Upcoming Move - Questions Ethernet Cable, Modem/Router, Ethernet Run & Electrical


My head hurts thinking through the options and alternatives I am facing in moving my audio system into a home we are remodeling a few hundred miles away.  I will be moving all the components myself.  I would really appreciate your thoughts on an efficient set up that does not impact the quality of my system and especially the digital steaming.  I am pretty well dialed in at my present location with a large AV closet ( 12'X10' ) that is heated/cooled and has the internet coming in with associated wiring for the modem and router.  

Quick overview - I have in the new home a good location for all components determined . The electrician is putting in a dedicated line/outlet thats a few feet from all the devices - amp, preamp, streamer, DAC, turntable, various power supplies for devices, power strip and surge protector.  There is a 15' wall with bookcases built in on either side and a large window in the middle.  Under the window and connecting the bookcases is a built in bench seat with accessible storage space that connects to either side and it has a hinged top - so I can run cabling the length of the entire wall that is hidden.  The speakers will be around 12' apart on either end.  With this setup the internet line is coming into the bookcases on the right side and that is where the present combination modem/router is now located.  On the far left side wall by the bookcase is where the new power/outlet is being run ( due to access to the panel downstairs ) and where I will have a wooden three shelf rack for the components.  Hope this helps you visualize the setup.  

Option 1 - Since the modem/router supplied by Xfinity is on the right side I could run a new 5 meter ethernet cable from it under the window seat and out of the cabinet where the new power will be and the streamer and DAC will be located.  The new ethernet cable would run it into an ethernet switch I have and then I would utilize my shorter Shunyata Theta ethernet cable directly from the switch into my Aurender 200 streamer

Option 2 - Run a longer length of internet cable from the wall on the right through the bookcases/window seat and place the modem/router on the left hand cabinets which puts this closer to the streamer and eliminates the need for a longer ethernet cable.

In either option above I believe I will purchase my own modem and router - suggestions please!  With all the above in mind would one option lead to higher quality sound based on the location of the modem/router and length of runs?  Is there a better option and am I missing something I have not envisioned.  Again my head hurts :)  

norust

my 02 cents

1) dedicated power, if possible 2 direct lines from circuit breaker to wall

2) dedicated Ethernet for router to music rack where your streamer will reside

 

In the end, I didn’t feel like introducing a component with a switching power supply into my chain...
I forgot about purchasing the LHY Audio EFI and, for just over €140, I purchased two fiber media converters and their corresponding SFP modules on Aliexpress, a 7m fiber optic cable, two 5V linear power supplies, and two 50cm CAT8 Ethernet cables (which they claim to be made of UPOCC copper, but I don’t believe that).
I hope I made the right choice.

 You mentioned probably buying your own modem and router, and I wanted to discuss that a bit.

Xfinity will charge some monthly fee for using their device, which is a combo modem/wireless router. That charge (usually around $15/month) could be avoided by getting your own hardware. One thing to consider is they have/had a 1.2TB cap on your data where going over would cost extra. You could pay extra monthly for unlimited data but it cost more than just using their device. BUT this has changed in 2025 where "new" plans can now have unlimited data with your own modem. I don't know if that rolled out nationwide yet or not, so you'll have to check. 1.2TB cap is very limiting in this day and age so no matter how you do it, you'll want to be on an unlimited plan.

If you do use the Xfinity modem/wifi device, you can always put it in bridge mode where it acts only as a modem. Then use your own wifi router which is usually a much better way to go. I have good luck with Asus wireless routers but there are other good ones as well. 

For using your own modem, you'll have to check the Xfinity compatibility list to see what models they currently support. It will depend on your plan as many modems work with the more basic speeds, but options are limited if you are getting a really fast plan.