EVERYTHING in the digital streaming chain is important for good SQ. The combination of noise - conducting EMI and radiating EMI - distorts the audio signal.
It’s well known that the digital front-end (modem-router-access point-switch-etc) carries noise along with the signal - aka 'conducting EMI'. It’s also well known that these same components emit EMI from their housings – aka 'radiating EMI'. Lesser known is that the digital cables themselves radiate EMI. It contaminates the other cabling and components. This affects the SQ. IMHO, it’s important to have good shielding for ethernet cables, digital power cords, umbilical cords.
Cleaning up the noisy signal upstream will improve the SQ downstream. A blacker background will yield better tone & timbre - along with a deeper sound stage.
My modem/router/WiFi access point are in a utility room - about 25 feet from my system. These upstream components have been constantly tweaked over many years. Quality cabling, LPS’s, power conditioning, filters, footers, etc.
When I first started streaming, a subtle change could be heard when the separate modem and the separate router were put on different shelves at different heights - and a little further away from each other. it became apparent that radiating EMI was a concern. Unfortunately, the placement of the components was limited by the shelf space and cable length. I wish I had more of each.
More recently, I replaced an Acrolink shielded power cord with an upgraded Purist Audio Design power cord - with proprietary Contego shielding. The improvement in SQ was substantial. Apparently, not all shielding on cabling is equal.
I’m a big fan of Sablon Audio’s 2020 Ethernet cables. Have two. They are designed well, shielded well & sound great! I also love my modified Fidelizer AirStream WiFi. So, I decided to pass on any optical conversion since my streaming configuration sounds really good as is.
Keetakawee, the owner of Fidelizer Audio, recommends that the Airstream WiFi be used as an access point after the Netgear Nighthawk router. So, all of my noisy household computer devices are connected to the Netgear router via WiFi. My Auralic Aries streamer is the only component connected to my AirStream via WiFi.. In other words, the Airstream handles audio-only traffic.
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Everybody has their own recipe for their streaming chain. Here’s mine. (The transmission side.)
Wall Outlet → Active AC Balanced Power Conditioner → Passive AC Filtering Power Conditioner → Netgear Nighthawk Modem (w/LPS)
→ Network Acoustic AG Eno filter → Sablon Audio 2020 ethernet cable → Netgear Nighthawk Router (w/LPS)
→ Network Acoustic AG Eno filter → Sablon Audio 2020 ethernet cable → Fidelizer AirStream WiFi (w/battery-power - discussed here.)
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Power Cables:
2 Purist Audio Design Aqueous Aureus
1 Purist Audio Design Canorus
2 Synergistic Research Element Copper
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Here’s a link to my Virtual System:
