Tried comparing wireless to ethernet cable

I should think so, HX is not woreless so it will be silent.

I remain sceptical about the detrimental effects of wireless. I'm using the Squeezebox's big brother the Transporter and have always used it wirelessly with no issues.

quote:

Originally posted by DaveBk:
I remain sceptical about the detrimental effects of wireless. I'm using the Squeezebox's big brother the Transporter and have always used it wirelessly with no issues.

I've always preferred wired on the better setups I've experimented with.

Curiosity got the better of me and I followed the link... now I definately think wireless is best!

I doubt the network packets are any different, but the possible radio interference is a likely ffect - which would be very system dependent. Component locations, wire and cable dressing matter, and whether the wireless transmitter tuns off in presence of a cable.

So try it and let your ears be the judge. I prefer using wired. At first I could not tell difference, but a year later I was surprised at the difference Not sure what else might have been different, but I did have a better DAC and system more "dialed in". YMMV.

Charlie

I doubt wireless sounds worse, but distributing quality audio over wireless is generally a recipe for disaster! Drop outs, dramas abound over wireless.

Mind you if you experience none of these problems don't say a word. You'll jinx it!

quote:

I doubt the network packets are any different, but the possible radio interference is a likely ffect - which would be very system dependent. Component locations, wire and cable dressing matter, and whether the wireless transmitter tuns off in presence of a cable.

Hit the nail on the head.

Slightly off-topic, a couple of questions from a network novice - I'm intending to store music on a NAS disk, into a Mac Min and thence to Lavry/552.

I'm trying to work out where best to position said disk, so what's the maximum length of CAT5 I can go to before compromising sound? and what's the difference between CAT5 & CAT6 please?

I accept that a wired solution is going to be better than wireless.

quote:

Originally posted by tonym:
I'm trying to work out where best to position said disk, so what's the maximum length of CAT5 I can go to before compromising sound?

We have a Netgear ReadyNAS, which is a fantastic piece of kit, but it is somewhat noisy, so you should put it somewhere where it is not going to be anoying, it is also preferable if it has adequate ventilation ie, not in the bottom of a cupboard. The ReadyNAS also has a small LED screen which you will need to be able to read from time to time. We have put ours in an upstairs study next to the family computer and router. Therefore, we only need a standard patch cable to connect the NAS to the router. We use the family computer to "control" the NAS since it's the most convinient, but I think it can be accessed by any computer on the network.

We have about 12m of cable between the router and the hifi (Linn DS in our case), but at work, I've run network cables using external quality shielded CAT5 cable to a separate building over 40m from the main building with no apparent problems - this is for general office networking duties incl. printing and internet access etc, I'm not sure if it would affect a hifi quality signal?

Tony - Ethernet can run up to 100m without any problems. Just use decent screened CAT6 cable and all will be well. Mine just pops out of the wall next to my Virgin cable connection and then follows that cable route around the outside of the house to the study where my Nas, Switch, Modem and Wireless Router live. I think mine was 30m in the end.

James

Ethernet over Cat5 will be in spec. up to 100M, so you should be alright distance wise.

Roy.

Regarding my post above, james n has just reminded me about the switch, which I forgot about and sits between the router and the NAS. As with James, the NAS, switch, ADSL wireless router/modem etc all sit next to each other in the study upstairs. Incidentally, I have actually run 3 cables to the lounge, one for the Hifi, one for the Netgear video streamer and one as a general network point to plug in the laptop when ripping from the laptop as this is faster than using wireless, although either works perfectly well.

Sorry to hijack this thread, and thanks for all the help chaps!

Oh, and forgive my ignorance but what's the switch for please? And one other thing... Is it possible to run a single length of CAT5 from router to some sort of splitter, so I could have two or three leads coming out to go to other things?

quote:

Originally posted by tonym:
Sorry to hijack this thread, and thanks for all the help chaps!

Oh, and forgive my ignorance but what's the switch for please? And one other thing... Is it possible to run a single length of CAT5 from router to some sort of splitter, so I could have two or three leads coming out to go to other things?

Tony that is what the switch is in effect - a splitter - you could use a hub (which is simpler but has limitations). Some routers contain hubs so you don't need a splitter/switch.

I use a combined switch/firewall/intrusion prevention system on my network that automatically blocks access to dodgy Internet sites (phishing, malware, spyware etc), but that is because I'm paranoid.

ATB Rotf

Tony

As ROTF says the switch is effectively a splitter. My NAS works without the switch, by just plugging it straight into one of the ports on the ADSL router, but I needed more ports anyway and I was advised to use a switch which is dedicated to devices which stream from the NAS. My router is a standard 4 port type, one of which is used to connect to the principle computer and once you have plugged the NAS in it only leaves two spare (and I have 3 devices I stream to, so I use a 4 port switch which is dedicated to the streaming devices.

Regarding your other point, yes I am sure you can do what you suggest, as we have three computers at work running off one cat5 cable, but I didn't wire this myself so I've no idea how it was done.

Gary

quote:

.....and what's the difference between CAT5 & CAT6 please?

CAT6 is certified at higher data rates - gigabit ethernet. It uses slightly thicker wire, and a plastic former to keep the 4 twisted pairs of wire stable and in the same relative position.

OK, that all makes sense now. Thanks chaps!

An german hifi-magazine has tested ethernet wires depending how they "sound"
The results:
the 3 best have been: Oehlbach Network Pro Cat7,
then Sommercable Mercator Pur Cat 6 and Monster Adv. High Speed Cat 6.
They write the sound difference has been big to the bad ones like z.B. Hama Cat5e or Sommercabel Mercator Pur cat 5b.

Oh no, let's not go there...

quote:

Oh no, let's not go there... Frown

I didnt wrote, that i agree with it

quote:

Originally posted by themrock:
An german hifi-magazine has tested ethernet wires depending how they "sound"
The results:
the 3 best have been: Oehlbach Network Pro Cat7,
then Sommercable Mercator Pur Cat 6 and Monster Adv. High Speed Cat 6.
They write the sound difference has been big to the bad ones like z.B. Hama Cat5e or Sommercabel Mercator Pur cat 5b.

Here we go again. Next we'll be getting Naim HiCat

I suppose the patch leads and RJ45 outlet boxes etc all make a difference also?

It's more likely down to susceptibility of the cable to picking up EMI and it's effect on the equipment its connected to rather than any 'audible' differences between the cable. SPDIF signals i can see an issue with digital cable quality, Ethernet packets i cannot.

James

Too Late! The "cat" is out of the bag!

Next one will need a Powerline for the router...

Charlie

I can't hear any difference from my music streamed wireless, internal HD or an external HD connected through USB, as far as I know data packets are data packets, if they would be any way affected when transmitted then I suppose some kind of error or corrupted file message would appear...?
Sound device is another story, this has to transform data in a digital audio signal and stream it to another device.