Network optimization for serious streamers


In my ongoing experiments, now going on seven years, with network optimization for streaming I've discovered a number of optimizations that should work with any ethernet ISP.

 

I've tried a variety of ethernet cables, modems, routers, switches, FMC, ethernet filters, the following is what I've found to be most effective optimizations.

 

I'll start with ISP quality and speed. Recently I discovered 500mbps to be preferable to 300mbps. Along with upgrade in speed, modem capable of 1gb service replaced 600mbps, both have Broadcom chips and powered by same lps. Can't say which more responsible for improvement, speed or modem, presume speed has at least some role in ping time. As for ISP, there is importance in ISP server geographic location to you, shorter distances  means lower ping time. For information as to how ping time affects jitter-https://www.fusionconnect.com/speed-test-plus/ping-jitter-test

 

Now for modems,  modem close to audio system is most favorable, extending coax cable preferable to long ethernet cable. Coax more resistant to rfi and closer positioning to system means one can more easily afford top quality ethernet cable for modem to router connection. The modem should use Broadcom chipset vs. inferior Intel Puma, Broadcom chipset has lower jitter vs the Intel. Modem should be powered via external lps using quality DC and AC cables, lps to power conditioner for ultimate performance.

 

Following close positioning of modem to audio system, router should also be placed near modem in service of same advantage of making highest quality ethernet cable more affordable, in this case, modem to router and router to switches, streamers and NAS. Router should be powered with lps, this lps should be able to provide more amps than router requires in service of providing greater reliability, having lps with reserves of amperage means lps runs cooler, heat is enemy of reliability, longevity. As with modem, quality dc, ac cables and connection to power conditioner.

 

The next finding is new to me, provides very meaningful upgrade to streaming sound quality. Noise from wifi, injected both internally to router and externally with routers sitting close to audio systems has long been a concern to me. I have quality Trifield meter which measures rfi, router with operational wifi manufacture obscenely high levels of rfi, rfi is noise, noise is enemy of streaming at level we're talking about here. And its very likely the more wifi devices one has in home the higher the levels of rfi produced. This noise is then injected into following cables and streaming equipment. One may convince themselves FMC totally isolates this noise, and while correct, it doesn't mitigate the noise and masking going on within router. The only way to eliminate this noise is turning off wifi. And then, how to provide wifi for the many  wifi devices we have at home? The answer is to connect a second router to the primary router. The primary router will only provide ethernet for streamers, switches and/or NAS in audio system, also for the second router.  Second router provides wifi for the home, this scheme keeps vast majority of rfi out of audio system streaming chain. My own measurements find rfi significantly diminished in primary router, more than mulitiples of ten times lower vs wifi enabled. This was seamless install with the Netgear routers I'm using. There may also be value in provisioning higher quality routers. My new primary router, Netgear XR1000 is marketed as a gamer router, claims of lower ping time, latency, jitter vs other routers. Since my old router, Netgear RS7000 didn't have means to monitor ping time I can't provide evidence of this claim. Whatever the case, my XR1000 ping time test measurements are as follows, 25.35ms highest, 16.50ms lowest, this is A+ measurements against objective criteria. Ping time under load is download 25.93ms, upload 37.34ms, idle 17.31ms, this rates as A. My speed of 565gbps rates B grade, likely need 1gb service to get A here. At to how this all pertains to sound quality, adding up the upgrade in ISP speed and the off loading of wifi is without a doubt one of the most substantial, if not most substantial network upgrades I've experienced. While I  long considered my setup as having a vanishing low noise floor, with this setup I heard a new level of vanishing if such a thing is possible. Even more astounding was a more analog like presentation, while I wasn't aware of even the slightest digital presentation prior, this upgrade certainly exposed it was indeed there. It seems logical to conclude there has been some lowering of jitter here.

 

And then we come to the ethernet filter. I suppose audiophile switches can be considered as one, then we have actual filters such as Network Acoustics Muon, my JCAT Net XE and others. I continue to believe these necessary even with the all measures above.

 

Optical conversion is also valid approach post router. While I found generic FMC somewhat effective, at this point I prefer ethernet. On the other hand I've not yet tried optimizing a fiber solution, for example two Sonore OpticalModules, both powered by lps, further upgraded with Finisar optical transceivers.

 

Assuming one has high resolving audio and streaming systems the above network optimizations should provide for substantial sound quality improvements. In my system, perception of performers in room has been taken to a new level of intimacy, meaning a more emotional connection to the performers and performance.

 

At this point, I consider network has been fully optimized, the only upgrade I'm aware of would be ISP upgrade to 1gb.

sns

I decided to try some upgraded Ethernet cables after reading some of the posts here.  I ordered 3 Pangea SE Ethernet cables to replace my $8 Ethernet cables that go from modem to router, then router to FMC 1 and from FMC 2 to my LHY SW-8 network switch.  I already have a higher level AQ Ethernet cable from the network switch to my music server and decided to leave it in place.  The Pangea SE cables are about 5X the cost of basic cables and are constructed with silver plated Cardas wire.  Why not?  I already have added the fiber optics, upgraded SFPs in the FMCs and bought the audiophile network switch.  So far, I have received just one of the three cables.  One cable came Monday but the other two will not arrive until tomorrow.  So I placed the first cable between the 2nd FMC and the network switch on Monday.

I had a chance at a first listen last night with the first Pangea SE Ethernet cable in place.  So it had about 36 hours of run in time.  First impression was not good.  The music was annoyingly bright.  I thought maybe it is the silver plated wire, perhaps? Not enough run in time?  Then I thought to reverse the cable.  BAM!  The annoying brightness was gone.  My system now sounds right again.  I listened and enjoyed several songs.  I have no conclusion yet if this cable beats the $8 basic Ethernet cable.  I will reserve that judgement until the entire chain consists of the Pangea SE cables.  But I can definitely say that these cables are directional.  

@singingg 

So after reading your comments on Network cable and the ATT Router/ONT cable, I decided to use a spare Supra Cat8+ between the ONT and Router. Once the 8+ was in, the sound was always, but only, a little better than the stock ATT-supplied Network cable. After a few weeks, it didn't seem like it was doing all it should, or to say I didn't really like the sound. So, I reversed the direction of the 8+, and it became more natural and over the course of a week everything sounded as it should be - the sound opened up and the resolution was much greater being extended more on both the bottom and the top, a more realistic presentation. So I have duplicated your experience in the same ATT fiber network location and I'm glad you wrote about it. I've discovered I have a LinkUp 8 cable I can try in that position, but will wait until I'm needing a change, for now I just want to listen to music.

BTW, I found that LinkUp 8 needs a couple of weeks to burn in and settle. Even the Supra Cat8+ I wrote about above took a week to fully settle in once placed in the correct direction, and it already had thousands of hours on it (but had been in a box of cables for a year or two). So you may want to consider trying it again for an extended period. Anyway, enjoy and thanks!

@pokey77 Cool. The directionality thing is just something I stumbled onto by sheer chance. Just one reversed cable and your whole network is off. I hope others are testing their cables.

The Supra 8 just settled into my system and immediately sounded like a million bucks. I have sent the Linkup back for a refund. I am done with cabling!

I will probably cave in and order the iFi elite PS this week. It is the absolute last thing to do in my system. I will report back and let everyone know how it sounds.

@singingg 

Well then, I guess we both stumbled onto the directionality thing by sheer chance. I'm glad I read this thread.

System update. It is sounding sublime - and now the audiophile terms. The noise floor has dropped considerably and so you can really hear things not just more clearly, but more fully. There is better separation of the instruments and the background. With the reduced noise, there are significantly greater dynamics and a more complete and holographic sound. I was fairly sure that changing the cable that connects the AT&T ONT to the router would bring a decent change, but wow, it is a very substantial change indeed, and I'm loving it. I'm kind of wary about any more changes for a while as I've been through some weeks now with subpar sound quality. I'm so glad to be at this point now and when I think of my system, it makes me happy rather than stressed because it is not sounding its best.

Sorry I jumped to the end here without reading everything - how can I improve (tidy) up my networking to improve sound quality in this context:

Now I have done ’some’ tidying up but where further do I go - with the caveat that I must use Wi-Fi but fortunately Wi-Fi is an OK connection for an Auralic G1 streamer?

So far this is my ’networking’ setup:

ISP router >> ASUS RT-AC86U router configured as an AP >> wireless to the Auralic G1.

Note I have turned off all wireless activity in the ISP router (something mentioned here to reduce noise) - so the ASUS is the wireless work-horse.

The ASUS RT-AC86U was a recommended router on Auralics website.

I have access to Cisco and Meraki equipment plus SFPs from work - but would it be necessary in the above config (it might be to clear and reclock the signal further downstream I don’t know).

Comments very welcome and of course relevant to this post.