Where do I start\upgrade online streamer

[Flo]

I stream via BT`Router ,Ethernet out wired to dac , where can I tweak upgrade. Not a area of hifi I’m used to. Thanks

[AJSki2fly]

I stream via BT`Router ,Ethernet out wired to dac , where can I tweak upgrade. Not a area of hifi I’m used to. Thanks

My understanding is that "Owners of the original Nyquist can field-upgrade to Mk II standard by simply exchanging modules", that is if yours is the mk1. Having said that from what I see your Streaming DAC is right up there in the SQ front anyway. see https://www.brinkmann-audio.de/main....yquist&lang=en

If you are referring to the BT Router and cable specifically, then I think you could source a high end commercial adsl/switch/router, but this would require you to configure it as required by the provider. You would need to check that your provider (I presume BT) allows non proprietary ADSL routers to connect to their services. With respect to the Ethernet cable then go for a high grade CAT6 or CAT7.

Personally I am not sure you would actually hear any difference if you went to this extreme.

[Flo]

Thanks, nyquist is mark ii, have got some mycorde Ethernet cable cable and gave it a clean power feed which has helped was curious about router switch stuff, someone posed same question to me.

[Bencat]

If you are at all worried that the BT Router is going to be a cause of additional noise on your network (which is very unlikely) then you can fit a cheap 8 port digital switch whihc will connect to your router using a single port input from the Wan output of your router then your network can be connected to the switch . This will seperate the network and prevent noise . There are of course as is always the case audiophile versions of these switches which can cost anyhting up to £2000 but they are not really needed . A sensible £30 units from Netgear or similar will be perfect . In my experience which is not huge there was no change at all in sound quality (and I was not expecting this) but the solidity and consistency of my network was improved which was what i was looking for .

[Flo]

I’m told the Bt router is one of better ones, I will prob change wallwart p/s for something by ifi, I was asked by friend about switches, curious as found tidal masters stream noisy and screechy, tbh internet radio better. Was going to try something by Cisco or similar.
Ta for advice, I’m a digital tourist (not a native) so on a steep learning curve.

[Edward]

I found using a SOTM ethernet cable with the inline filter block just before my streamer gave a useful increase in 'naturalness'. This without loss of detail or transparency. YMMV of course.

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[Duckworp]

I recently went down a digital path for the first time. Interestingly I also have a Vitus/Boenicke combo. I found the following improved the sound:
- installing a cheap ebay-sourced Cisco switch connected to the router The network bridge connects to the switch.
- improving the power supply to the network bridge (I have a separate network bridge feeding a separate dac)
- upgrading Ethernet cable between router and switch, and between switch and network bridge, from cat 5 to cat 8.
- adding an external clock to the network bridge
- improving the USB cable connecting the bridge to the DAC. You won’t have this if your dac is also a bridge.

After reading your other post I will next buy the ifi power supply you recommended for the router.

[StingRay]

I don't think the BT router is that good but better ones are about £180. Mine works ok now since I had BT engineer fix the cabling to my house. Sound quality has not changed. You could try the iFi power supply, I would get one that you can return if it has no benefit. Tidal sounds fine and so does Deezer, Qobuz and Amazon.

Have you tried Qobuz?

Not convinced about ethernet cables, have you seen the cables that bring the signal into your house?

[Flo]

Has anyone noticed that qubuz and tidal sound different. Qubuz clearer, ie less distortion, tidal more musical. This at standard quality, not hi res.
Bits are not just bits?

[StingRay]

Has anyone noticed that qubuz and tidal sound different. Qubuz clearer, ie less distortion, tidal more musical. This at standard quality, not hi res.
Bits are not just bits?

No I did not but I did not have them at the same time to do side by side comparisons. I would try to make sure you are comparing exactly the same master. On Tidal I can't fully open the MQA files as my DAC is not a MQA compatible one. Only using Amazon HD at the moment, may try Qobuz again but quite a few albums I like are missing compared to Tidal/Spotify/Deezer.