Improving on the stream of a combined streamer dac


I recently (foolishly) compared the streamed sound of my Electrocompanient

ECM 1 Mk II to internally stored digital downloads on the same ( ie not stored in my Small Green Computer server).  I was surprised how much better the downloaded files sounded.  Perhaps, I was naive to think otherwise.  So, I started looking at old audiogon threads to see if I could figure a quick and easy fix to up the sound of the streamer but found little that made sense or was affordable.  My question is whether I should continue to search, or if I should take it for what its worth and just listen to the music.  The rest of my digital front end:  Small Green computer server,  a Trendnet unmanaged switch and the ECM.  I use a Luna Orange ethernet cable from switch to ECM and a Purist Audio cable to the SGC.  Thanks for your advice and happy holidays to all.

rivinyl

There are digital front end tweeks that make a big difference in my systems.

First, a high quality audiophile switch in the chain before your server.  You can keep your existing switch and send one feed to a nice switch like the Network Acoustics Tempus, GTT DeJitterit, or JCAT M12.  Then feed your audio.  Use good LAN cables between your switch and audio equipment.  Finally, as @knock1 says, an ethernet filter.  I like the Network Acoustics Muon Pro, These upgrades, at this level, are good to stay with whatever streamer or DAC you choose down the road.

Start with one of them...you should easily hear it.

Luna is a Montreal based cable company that specializes in tinned copper
 

Tinned copper? Not the best option for audio cables, be it digital or analog. I would highly recommend, as I mentioned above, to reconfigure and use Purist CAT7 into your DAC and keep Luna on server. I would also recommend replacing the tinned copper Luna with a good quality pure copper or silver clad copper or even pure silver ethernet cable. I use relatively inexpensive wireworld starlight 10 twinax Ethernet cables to feed my Trendnet switch and Roon Nucleus One server. Excellent sound quality with lowered noise floor. 
Tinned copper is usually used in the installation where corrosion of pure copper is a concern. It doesn’t apply in your use case. Only thing it does is compromise conductivity. 

You simply can't go too cheap, and expect miracles Lol!!!  Happy listening. 

Instead of searching Audiogon, Search via ChatGPT and it will search A'gon and other site and give you better results. Actually, it does not search, you will be using a pre-searched (or trained) version of ChatGPT.

I would try and move as far away from cable ethernet as possible. Your equippment doesn't allow for end to end Optical fiber but try a media converter it will isolate your system from EM and RF noise you can use high quality Fiber like corrning and a very short cat 7/8 to your streamer. I use end Fiber via SFP modules and found it transformational.

Remember not all streamed music sounds good. When its at its best, its a match for any format, when its ordinary you really notice but that is the same for CD's they can and often do sound terrible and so it is with vinyl. 

Often, its just the consequence of enjoying a highly resolving system and I try to enjoy the music and not going down rabbit holes and scrutinizing every recording frailty.

Tidal is my chosen streaming platform, but I'm not saying its the best or worst. Its just my choice for now. I see little point in subscribing to them all.

I would advise you to keep it simple, minimize the interfaces and look after the connections to your equippment, maximize its opportunities to perform at its best. Electrocompanient is decent gear.

I wish you a merry Christmas, a happy 2026 and success with your Hi Fi goals