Connecting a streamer via an Ethernet cable


Is there a noticeable difference connecting a streamer directly to an External cable as opposed to WiFi? The reason I ask, is that doing so with my situation would require a fair amount of effort. But if it’s worth it, I’m willing to do it. Thanks.
z32kerber
+1 +1 what @jjss49 and @lalitk said.  

My older streamer has a provision with some streaming services where the music can be streamed from a handheld device-controller (iPad, Laptop, iPhone) -OR- another provision for streaming directly from the streamer itself with rj45 network connecter across a hard wired network. If the wireless network has any form of dropping (dropped ip packets), the signal seems more degraded at a lower transfer rate, buffering some, a little less transparent at times. Not all of the time, but some times. When it occurs on wireless, I will restart the app and wireless session, and it goes back to being okay till the next time there is a drop or degradation in signal. However, as soon as I shift to the hard-wired connection, the connection is more stable, rarely any dropped packets, the signal and sound does seem cleaner, deeper sound stage, and more detailed - more consistently. Study how Sonos worked around this some with their wireless devices and protocol, buffering design, etc. Its hard to tell for sure when jumping between tracks with hard-wired. Testing the same track over and over does tend to reveal better consistency of sound with a hard-wire connection. Best I can share, rechecking periodically fwiw.    
lalitk
... by going the ‘wired’ route you also eliminate RFI / EMI interferences ...
What makes you think wired connections are immune to RFI/EMI?
The reason I ask, is that doing so with my situation would require a fair amount of effort.


IIUC, This effort can be drastically reduced with a wifi extender. Cost is $30-60 and plug it in to the AC outlet. Of course make sure it has a Ethernet inlet. most have one. Some 2
“What makes you think wired connections are immune to RFI/EMI?”

@cleeds,

A conductive shield in a Ethernet cable reflects or conduct external interference away without affecting the signals of the internal conductor. Hence the shielded Ethernet cables protects signals from EMI/RFI over the length of the cable run resulting in faster transmission speeds and fewer data errors.

You may also know, fiber-optic cable network is impervious to EMI/ RFI and switch noise but it often requires conversion at some point cause majority of consumer grade streamers / routers do not have fiber optic jacks.
A couple of thoughts:
  • a mesh system may improve on a wi-fi extender (more expensive though) - I use a short Ethernet cable from a mesh satellite to stream to my second system and have had no operational problems whatsoever, but I have not critically listened to the wired vs. wi-fi SQ comparison
  • if worried about RFI/EMI, you could convert to fiber at your router, run fiber to your system, and then reconvert back to a short Ethernet cable - I have both but in direct comparison find the difference subtle if not indistinguishable