New to streaming.

Posted by: Mand on 25 January 2015

Good evening gents.

I haven't been on here for many yeare due to having had kids etc and so not really used my hi fi.

Said kids are now older and streaming music which I have just taken notice of.

This has made me get back into music again, and much prefer the ease of listening to streamed rather than cd music.

So, I have accuired a used ndx and a zen vortex box (fanless design), and will be cd ripping asap.

Could I have some assistance on best set up, please?

 

The bt fibre modem and netgear router (wndr3700) is at the back of the house and hi fi in front room.

I intend to run cat 5e cable from back room/router port to front room and connect the cable to a network switch. From the switch I will run cables to ndx, Sky hd box, and ps4.

Questions are:

1 - Should I put the vortex box on hifi rack connected to network switch via cable, or leave it in back room connected directly to routers port with cable?

2 - Could the vortexbox be connected directly to the ndx via a cable as well as its router or switch connection, and would there be any benefit in that anyway?

3 - Where is best to get custom length cat5 with decent connectors?

4 - Network switch recommendations, and do I need one that senses cable length to save power?

5 - Would bog standard cat5 cable be ok for all the connections, or do I need something better from switch to ndx, and are ferrite clamps recommended?

 

Many question, but even after a full day searching this forum I still not sure, so hope you knowledgeable folk can help.

 

Many thanks

 

Mand

Posted on: 25 January 2015 by ChrisSU

Hi Mand

 

Sounds like you're along the right lines with a wired connection and a switch or 2. I started out with streaming in ignorance, and any recommendations I can give are partly based on advice from more technically knowledgable forum members than me......

 

1. I'd say the Vortexbox could go anywhere as long as it has a wired connection to the NDX. If it has a switch-mode power supply, it might be better to put it on a separate ring main, in case it causes interference problems. If it goes near the router, probably best to attach it via a switch, not direct to the router. Use your router to allocate the VB a fixed IP address.

2. The VB sends data to a streamer over your network, not directly.

3. Ordinary, cheap CAT5e will work fine, but there are plenty of 'audiophile' alternatives at any price imaginable. Audioquest Cinnamon in popular with some forum members, I use Chord C-stream. Lengths are usually off the shelf, so you just need to make do with what you can buy as far as I'm aware.

4. You need an unmanaged switch, I use a Netgear GS105, as recommended by the Naim tech support guys, and it has always worked flawlessly.  

5. Ordinary CAT5e will work fine to get you up and running at very low cost, but if you feel the urge to experiment, there are more expensive ones that will cure even the severest attack of upgraditis. If you have problems with interference, ferrites can certainly help and they aren't expensive.