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Help me understand better solutions for ethernet

I've been reading quite a bit lately here and elsewhere about ethernet cables picking up noise and how to mitigate that. The three main options I've come across seem to be:

1. An audio-grade switch box like Uptone's etherREGEN that uses their "moat" technology to clean/block noise.
Pros: fairly straightforward
Cons: extra gear in the chain

2. Converting the ethernet to optical to block the noise such as the direction Small Green Computer takes.
Pros: optical blocks the hash carried by ethernet
Cons: There's only one streamer/dac that I know of (Lumin X1) that allows for Optical in so again even more gear in the chain to convert to optical then convert back to feed ethernet to the steamer/dac.

3. Wifi - just go wireless and remove the ethernet cable completely (well mostly). 
Pros: Certainly the cheapest, easiest and tidy route
Cons:???

Very curious to hear from others your ACTUAL experiences (not your theories based off god know what...) 
128x128mcslipp
mike_in_nc
1,147 posts
 
My ACTUAL experience is that it’s not a problem. I run Ethernet from a TP-Link managed switch through wall cavities to my streamer. I put an EMO Ethernet filter in the line -- no audible difference. (I kept it for its surge protection.) I’ve also compared WiFi to Ethernet (on the Auralic Aries G1) and found no audible difference.

I’ve moved my speakers 6 inches -- difference! Added acoustic treatment -- difference! But Ethernet tweaking, IMAE, has not proved of any value.
tuberist
951 posts
 
Run a quality shielded Ethernet cable
jond's avatar
jond
5,794 posts
 
mcslipp I would think living in a rural area on top of a mountain that you likely face fewer extraneous noise issues than a lot of us.  I noticed, in a noise rich urban environment, a very slight improvement moving to a better shielded, though non-audiophile, Cat8 ethernet cable. I find a wired connection to also sound slightly better though it's a subtle difference. I've been curious about those swtiches also but have yet to try one.
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