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Ethernet vs 5G Streamer Tech Considerations for Sound Quality

Most audiophile publications say to hard wire ethernet for streamers but it seems to me if you have excellent reliable 5G (> 100 mbps) you avoid all the potential noise added by running ethernet cable and avoid buying special cables, switches, optical rendu etc.  I have read many threads here but not much addressing this. Lots of experience here with digital streaming so wanted open for discussion.

 I am running a Cary DMS-700 via 5G and am extremely pleased with the sound quality. I can’t find wifi max rate on Cary unit but it is MU-MIMO 5Ghz capable and connected to my fios 5G band.
jmbumgarner01
jmbumgarner01 OP
64 posts
 
Yes unit has antenna and signal is excellent. So you are saying antenna may pick up extraneous noise around the frequency it is designed for...definitely possible..although I am in a fairly uncongested area. Wonder how noise would compare with cable. Most of what I have read talks about the cables and noise and lots of people selling expensive ethernet cables. @eric squires, if ethernet is inherently balanced why all the $ spent upgrading wires, switches etc ?
thyname's avatar
thyname
3,107 posts
 
Ethernet cable is copper. Electricity can travel through copper. Along with noise. Two kinds of noise: Leakage—both high-impedance and low-impedance, and clock phase-noise. Ethernet transmission itself does not prevent the “trespassing” of these “noises”. Nothing magic about it. 
Really though, you have to experiment for yourself. Whichever sounds best to you. Experimenting for you requires nothing to be purchased. Zero cost experimentation 
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,413 posts
 
CD quality stream is 1.4Mbps.  4G is 100Mbps.  5G is 10Gbps.  The question is how you plan to feed it into DAC?
jmbumgarner01 OP
64 posts
 
The Cary unit has a R2R DAC in it that I am using so no digital cables needed. Thanks for info and understanding the question. Way more than enough capacity so seems like 5G would be preferable.

 I am  looking for technical reasons why ethernet would be better for sound quality than solid 5G. Aforementioned possible ota interference is one possibility. Can’t find much/any technically documented justification or comparisons.
thyname's avatar
thyname
3,107 posts
 
Experiment #1: plug Ethernet cable. Listen

Experiment #2: unplug Ethernet cable, connect via WiFi. Listen

Then use whichever method of connection you like more going forward. 
If you hear no difference, use whichever is most convenient for you.

That is all you need. All that you can do yourself. Why search for technically documented justification in the Internets?
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