BNC.
Until very recently, I was connecting my ROON Core to my cable modem/router using Google Mesh WiFi. I was and still is very happy with the sound quality. My audio system is too far from my cable modem to run an ethernet cable from cable modem/router to it. So, I relied on Google Mesh WiFi with a seperate pod situated close to the ROON Core and connected via ethernet. The Google Mesh pod itself had a linear power supply instead of the stock wall wart.
But I just tried a Powerline Ethernet adapter. This uses the home’s internal power cables to route ethernet from one room to another. I always thought that running digital data on power cables was going to be noisy. I bought a NetGear Powerline 1200 (1200Mbps speed). There are more expensive and newer powerline ethernet models available up to 2000Mbps speed. But these come with dual ethernet ports and pass through filtered power outlets. I though for dedicated audio purposes, better to keep it simple and minimize electronics.
Bottom line, I was blown away by the improvement in audio quality of the NetGear Powerline Ethernet connection over the Google Mesh WiFi connection. Mind you, I was very happy with the quality from the Google Mesh kit but the NetGear Powerline ethernet kit was clearly better.
The sound quality improvement was immediate and very evident. More space between instruments and notes. Smoother, more image depth and more air around the notes especially the trailing edges. So, no doubt, the Netgear Powerline 1200 was far superior to the Google Mesh WiFi. I then swapped the Netgear for a similar powerline ethernet product TP-Link AV600. This was recommended by Small Green Computer. The TP-Link is smaller and has 2 pin power prongs. The Netgear Powerlines has 3 pin power prongs, so it has a ground connection to the power outlet. I found the TP-Link to take a step backward in sound quality. The image depth decreased. Soundstage was flatter and there is less air and space between notes and instruments. The TP-Link Av600 was sounding a lot closer to the Google Mesh WiFi. Just my observations, FWIW.
ddriveman
david_ten
5,480 posts
 
@veroguy You are welcome. Glad it was helpful. It’s a great topic and thread.

By sheer coincidence / luck I swapped out my Cox Router for the Arris SB8200 cable modem (the one the OP of that thread recommends highly) prior to the start of his thread.

I’m using Netgear’s Orbi Pro Mesh Router and Satellite to separate the incoming signal gear area from the audio room area.

The Arris and the Orbi Pro Primary (router) are powered off of a HDPLEX LPS with custom DC cables. I’m also using a basic power supply/conditioner for that area.

The Orbi Pro Satellite (dedicated to the Audio System / wired) is powered off of a Keces P8 LPS with a higher level custom DC cable. Both are on SR's Tranquility Base. The Keces runs off of my SR PowerCell, and is grounded. I need to get a cable to ground the Orbi Pro.

FYI: A possible downside with a cable modem is the frequency of firmware updates via Cox, in my case (or your ISP). I investigated the ability to do so myself, but it would have required a Business (and Higher Level) Account with Cox. Since we are moving, I didn’t push that button.
arafiq's avatar
arafiq
1,730 posts
 
Thanks everyone for responding to my question. I have decided to go with option #1: Modem >> Router >> switch >> one line going to Apple TV (which will be replaced with a better streamer soon), and another line from the switch going to Bluesound. Planning to set it up this weekend.

As the next step, I will look into adding one or more LAN isolators. That was a great suggestion and a good read. Thank you for the info.
david_ten
5,480 posts
 
@arafiq   Good to hear you've chosen a direction. Looking forward to hearing about how it goes.
Post removed 
ddriveman OP
171 posts
 
Further to my original post on the NetGear Powerline 1200 (1200Mobs). I decided to try other powerline ethernet adapters. Thanks to Amazon, I ordered the Zyxel G.hn 2400 wave 2 powerline adapter. This is the fastest powerline adapter I can find 2400 Mbps) and uses latest technology G.hn. I also ordered the TP-Link AV2000  (2000 Mps). Both the Zyxel and the TP-Link have pass through filtered power socket and 3 prong sockets.
Note that I am on COX ISP with 1000 Mbps service although the max speed I can get is around 750Mps only. So even my NetGear Powerline 1200 is theoretical already exceeding what my ISP can provide.
Findings:
1) Zyxel G.hn 2400. At first, I thought this was sounding better. It seems cleaner, quiter, more focussed. But further listening showed that it truncated the trailing edges, less air, smaller soundstage. It sounds flatter and more "hi-fi" but less organic, less natural than the NetGear 1200. When I switched back to the NetGear 1200, I heaved a sigh of relief. The music was flowing better, wider+deeper soundstage and more air with better timbre and texture. So the Zyxel is being returned.
2) TP-Link AV2000. I was not able to connect this to my music server. For some unknown reason, my music server won't sync to the TP-Link although I confirmed that internet was connected and present. The ethernet sockets on the TP-Link seemed tighter/smaller than normal. My audiophile ethernet cables have large connecters and don't have a definite click when inserting. It's probably something to do with these ethernet sockets. I was not going to try to listen to it with standard ethernet cables. So, the TP-Link is bring returned 
Finally, I have also moved my cable modem, wifi router and ethernet switch to a audiophile linear power supply from iFi iPower power supplies which yielded a small sound improvement. This was done before reviewing the powerline adapters. FWIW

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