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Comparing Powerline Ethernet to WiFi for streaming audio

Thought I would share my findings.
I have a ROON based music server system with Tidal and Qobuz streaming services. Using Small Green Computer’s SonicTransport i9 Optical as ROON Core, connected via optical cable to a Sonore Optical Rendu (powered by Sonore Linear Power Supply) acting as ROON endpoint. This then connects to Chord Blu Mk 2 via USB, which upsamples and connects to Chord DAVE DAC via dual BNC.
Until very recently, I was connecting my ROON Core to my cable modem/router using Google Mesh WiFi. I was and still is very happy with the sound quality. My audio system is too far from my cable modem to run an ethernet cable from cable modem/router to it. So, I relied on Google Mesh WiFi with a seperate pod situated close to the ROON Core and connected via ethernet. The Google Mesh pod itself had a linear power supply instead of the stock wall wart.
But I just tried a Powerline Ethernet adapter. This uses the home’s internal power cables to route ethernet from one room to another. I always thought that running digital data on power cables was going to be noisy. I bought a NetGear Powerline 1200 (1200Mbps speed). There are more expensive and newer powerline ethernet models available up to 2000Mbps speed. But these come with dual ethernet ports and pass through filtered power outlets. I though for dedicated audio purposes, better to keep it simple and minimize electronics.
Bottom line, I was blown away by the improvement in audio quality of the NetGear Powerline Ethernet connection over the Google Mesh WiFi connection. Mind you, I was very happy with the quality from the Google Mesh kit but the NetGear Powerline ethernet kit was clearly better.
The sound quality improvement was immediate and very evident. More space between instruments and notes. Smoother, more image depth and more air around the notes especially the trailing edges. So, no doubt, the Netgear Powerline 1200 was far superior to the Google Mesh WiFi. I then swapped the Netgear for a similar powerline ethernet product TP-Link AV600. This was recommended by Small Green Computer. The TP-Link is smaller and has 2 pin power prongs. The Netgear Powerlines has 3 pin power prongs, so it has a ground connection to the power outlet. I found the TP-Link to take a step backward in sound quality. The image depth decreased. Soundstage was flatter and there is less air and space between notes and instruments. The TP-Link Av600 was sounding a lot closer to the Google Mesh WiFi. Just my observations, FWIW.
ddriveman
fastfreight
798 posts
 

I have a relevant situation.  In my vacation home I have no Ethernet wiring past my modem location.  I have installed an Eero pro 6 mesh system with base and two extenders.  One extender is in my audio room, where I have a WiFi connected Auralic Altair G1.1 streamer / DAC.

Since the Eero extender is located close to my equipment, I decided to try plugging the Altair into the WiFi extenders Ethernet port.  I assume this would be called internet over power???

The result was much improved sound.  I then swapped in a better Ethernet cable and was again rewarded with improvement.  I do believe the last Ethernet cable goin into your streamer or DAC should be of quality.

 

 

boulder_bob's avatar
boulder_bob
25 posts
 

I don't think the TP-Link AC1200 uses the power line - it seems to be using the receptacle as a convenience.  I may try one to see if I can hear a difference 

soix
9,530 posts
 

I don't think the TP-Link AC1200 uses the power line - it seems to be using the receptacle as a convenience.  I may try one to see if I can hear a difference 

@boulder_bob  You may be right but not sure it really matters.  I think the main benefit is in relieving the streamer of using its Wi-Fi receiver that for whatever reason (low quality, extra processing, noise, all of the above?) results in notably better sound quality.  Definitely use a decent Ethernet cable though because they do matter.  FWIW. 

mikhailark
278 posts
 

Wow how much ADO about same bits. Is your WiFi not capable of copying Word files or printing documents? If it does, then there is no difference with Ethernet. Networks are designed to deliver information with zero loss. Over cables, satellite, fiber, wired, wireless.

soix
9,530 posts
 

Is your WiFi not capable of copying Word files or printing documents? If it does, then there is no difference with Ethernet. Networks are designed to deliver information with zero loss. Over cables, satellite, fiber, wired, wireless.

@mikhailark Absolutely!!! There’s no difference between any digital transmission whatsoever because it’s all ones and zeros so what could possibly go wrong and there’s no possibility whatsoever of any variability or error in any digital signal. Of course transmitting text documents is identical to audio signals!!! How could that possibly be any different? 🙄🙄🙄 Oh wait — jitter and timing for just one thing. Does jitter and timing affect text transmission? Uh, I think not. If you don’t think digital clocks and timing have any impact on sonic results in audio you are in the extreme minority here and are ignoring tons of research and empirical studies that show the contrary. Bits are not bits when it comes to audio, and there are multiple factors that can influence what we ultimately hear in digital audio from filters to cables, clocks, shielding, and everything in between. That you refuse to accept the research or hear the differences is on you but keep preaching your ill-informed, tin-eared doctrine if you must.  The rest of us know — and hear — better. 

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