Ok now I am frustrated with streaming


Help me out here please. I was really enjoying getting into streaming. Just purchased a Node 2i 2 weeks ago and have been enjoying it. Testing Tidal and Qobuz, leaning toward Qobuz. I was testing both wifi and ethernet connection. I seemed to pick up some noise and distortion on what I thought was the ethernet so I have been listening on wifi. I really enjoy finding new music on the streaming service. Tonight I was enjoying Sierra Hull because I listen to a lot of Alison Krauss. I was listening to Sierra Hull's new 25 Trips album and got to track 7 Escape and I heard a bunch of static/distortion, almost like a blown tube, except I have solid state equipment. I switched to Tidal to see if it was a problem with the Qobuz stream and same thing. Hooked up my MacBook pro to rule out a problem with the Node 2i, same thing. Now I am listening to Clapton's Unplugged and I hear the same thing. Is it my internet? I have a brand new modem, a Motorola MB7621, and a brand new Asus AC3100 router. I did a speed test and we are getting 237 mbps. My daughter was watching Netflix on a TV upstairs at the time, when she was finished I did a reboot of the cable modem and reboot of the Node 2i and then it was fine after that. I listened for about an hour after that. Is it my internet speed? Do I need to call Comcast/xfinity and up my speed package? Is it something else? Its getting frustrating and its not supposed to be like that, I am at the point where I may just send the Node back on the return policy and stick with CD's. 
128x128jmphotography
I stream through spectrum and don’t have your issue but do have issues. I have run multiple speed tests at different times of the day and get results anywhere from 32 to 225. It is not just me but our entire neighborhood. We have had them out here many times and the only answer is we have an issue but they do not know how to fix it. You have to look at how US companies operate. They use outdated systems outdated equipment tell us and market and advertise it as the latest and greatest so they can charge us a higher price than we should have to pay for a system that is 10 years behind the rest of the world. This is the same and worse for your cell phone. Just look at the benchmark speeds that are published for other countries. It is not your modem it is not your router it is the system we have and nothing we can do about it.

@sgreg1, if you and your neighbors are not getting the contracted speed from your ISP, it is time to take it to the NEXT LEVEL.

Please check to see who is responsible for your ISP’s legal contract in your city.   In my city, it was the City Attorney.  Several years ago. I had similar ISP related problems in our neighborhood.  I called the City Attorney’s Office and explained the situation.  He asked me to document the facts and send him the information.  I put together a very detailed package that documented our problems, what we did, the ISP’s lack response, etc.  I included additional comments from my other neighbors.  I was very factual and provided all the necessary supporting material.   

His department began an investigation to see what was going on.  It took time, he asked for more information and eventually, our ISP problem was FIXED.   As a result of the investigation, the City decided to contract for additional ISP’s to provide its citizens additional ISP service choices.   For me, the best news, was that I dropped the bad ISP and switched to another ISP Service.

Obviously, this is not a short-term fix.   It will require lots of work, patience and extra efforts to get it done.   I was very lucky since my City Attorney understood the problem and was extremely helpful in working to get it solved.  I had also contacted other City Officials,  explained the issues I was having with the ISP and what I was doing about. They also reported they had ISP issues and that really helped my case.  There is no question in my mind that they contacted the City Attorney and that helped put the pressure on.

I encourage you to take this next step.  It will take time and patience, but it is well worth it.  As noted, you should work with your City Attorney (or another department), and other City officials, to get this issue resolved.   I suggest you start gathering the facts, include detailed documentation including comments from your neighbors and present your case.  I hope this helps.  


I use Amazon HD and download the songs to my pc. This way, I can play hi-res tracks with no internet at all. I still have access to the vast library, I just download a song/album when I find one I like. 
@ OP: As others have stated, digital data packages are not precisely controlled in the time domain. I had a similar problem with an Apple airport extreme WiFi router (airport express 'satellites' have no internal clock). The best explanation in my case was a clock locking issue at the DAC level. The DAC uses a digital buffer/minimal delay to sort out the time domain precisely. This buffer can be overwhelmed.
I transitioned to a mesh WiFi router (Lynksis) and never looked back. Works well with airplay, Chromecast, and perfectly with ROON even when multiple clients are active on the WiFi network. Specifically, transmitting using ROON via WiFi from a MacBook pro to an OPPO UDP 205 is slightly superior to Toslink or USB. USB introduces minimal noise.

Don't give up on streaming yet! Good luck!
Hi,

I share your frustration; I spent almost a year testing different options. I tried the famous brands: Auralic, Naim, Lumin, etc. Streaming is a great option if you have all working properly. You need to have a good streamer. I recommend trying this combo: https://www.smallgreencomputer.com/collections/audio-server/products/premier-server-player-combo-sonictransporter-i5-ultrarendu-7v-linear-power-supply?variant=12400215719970
My system:

1. PrimaLuna Dialogue Integrated HP

2. Sonic Transporter i5 and Ultra Rendu

3. Mutec REF 10 External Clock

4. Mutec MC3+ USB

5. Esoteric D-05 DAC

6. Nordost Qkore6 for grounding

7. Nordost: QB8 (1), QX2 (1) e QX4 (1)

8. Focal Utopia Headphones

9. Sonus Faber Cremona Speakers

10. Pair of REL S/5 SHO


 Now, after using I5+Ultra Rendu in mys system, I found my nirvana.

You'll need to buy also a better Ethernet Switch and better Ethernet cables (you'll find people saying that switches and cables would make no difference. Don't listen to them! They are wrong. I don't care that digital signals are 0s and 1s only, but sonically speaking there is a big difference when you have better Ethernet switch and cable. Don't just listen to me! Test and compare as I did).

Good luck