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Streaming / internet provider

I've been streaming for about a year now. I'm using a Rivo+ via wifi. I need advice from more knowledgeable people regarding the internet aspect of streaming. I have basic high-speed service currently which is delivered via coax cable. I get about 525 Mbps near the router and 460 Mbps at the streamer. A new provider in the neighborhood is installing underground fiber optic cable.   I'm thinking of switching providers but have a few questions.

1 Can I expect any change in SQ by switching to fiber optic? Currently, when streaming I notice some digital artifacts which sound like tiny squeaks or smearing of the music for a split second. It happens about 2 or 3 times per hour. 

2 If I get the new service, I could have the router installed near my hifi system and then hardwire the streamer. But would having the router close like that introduce noise into the rest of the system? (I run a fully balanced/silent system)

3 In general, could a wifi extender/booster be used near the main system and then hard wired to the streamer? I notice some streamers don't even have the wifi option.

I enjoy steaming and could see myself upgrading to a higher end streamer eventually. I've heard more new music in the last year than in the previous 10 years combined. Love it!

dtapo
mitch2
4,739 posts
 

To your questions:

  1. Probably not. Your speed is fine for audio streaming. Not sure what is causing your "digital artifacts" but probably not the speed.
  2. Having the router near your hifi system is not necessarily a benefit, but hardwiring the streamer is a good thing so overall a win.
  3. Yes, hard wiring your streamer to a wifi extender/booster is a viable option, but better would be hard wiring from a mesh system satellite, and best is typically considered to be hard wiring from your main router base unit to your streamer.  Whether either of those options is better than another can be system dependent, and they all might work just fine for you.
dtapo OP
78 posts
 

Thanks for the info.

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,885 posts
 

@dtapo few things here…

bandwidth requirement for streaming music in high resolution is approximately 10mbps. What you have now is totally fine and is more than enough 

Whatever you do, I highly recommend mesh network like the eero 6e pro or even base eero. Scatter those around for better coverage throughout the residence and a more solid consistent feed to your atreamer

Move all routers, extenders/wifi transmitters at least 1m away from components and cables. Run a 1.5m cable to your streamer to keep all sources of EMI/RFI away from your stream. This mitigates smearing and improves sound quality. 
 

Your issue with noise while streaming needs to be further researched. Can you please describe your set up in full including your source of streaming - roon, connect methods, qobuz or tidal or both? Any filters, siwtches etc

dtapo OP
78 posts
 
audphile1  My router is in the next room about 45 feet away from the streamer. No switches or filters. I stream Qobuz using Q Connect or the native Volumio OS. Several times a week, the apps and streamer don't connect, but a quick reboot of the streamer solves that. I control the apps on a newish iPad. I connect the streamer to the LAiV uDDC reclocker via USB. Reclocker to DAC via I2s. My system is in the living room next to a flat screen tv.  Before the Rivo+, I used a Bluesound Node Nano and don't remember having the noise issues, or the disconnect between app and streamer. The issues with the Rivo+ are not deal breakers for me, and I prefer the improved SQ compared to the Nano.
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