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Dave
Dave
Move router far from hifi components?
I just finished reading Hans Beekhuyzen's Kindle book on file based audio. This is what he said about where your router should go.
"Like cell phones, Wi-Fi uses radio frequencies that might cause interference in your stereo. Try to keep the Wi-Fi access point as far as possible from the hifiequipment and always use well shielded audio, power and network cables on your hifi. If Wi-Fi is your only choice, you’d rather hope you’re in an area that has little Wi-Fi traffic."
i don't think I have heard about this before and was wondering if this really makes a difference. I'm tempted to move my router and modem to another room to test but wanted to poll everyone to see if they have done this.
"Like cell phones, Wi-Fi uses radio frequencies that might cause interference in your stereo. Try to keep the Wi-Fi access point as far as possible from the hifiequipment and always use well shielded audio, power and network cables on your hifi. If Wi-Fi is your only choice, you’d rather hope you’re in an area that has little Wi-Fi traffic."
i don't think I have heard about this before and was wondering if this really makes a difference. I'm tempted to move my router and modem to another room to test but wanted to poll everyone to see if they have done this.
Showing 8 responses by dlcockrum
Had exactly the opposite experience re: distance of router/modem when using Ethernet connection to streamer. Started out with r/m in laundry room far away from my listening room using new 75’ generic CAT6 cable from r/m to Aurender. Sound quality was meh and lots of dropouts listening to Tidal. Moved r/m to listening room with 1 meter Purist Audio Ethernet cable and sound quality was night and day better. Even when using a 1 meter generic CAT7 Ethernet cable the sound was n&d better than the long Ethernet cable, just not as refined, clean, black and extended as with the PA cable. Wallwart p/s and power cable from r/m was carefully isolated and plugged into completed isolated AC receptacle/circuit as I believe that Erik nailed it re: the power supply being the major source of noise. Dave |
To Randy's point, I keep my computer audio front end and router/modem electrically isolated from and around 10+ feet away from my analog gear using 20' long XLR IC's from DAC to preamp. I got better sound using wireless than from a long Ethernet cable. Can't really buy that with all of the RF from phones/wireless devices shooting through the air that the location of the router/modem (to avoid RF noise) is that critical. As stated before, it is more likely the noisy power supplies in consumer computer-related gear that creates the sonic issues and that can be managed. YMMV. Dave |
I have considered that, jmw. Dunno at this point if I will go that far or if that will help substantially. I started with simply making sure that the noisy switching power supplies and their accompanying DC cords are routed carefully away from all other cables/gear as much as possible. Second, plugging those noisy power supplies into a receptacle fed by an isolated dedicated AC line (at least not shared with the rest of my audio gear). Third, covering those power supplies and DC cords with EMI/RF shielding fabric I bought through Amazon (cheap). Thinking next step may be adding RF/EMI absorbing material inside of my DAC to reduce penetration and eliminate internally generated noise from bouncing around inside: http://kgs-ind.com/wp-content/uploads/products/pdf/Absorber_Flyer-IM-02.pdf Toying with the idea of adding SR Tranquility base(s) to create a field of protection around the most sensitive components, but now just using Shakti stones on top of DAC and its external power supply. Dave |
Good post glennewdick. I am already nuts so little danger. I read on another forum re: LPS on router and one contributor recommended adding ferrite filters to the DC lines coming from switching power supplies. I remembered that I had a few in a box in my closet and retrieved them. Clamped them on. No cost. Another crazy tweak. Dave |