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Sound Quality and Verizon FIOS Fibre Optic Internet

I am hearing a compromise in clarity when running my audio stream using the router provided by Frontier, which is Verizon FIOS (fibre). I’ve tested this, comparing the stream running from my iPhone connected using the hotspot feature to my MacBook Air on my T-Mobile data plan. The stream running this way is clearer and more resolved. It is more noticeable in my circumstance because the setup is very resolving. I here the same thing when listening on my iPhone with headphones (either wired or wireless EarPods). Switching from the stream run over WiFi then over T-Mobile LTE there is an instant improvement in resolution and absolute clarity: Any opinions, reasons why, similar experiences and suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

Best,
AK
4afsanakhan
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
Elliott, thanks for sharing. The question always is, could it sound better? 

1. Verizon wall panel
2. coax from wall panel to router with wall wart transformer power.
This is where all the noise happens. I forgot about the Verizon wall panel, so there's possibly some EMI added to the mix.

I believe you can benefit from dumping the router's wall-wart and adding an LPS. There are some good units in the $200 range. Removing SMPS power supplies really does improve SQ.


lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
you are saying that the clearly better sound quality streamed from my LTE network as opposed to the Frontier / Arris router / FIOS is because of RFI / EMI? It does sound plausible.
That's my take on your situation. Fios is bringing so much noise into the house. It's possible the Fios wall control unit may use some type of noise reduction, but the RFI produced by the router is so high. 
I'm not a tech who knows about broadband, but it's plausible LTE is a cleaner signal.



lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
Elliott, BTW, I'm using the Brickwall because it was a spare and just sitting in my closet. 
Two recommendations:
1. Any passive power conditioner with good RFI/EMI reduction will help the router. Also, the router will no longer be using the cheap wall-wart for power.

2. Do not have your modem/router plugged into any of the circuits that your audio system uses. Don't let the noise contaminate your audio through the AC.



bigby
150 posts
 
Would something like this help?  https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/dxe-iso-plus-2
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
AK, what DAC are you using?
What does your system consist of?


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