Ethernet over mains wiring -- any experience ?

Yes, I use it and it works very well for me.

However, your mileage may vary so to speak.

For it to work well the 'homeplugs' should reside on the same ring - performance is impaired if they are plugged into trailing sockets - sockets with mains filtering is a big no-no because these systems use an RF signal to transmit the data on many frequencies across the mains network which leads me to...

There has been some discussion about if these devices affect sound quality.

My own experience is that the system was not affected. Paul Stephenson [of Naim] has gone on record [on this forum] as saying that they affect sound quality.

'North of the Wall', the engineers of another well known brand do not seem to have found any problems. Maybe Naim engineers have better hearing (something many of us have long since suspected )

One other thing is that these things can cause a lot of trouble for local radio hams as they pollute the SW waveband.

So, use hard wiring if you can but otherwise it is an option and in my experience better than Wifi which suffers from drop-outs from time to time.

Many thanks for tthe very helpful reply.

Based on my own experience, I would advise that you keep away from the homeplugs. I tried it before, and found out that it made the music sound very dull since the network signals polluted the mains. But of course, you could try for yourself and see if it impacts the sound quality of your system.

The advice seems to be use a direct cable or go with wireless ..

I have wireless working at the moment [and I am quite happy with it] but I would prefer not to have the room full of microwaves [but of course everyone in the house has a mobile phone !!]

Jmaes H

The achieved audio quality of the ethernet-over-mains in your own house may depend on at least a couple of variables:-

- quality of the ring main wiring
- whether both plus on same main
- rated speed of the ethernet link.

I have been using an 80 mbps link for a year with an HDX; works fine for me except with remote 24 bit files when it stutters something chronic.

Have acquired a 200 mbps replacement pair of plus and will see if they make that material playable.

Until then I have a 2 TB Iomega USB drive next to the HDX for the hi-res FLAC files. Works OK, except I am not keen on leaving it permanently powered up.

By the way, some (maybe all!) of the FLAC files (24 as well as 16 bit) on the Bowers & Wilkins Society of Sound site are worth a listen and I have found play beautifully through the HDX and then into a Naim Audio DAC, which I am auditioning.

AdeF--

Are you saying that your Iomega USB drive is directly connected to the HDX (not through a network), and it works fine? Interesting. I tried using my HDX connected to a Maxtor drive a while back, with no success.

Sorry - been busy on other things.

Yes, the Iomega external drive works just fine. It's a 2 TB model and I plug it into one of the USB sockets on the rear panel of the HDX.

I use it e.g. to play Hi-res HDx material from Reference Recordings (which will not work (without stuttering) from my NAS drive upstairs that's connected by a 200 mbps Ethernet over the mains link).

Its an eGo desktop model (ruby red, if you ask). The only irritation is the fact that its power light is white and on top of the unit so quite distracting in a dark room.