Dedicated cable modem for audio

[Xymox]

So I had a client make a understandable mistake. He hooked a Switch X directly to a cable modem and hooked his server and renderer to the switch X. The switch X has NAT so worked like a router no problem.

He tried to hook his house to the other port on the Arris S33 modem. This did not work.. I explained that cable co's only give you one IP for residential accounts and so you can only have one device connected.

He rearranged things and did cable modem S33 > Home router > Switch X > Audio gear..

He reported that his sound quality with the Switch X hooked directly to the modem with nothing else in the house hooked up sounded much better. It was still better then his prev switch, but the dedicated modem hook up was amazing..

So I just tried that myself. I have not only a S33 but I also have AT&T fiber. So I played with both fiber and docsis ( cable )....

So, he is right, a dedicated setup with its own modem is best for sure. WHY is a hard question to answer technically.

I also found that there were differences in fiber VS copper ( cable ).. SUrprizingly the S33 sounded better then the fiber BGW320-505. Which is not what I expected as the latency on the fiber connection is way better and jitter is lower. Not to mention the fiber modem is isolated. I feed both from old school restored Lambda linears.

So I wanted to post about this because if your serious about music rendering you should explore a dedicated connection VS plugging into your house network.

Others must have done this already right ? I just had not heard of anyone doing it.

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...I have cable/copper into the house, which serves everything requiring internet.

But...I also have a fiber service which is only used for audio. So 55 bucks a month for dedicated audio. Taiko server and iPad control "head" is the only thing on this line for Qobuz and local files.

Here, I find the dedicated fiber line to the *house* sounds best for audio, but I run Cat6 from modem to Taiko switch. ISP Modem is on LPS. And I have Taiko switch and DDC on LPS feeding that switch. A dedicated AC line is used for the network power; opposite phase as the audio.

I also have a modified (PF oxco) Buffalo switch between the modem and Taiko switch (copper in/out), but I should probably try removing that PFBuffalo, according to Emile.

I settled on this set-up after trying MM and SM fiber run to the Taiko switch, and BJC Cat6 and custom cryo-ed ethernet cable to the Taiko switch. I have swapped around and listened to several configs of the long (35') run from server closet to audio room. Some things I expected to be better were not, or not definitively, IMO. Really, until you try things in situ, you may not know what's best, or best for your environment/gear/ears.

Added benefit of two service providers: in the event of big outage, I could swap to run everything on one or the other ISP temporarily.

 

[vert]

Depends on the streamer.

If you have an Aurender that caches the entire stream before Qobuz playback, you probably won't be able to hear the difference between file playback and Qobuz. I couldn't hear the difference when I had an Aurender N20.

Obviously having an audiophile switch will create a moat and prevent noise from getting into the streamer.

If you have Lumin or another streamer that doesn't cache the stream, then it's going to very sensitive to all of these network optimizations (when you are streaming Qobuz).

 

[gionaz]

I have found a great benefit by moving my modem router fiber isp (mandatory, can not be bypassed) near the beginning of the path of liquid, before it was in another room and had to pass for 15 meters of copper cable cat7! Now the modem that brings internet through a network cable Ansuz arrives in another Netgear router that through another network cable Ansuz enters into a first switch Ansuz, then from this with another network cable Ansuz enters into a second switch Ansuz to end up in the Nuc where runs Rock for ROON! Previously I was using a windows PC which kept the ROON CORE via Afterdark fibre optic to the first switch with a mediaconverter Sonore in between (still with another Ansuz network cable)! better the current configuration with double routers, the first one (modem also) from the mandatory isp and the second one which manages the whole Netgear network! there is definitely room for improvement here!!!

 

[Boulder Bob]

...I have cable/copper into the house, which serves everything requiring internet.

But...I also have a fiber service which is only used for audio. So 55 bucks a month for dedicated audio. Taiko server and iPad control "head" is the only thing on this line for Qobuz and local files.

Here, I find the dedicated fiber line to the *house* sounds best for audio, but I run Cat6 from modem to Taiko switch. ISP Modem is on LPS. And I have Taiko switch and DDC on LPS feeding that switch. A dedicated AC line is used for the network power; opposite phase as the audio.

I also have a modified (PF oxco) Buffalo switch between the modem and Taiko switch (copper in/out), but I should probably try removing that PFBuffalo, according to Emile.

I settled on this set-up after trying MM and SM fiber run to the Taiko switch, and BJC Cat6 and custom cryo-ed ethernet cable to the Taiko switch. I have swapped around and listened to several configs of the long (35') run from server closet to audio room. Some things I expected to be better were not, or not definitively, IMO. Really, until you try things in situ, you may not know what's best, or best for your environment/gear/ears.

Added benefit of two service providers: in the event of big outage, I could swap to run everything on one or the other ISP temporarily.

Very interesting post - I wish I had the luxury of 2 different providers. When you mention "opposite phase" do you really mean the other "hot" wire coming into your service panel? I think you probably have single phase service coming to your house. What are the benefits of using the alternate connection for the network?

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...yes sir, I do mean the other leg of the 220v service (110 + 110) to the house. My thinking was to split up the various devices in the home and have the audio on the "quieter" leg.

That said, the load distribution should be balanced in a reasonable way. And there is the fact that any 220v appliance/device is using both legs, so the approach may be more theoretical than practical. But...can't hurt to do what you can!

 

[Boulder Bob]

...yes sir, I do mean the other leg of the 220v service (110 + 110) to the house. My thinking was to split up the various devices in the home and have the audio on the "quieter" leg.

That said, the load distribution should be balanced in a reasonable way. And there is the fact that any 220v appliance/device is using both legs, so the approach may be more theoretical than practical. But...can't hurt to do what you can!

when doing serious listening I turn off: hot tub, fridge, hvac, all dimmers, unplug any "ethernet over power line"