What network cable would you recommend ? Unless yours will be out soon!
@tommytwotimes I had been using a couple of well known high end brands and also one with a passive filter having selected them by comparing back to back with others but admit they have been unused since finishing evaluation trials of my own and preferring it to all others. Being launched in coming week.
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great Nick, where will it be available to buy?
@tommytwotimes on the WAVE website. I’ll let you know details when all up and running on it.
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Has anyone heard the SOTM sNH-10G network Switch with SCLK-EX clock upgrad, with a K50?
If so is it good and how does it compare with other switches, thanks.
I have no experience with this switch, but can advise that the 10 MHZ Clock Input is NOT compatible with the clock output of any Antipodes Audio Music Server
Thanks Mark, what about the Ediscreation Fiberbox III ( for Optical Isolation)?
While it also has a built-in OCXO system clock, I understand this is off no use to me given I’m not using a NAS, via a network, for ripped CDs, as I have them stored on a drive inserted into my K50, so should not have an issue with Jitter?
Clocks (otherwise known as oscillators) are found in every digital product. They function like a metronome in that they establish the beat. Digital transmission requires that everything be timed to exactly the specified frequency, so clocks govern that. I believe, for example, that Ethernet transceivers operate at 25 MHz (or multiples of this). What that means is that every Ethernet switch has an internal clock that operates at that frequency.
The problem with inexpensive clocks is that they generate noise. Audiophile networking products include better clocks as a means to reduce the noise that could potentially travel down to the digital converter and harm sound quality.
That the Ediscreation Fiberbox III has as superior internal clock can provide a benefit regardless of where the music is stored. What it helps to guarantee is that the Fiberbox doesn’t act as a source of noise. If less typical consumer-grade clocks were used, it wouldn’t be as effective.
Any improvements I’ve made to the network have actually had a positive benefit to the sound quality of music stored on my Antipodes server. The lower the noise that’s coming in via the ethernet port, the better, IMHO.
The SOtM switch you mentioned has been very well regarded. The SCLK-EX internal clock upgrade is well regarded too. I really can’t say how well it compares to other switches. Ediscreation’s products are well regarded too.
Thanks kennyb, much appriciated.
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A tempus switch landed here just over an hour ago . It replaced an EtherRegen powered by a Farad Super3. I can already say that the tempus has profoundly exceeded my expectations. Realism has improved considerably. This changes my opinion on the importance of a good switch. Not only is it a must but I think anyone who values realism should get the best switch they can afford.
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A few weeks ago, I had a great experience with the next product: the Origin power supply for my repeater.
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Hi @kennyb123 ,the sound improvement you mention, is that for streamed music from Qobuz, for example, or from the internal SSD drive or both?
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Good question. I’ve yet to actually listen to anything streamed from Qobuz since the tempus was swapped in. All music has been played either off the internal drive or off my NAS. Benefits are the same. It reminds me more of what I heard when first adding a really good power conditioner. That device revealed to me that I had been oblivious as to how much harm my AC was doing to the music. The tempus has opened my eyes in the same way as to how much harm my network had been doing. It doesn’t seem to matter from where the music is sourced. All my reference tracks are stored on the local drive. They’ve all benefited in musically-important ways.
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It doesn’t matter whether you’re streaming or just listening from your internal hard drive. You’re always exposed to network noise. I don’t stream, for example. And the Tempus and all the other Network Acoustics products I own are clearly audible.
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The magnitude of improvement from the tempus has me wondering if maybe it’s also quieting down my server somehow - like maybe less activity on the network interface. No clue if that’s happening but I’m still struggling to wrap my head around how a dang switch could improve things so much.
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wow, where do I find the Tempus?!?!?
Now I think of it, my system is SO good, I can’t imagine what could get better.
But if it’s better, I would LOVE to hear it!
You can buy direct from Network Acoustics
gotcha.
Just saw their ad.
Is it a BIG and noticeable step up over my old Netgear AX series modem router?
I notice that they have a money-back guarantee…
The Tempus definitely does that. It drastically reduces the noise. It gets even better with the Muon Pro connected to the Tempus output. But everyone has to try it out and hear it for themselves. In my setup, the music with Tempus sounds more open, clearer, less stressful, airier, and much more. All of these things are further enhanced with the Muon Pro. Because the Tempus also generates and transmits noise at the output. I would definitely use and recommend the 1GB. The 100MB are even quieter sounding, but they make the music sluggish and boring. I’ve tried it several times, and 1GB is definitely better than 100MB. Yes, we all have to put a lot of time into the network, but in the end it’s worth it.
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