I wanted to share some cable modem experence.
As far as how a cable modem sounds and a router sounds I assume the discussion is about streaming ? Because if a "clean" switching setup for audio is done correctly, like below, the router and modem are galvanically isolated by optical from the clean setup and so zero packets go outside the clean network and there is zero RF -- like in the below example.
For example:
Taiko > SoTM > SoTM>DAC with the SoTMs ext clocked. The SoTMs are fed by linear supplies and optical from Taiko and between switches. Optical to router located in a different room.
So.. Modems.. It turns out I am kinda a expert on cable modems. There are only 2. EVERY modem in the market is based on either Broadcom or Intel. Each company produces a hardware reference that is then used by all the CPE makers like Arris, Netgear, etc.. You crack these open and these devices are remarkably the same. YES how they implement power supply differs in LAYOUT and SOME config, but, mostly its the same across all mfgrs of a modem chip. So crack open a Arris SB8200 and a Netgear CM1000 and you will find exactly the same parts, with the same part numbers, located in about the same places. So GENERALLY these devices are nearly carbon copies but with different packaging and sometimes more ports. What REALLY counts tho is what chip. Intel based modems are HORRENDOUS in jitter. Class action lawsuits, news reports. This site has details and what CPE models are based on this Intel chip. http://badmodems.com/
So.. Intel based devices should NEVER be used. This means Broadcom devices are where its at. DOCSIS 3.1 modems have OFDM modulation and a cable co usually combines a 32 QAM modulated channels with a OFDM stream. This combo produces a much cleaner ( less jitter, less retransmissions ) then DOCSIS 3.0 modems from a few years back.. Also these DOCSIS 3.1 modems can be set up with Link Aggregation to a good router. This *might* be good as other house traffic might find a way thru the device without disturbing the audio flow as much.
So I would assume a DOCSIS 3.1 modem is the best for audio... Broadcom being the only one to consider.
Now which brand ? Well,, one of the first thing to know about buying your own cable modem is that many cable companies do not firmware update customer owned gear. Trust me, you want firmware updates. You CANNOT do this on your own. Its important to find out if your cable co does firmware updates for customer owned equipment. If it does, which models. Just because it says it will work on the Cable Co web site DOES NOT MEAN they will firmware update it. If you pick a modem that is also used by your cable co, they will most likely update it.
A good universal is the Arris SB8200. This is the most widely deployed modem. Its got good firmware support. Its broadcom based. Its supports Link Aggregation.
Ive been stuffing in GIANT caps into modems for 10 years to get better jitter and more stable performance. Not for audio, just for networking performance. I also have been using a linear supply on my modems for forever. I put huge tantalum caps on the chip power rails. I use audiophile caps pre regulation. A good no noise fan is a VERY good idea. I even put more stable clocks in.. None of this was for audio, BUT, would obviously help audio.. MAYBE..
For a router I prefer a https://mikrotik.com/product/CCR1036-8G-2SplusEM with a linear supply and lots of caps. This has a brute force to not jitter at all under load. It has s SFP+ ports which makes it easy to feed a clean networking setup.
So as far as modems go,, I am throwing in my experence on this, but, how this relates to audio performance, I do not know.
As far as how a cable modem sounds and a router sounds I assume the discussion is about streaming ? Because if a "clean" switching setup for audio is done correctly, like below, the router and modem are galvanically isolated by optical from the clean setup and so zero packets go outside the clean network and there is zero RF -- like in the below example.
For example:
Taiko > SoTM > SoTM>DAC with the SoTMs ext clocked. The SoTMs are fed by linear supplies and optical from Taiko and between switches. Optical to router located in a different room.
So.. Modems.. It turns out I am kinda a expert on cable modems. There are only 2. EVERY modem in the market is based on either Broadcom or Intel. Each company produces a hardware reference that is then used by all the CPE makers like Arris, Netgear, etc.. You crack these open and these devices are remarkably the same. YES how they implement power supply differs in LAYOUT and SOME config, but, mostly its the same across all mfgrs of a modem chip. So crack open a Arris SB8200 and a Netgear CM1000 and you will find exactly the same parts, with the same part numbers, located in about the same places. So GENERALLY these devices are nearly carbon copies but with different packaging and sometimes more ports. What REALLY counts tho is what chip. Intel based modems are HORRENDOUS in jitter. Class action lawsuits, news reports. This site has details and what CPE models are based on this Intel chip. http://badmodems.com/
So.. Intel based devices should NEVER be used. This means Broadcom devices are where its at. DOCSIS 3.1 modems have OFDM modulation and a cable co usually combines a 32 QAM modulated channels with a OFDM stream. This combo produces a much cleaner ( less jitter, less retransmissions ) then DOCSIS 3.0 modems from a few years back.. Also these DOCSIS 3.1 modems can be set up with Link Aggregation to a good router. This *might* be good as other house traffic might find a way thru the device without disturbing the audio flow as much.
So I would assume a DOCSIS 3.1 modem is the best for audio... Broadcom being the only one to consider.
Now which brand ? Well,, one of the first thing to know about buying your own cable modem is that many cable companies do not firmware update customer owned gear. Trust me, you want firmware updates. You CANNOT do this on your own. Its important to find out if your cable co does firmware updates for customer owned equipment. If it does, which models. Just because it says it will work on the Cable Co web site DOES NOT MEAN they will firmware update it. If you pick a modem that is also used by your cable co, they will most likely update it.
A good universal is the Arris SB8200. This is the most widely deployed modem. Its got good firmware support. Its broadcom based. Its supports Link Aggregation.
Ive been stuffing in GIANT caps into modems for 10 years to get better jitter and more stable performance. Not for audio, just for networking performance. I also have been using a linear supply on my modems for forever. I put huge tantalum caps on the chip power rails. I use audiophile caps pre regulation. A good no noise fan is a VERY good idea. I even put more stable clocks in.. None of this was for audio, BUT, would obviously help audio.. MAYBE..
For a router I prefer a https://mikrotik.com/product/CCR1036-8G-2SplusEM with a linear supply and lots of caps. This has a brute force to not jitter at all under load. It has s SFP+ ports which makes it easy to feed a clean networking setup.
So as far as modems go,, I am throwing in my experence on this, but, how this relates to audio performance, I do not know.
Last edited: