Streaming, Getting the Signal, Then What?


I feel so stupid not getting the streaming thing though at almost 70 years old I have moved more toward digital then any time previously.  My PS Audio AirLens into a PS Audio DirectStream DAC MK1 gets its signal from a Netgear Nighthawk CAX80 modem/router purchased in Jan. '22.  I know I get a signal. I hear music play. Is this Netgear product better than the freebie that the ISP provider installs?  I think so. But following discussion FORUM I tend to think I may be able to do better, maybe?

So chime please as to what perhaps I should considered considering my AirLense & MK1 DAC. PLEASE, do not tell me why what I have could be so much better if.... This post presumes I have the equipment I have. From modem/router to sources is a high end AudioQuest ethernet cable product. That also is out of the equation for whomever wants to opine as to my cable choice.

Recommendations please.  If it matters the sources feed into a PS Audio BHK Signature pre, then into a pair of PS Audio M1200 monoblocks.  Speakers are Ohm Walsh Tall 3000. Love love love the flexibility I get from omni-directionals.  O.K., you can share your thoughts about my Ohms. But budget doesn't allow MBL or German Physiks.  Thanks one and all.

128x128veemike

The newer one on the block is the smoothlan, also a money back guarantee. I haven't tried it yet, but for under $300 it is a no-brainer. 

Thanks tshark, mclinnguy and nigeltheflash. This is exactly what my OP requested; working with what I already have massaging my source/stream into my AirLense. 

@veemike 

You are making my life a bit easier ( also at 70 years of age ) as I am in the same situation and looking to improve my digital streaming environment with some solid gear in place - cabling, streamer, DAC.  I have watched a number of videos on this and sought out and read most of the posts here on potential routes to follow.  I cant offer advice yet but can confirm the path I am heading down as it follows a similar thread to what @tshark and the others you mentioned above have suggested.  My approach is three pronged with LPSU's, a switch/switches, and some type of filter.  I ordered last week an LHY LPSU for my router and am looking next to add a switch - something like the DLink or the Zyxel mentioned in the post above.  This is an inexpensive way to see how the switch works in the chain.  If this provides some improvement, I am than willing to invest in a switch such as the LHY SW6 or similar.  Lastly I will look at the various ethernet filters - something like the Etheregen, Smoothlan, or possibly a bit pricer Network Accoustics network filter.  Taking this approach I can see how each step impacts the streaming and its a somewhat minimal investment vs new components.  Not offering "coaching" but my 70 year thoughts as to what you are thinking through.  Good luck and thanks for the thread! 

 

I am over 70 as well and what I do not want to spend my time screwing around with electronics… and especially not the network (I was in IT most of my career). Just buy a better streamer. A great streamer will isolate you from the network. I have swapped enough routers and extenders and Ethernet regenerators. I just have great streamers. My Aurrender on my main system sounds as good as my great $45K vinyl leg. Life is too short to waste time stringing stuff together to improve the network (at least for me, I am not bored) when I can just have one good streamer.

@ghdprentice +1

all you need with a good streamer is basic solid network setup which is either hard wired from router, mesh or extender with a good Ethernet cable. I use amazon EERO with Purist Audio Ethernet cable and iFi LAN iSilencer passive filter between the Purist and Aurender N200. I keep the iFi filter in mostly because, inlike the fiber optic converters and the Network Acoustics Eno Streaming System that I owned, it doesn’t hurt anything and it’s cheap. Not even sure it improves sound quality as I’ve compared with and without numerous times and can barely tell it’s there on some recordings. 
The Purist Ethernet cable is a small but audible improvement in sound quality. Less so with Aurender than with other streamers I had due to Aurender caching data to its built in internal SSD that helps clean everything up.

But some people like to tinker with the network stuff as it’s a low hanging fruit that’s entertaining and cheap compared to getting a proper streamer. To each his own. 

Check out Small Green Computer and get an FMC bundle for $99 on sale now.  It turns your noisy cable into fiber optical that will clean up the noise.  A cheap solution that works.