07-Nov-2019, 20:59
Yes, it works. I started a thread about a direct ethernet connection to the Devialet from a Roon Nucleus server that utilises a USB to ethernet adapter connected to one of the Nucleus' USB ports.
@thumb5 said above that your computer should detect the USB-Ethernet adapter automatically and that this should result in a new network interface but when I tried it with an Antipodes DS server the Antipodes did not recognise the adapter. I don't know what will happen with a Mac Mini, I haven't tried it with a Mac Mini. If the Mac Mini detects the adapter you may be able to get it to assign IP addresses to both the USB port and your Devialet but if you can't do that then you're going to have to assign manual addresses. Basically everything is going to depend on how your Mac Mini handles the adapter and whether it can assign addresses to a second network (you're essentially creating a second network with no connection to your router) via DHCP. You won't be able to disconnect your Mac Mini from your existing network if you need it to have internet access for any reason so essentially it becomes part of 2 networks.
I prefer the sound quality I get with an ethernet connection to my 140 than what I get with a USB connection but that's a personal preference. I find a USB connection to the Devialet does sound different to an ethernet connection. Both sound good but they do sound different and different people have different tastes. You may prefer USB or you may prefer ethernet and there's only one way to find out which you will prefer. That's to try it.
@thumb5 said above that your computer should detect the USB-Ethernet adapter automatically and that this should result in a new network interface but when I tried it with an Antipodes DS server the Antipodes did not recognise the adapter. I don't know what will happen with a Mac Mini, I haven't tried it with a Mac Mini. If the Mac Mini detects the adapter you may be able to get it to assign IP addresses to both the USB port and your Devialet but if you can't do that then you're going to have to assign manual addresses. Basically everything is going to depend on how your Mac Mini handles the adapter and whether it can assign addresses to a second network (you're essentially creating a second network with no connection to your router) via DHCP. You won't be able to disconnect your Mac Mini from your existing network if you need it to have internet access for any reason so essentially it becomes part of 2 networks.
I prefer the sound quality I get with an ethernet connection to my 140 than what I get with a USB connection but that's a personal preference. I find a USB connection to the Devialet does sound different to an ethernet connection. Both sound good but they do sound different and different people have different tastes. You may prefer USB or you may prefer ethernet and there's only one way to find out which you will prefer. That's to try it.
Roon Nucleus+, Devilalet Expert 140 Pro CI, Focal Sopra 2, PS Audio P12, Keces P8 LPS, Uptone Audio EtherREGEN with optical fibre link to my router, Shunyata Alpha NR and Sigma NR power cables, Shunyata Sigma ethernet cables, Shunyata Alpha V2 speaker cables, Grand Prix Audio Monaco rack, RealTRAPS acoustic treatment.
Brisbane, Qld, Australia
