bugeyed

Didn't work on it much. OPPO engineer is still trying to get the app fixed so it doesn't sort album tracks alphabetically. I have set up an Ayre QB-9DSD to audition & compare. I have the SDAC hooked up to a laptop server, so the 2 DACs can be compared while operating the same way. The Ayre is only USB DAC. I think the network issues were partly the slow operation of the app & my impatience with it. If I keep the SDAC, I will revisit it's network functionality. kev

Anyone found a report of how the Sonica DAC compares to some other well respected USB DACs? Top on my list is the Ayre QB-9DSD USB DAC. I am primarily looking for sound quality & don't stream anything like Tidal or really need any extra inputs right now. I have a lead on a like-new QB-9DSD for not much more than the SDAC, so price is not a factor. Thanks,kev

Oh! OK, of course, the MoCA adapter doesn't need to see the cable signal, just the Ethernet connection. Oh wait....... I wasn't crazy. I only have one cable connection in the modem/PC room. I assume that the MoCA adapter has a coax pass through? Is it like a 3dB loss? I called Actiontec to ask what the signal loss is on their pass through & was told that they don't have that information! I think I was talking to India or Pakistan. Anyway, she said that the adapter comes with a 2 way splitter. Can you tell me how your's is connected? Thanks, kev

Yep! Like you, I don't want to make any compromises in my main audio system & the power is a big deal. I can't say that I noticed a difference in the noise floor in the limited time I had the PL adapters working, but I don't want to create noise on the line unnecessarily. I may not hear it today, but may tomorrow. There's the psychological factor too of it being on my mind. I will look into MOCA, but I am reluctant to put another splitter on the line feeding my cable modem. I had some issues in the past with signal strength to the modem, so there is a 2 way at the feed with one low loss leg going to the modem & the other feeding another splitter for the other rooms. As I understand it, MOCA would require me to split the signal coming to the cable modem, as that is the location that I would hook up the Ethernet cable. I will have to try inserting a splitter & check the modem now since Suddenlink has made some improvements in my service. I would have to add a splitter at the cable box in the room with my streamer too. Fun, fun, fun. It's all good though. I don't really do critical listening at the streaming location & my WiFi signal strength there is at -43dBm, so it should support 24/192 streaming. Anyway, glad I am getting some responses and thanks. BTW Do you have a recommendation for a MOCA product? kev

Thanks for your response. I was not really worried about whether or not the device would operate properly. My main concern is about the noise that is inserted on the power line being picked up by my main audio components. I do not want to dirty up the power with these adapters. I have returned the one I purchased & picked up a new wireless router & increased my signal strength at the streaming component by 10dBm! That's enough for what I want to stream to the Node. If I had a power line analyzer, I would have played around with the Power Line Ethernet a bit more. What I had worked well at streaming the music, so the technology is sound. Actually, I worked in R&D on Power Line Networking in the early 90s, in a previous career. Thanks, kev

I have a Bluesound Node & would like to know if Power Line Ethernet is totally inappropriate for high quality use? Some have posted here that the ethernet signal that is sent on the power line gets in to the power supply of other audio gear. Are statements like this based in fact? I would like to hear from someone who can be a bit more technical than "Powerline is bad news" and "You are aggressively polluting your power supply with your network signal" & "Almost any other network will be better." IMO a digital signal on the power line is very easily filtered out in any quality power supply, so I don't buy that. Anyone knowledgeable about this subject care to speak up? Tanks, kev

I received the ZyXEL PLA5405, but I won't be able to try it for a few days. I just wanted to mention something about what was supplied with the adapters. Ethernet cables. It was a nice gesture, but......... For a product that is supposed to be plugged into the wall & connected to a WiFi router they include a 3' ethernet cable? Now I don't know where you have your WiFi router, but mine is not within 3' of the AC outlet! As I said, nice gesture, but why bother? Thanks, kev

I have ordered the ZyXEL PLA5405. Despite one Amazon reviewer saying that every 1 - 2 weeks the adapters must be unplugged & plugged back in to restore functionality. The reviewer said that ZyXEL cust support knows of the issue & don't have a resolution, nor do they anticipate a firmware update to fix the issue. No one else is reporting this problem & the reviewer did not say if they had replaced the units. Fingers crossed. kev

Thanks thrand1, I have visited SmallNetBuilder & like them very much. Didn't see much about the Powerline adapter I am considering, ZyXEL PLA5405. Will look again. Thanks, kev

Thanks for the responses. I read about MOCA , but was wondering about my cable signal routing setup. Currently My cable signal is split 2-way with one low loss leg going to the cable modem & the other to another splitter for the other TVs. No distribution amp. With MOCA, would I be further attenuating the signal to the cable modem? Thanks, kev

WiFi signal is -62dBm so I need to either get a new wireless router with better range or try powerline ethernet. I am looking at the ZyXEL PLA5405 that uses a 1200 Mbps (theoretical) chip, but I can't find any information about it's suitability for playing hi-res music files. Since I have no way of knowing if the new router will give me adequate signal strength, the powerline adapter route looks attractive. I know that there are some concerns about noise on the power line & I am prepared to address this, but still don't know if the technology is appropriate for high quality music reproduction. Any insight is appreciated. BTW I am using a 802.11n router & the Node is an n device. I will even consider a WiFi range extender & using it's ethernet connection to the Node. Thanks, kev

Hmmmmm, Big Mac huh? I'll have to give it some thought. OK, just read the introduction & will be heading to the drive thru 'cause I'm locked in to a Windows system for now & I didn't have lunch. From what I had read previously I hadn't picked up on the fact that this book is focused on Apple. Oh well. kev

Actually, I found the first statement very informative! I had not noticed that this publication was 2 years old. I was just about to purchase a copy, but now will reconsider. kev P.S. I find the post by stevebythebay with a link to a 2 year old review perpetuated my impression that this publication was current. This is a subject that is in need of constant updating, in order to keep up with technology. IMO Although there may be valuable info contained in this book, I am not in a position to know what info is still current and what is outdated.