Audiophile network switches

Your System
161

Sure no problem.

I have a 24 port TP Link network switch it has four SFP Slots. Running 9 CCTV POE, the rest on the switch has been fully utilized, so busy and noisy.

I connect the switch and the AfterDark SFP Slots with Finisar SFP modules and Commscope Single Mode Optical Cable. Which is why I made the purchased the AfterDark (AKA Melco).

I get better results on streaming than SSD (as the clock in the AfterDark is being used only on streaming). The improvements perceived, better separation, delicate highs, better bass texture, better timing. No fatigue.

This was a big investment with the Farad and cables approx. 5 k.

Personally most of us on the forum are getting better results with some sort of network improvement.

“BUT” for this cost I would, advise, to consider, upgrading the streamer or part ex with discount you may be surprised what deals are out there…

OR I would try the new Melco S10 on demo or the PhoenixNet (it does not have a SFP Slot).

Hope that helps.

AfterDark. Project ClayX Constellation SFP+ Module for Audiophile (adark.co)

DELA S100 - Audiophile Network Hubs #日本製 - AfterDark (adark.co)

2 Likes
162

Glad you the PhoenixNet is working well in your system. I appreciate that every system is different as are our ears :slight_smile:

I may venture back to try a different switch in the future - who knows. Clive101’s experience with afterdark is very interesting.

163

Today I am listening to the set without fiber optics.
Situation now :
router > switch > (dedicated audio section) switch 1 with LPS and grounded > switch 2 with LPS and grounded > K50.
Initially the sound is more relaxed and fuller (instruments have more body).

Update:
Looks like there is no turning back :slight_smile:

3 Likes
164

Awesome. Super helpful. Many thanks.

165

Simply enjoy your Oladra mate and dont worry/think about anything else for a good while. It could well be possible that given the step up in performnace from the K50 that you are now enjoying, another expensive switch could end up being (relatively speaking) a disappointing experience.

166

Sound advice mate. Will sit back and enjoy the music :grinning:

167

Yep that’s how i hear it too.

168

I just read thru posts since post 137 and have a few comments, not aiming at anyone in particular.

Firstly, the quest couid be never ending, so when you find a happy place in your journey, stay a while and enjoy it, reflect. You might be quite content there because you’re not obsessing over improvements.

Next, my experience is everything in the network matters when it comes to audio quality. And I mean every cable and device enroute from where internet enters to the hifi endpoint.

Priority order:
Power
Cables
Ground
Devices

With devices, use 10G or good audiophile devices if you can for the backbone from internet to hifi. Push everything else off that backbone ideally isolating from the backbone with fibre to other switches. Focus on reducing impacts of ‘noise’ on the backbone power, devices and cabling.

Ground everything best you can.

Fibre done poorly is ok but not optimal. Done properly is best performance per $ over a 2 meters or more. I use fibre for a long leg (10m). And I also use wifi to my Devialet (streamer);
much less noise than any expensive wired connection I tried!

A wired connection is a necessary evil for most situations. But use it sparingly and choose excellent cables. Where you must use wire, choose wisely. Because despite my fibre and wifi, changes are still obvious further upstream. To illustrate, here is what I did recently …

I have grounded the fibre internet service device and the EtherRegen immediately downstream of that, and gained improvements that were obvious to me. Also note these are on different AC circuit than the router, server and endpoint.

The ground I did was via Synergistic Research ground cables and passive Ground Block. It was initially just plugged into an AC outlet, but gained another improvement when plugged into the ground terminal of an ifi AC purifier.

In addition to doing the above, I have installed Synergistic Research Atmosphere X Reference cable from the internet service device to my 1st switch which is the EtherRegen acting as FMC (including HD ground wire from the cable to the ground block) … as per bold here

Internet > cable > ER > fibre > Mikrotik CRS 305 (router) > cable > Antipodes EX (server) > cable > wifi access point > Devialet Pro (player/streamer)

A quite obvious improvement. I didnt realise how much more could be gained even in that location.

The gains I have made from these fundamentals are, altogether, staggering.

Add to that a very nice tip of converting native PCM to DSD 64 to PCM 192 = happy place presently.

When I have exhausted reasonable optimisation of these fundamentals, I may consider upgrading the EX.

I hope this is helpful.

5 Likes
169

Uuiuiuiuiii, I got very dizzy. You must have the most comfortable internet in the world. Seems to be an important thing to eliminate network noise. So let’s just unplug it…:upside_down_face::+1:

1 Like
170

Eliminate noise but how.
I see that Taiko is also looking for the solution in the switch so outside the server.
Ansuz even supplies a switch at prices over 10000 euros/dollar.

171

It frustrates me that we still understand so little about how our networks influence sound quality. I recently tried a product that made a substantial improvement to the sound quality of local playback and it has left me puzzled as to how it could have had such a musically-important impact.

All I did was swap in a far more expensive clock cable between my REF10 SE120 and EtherRegen. The existing clock cable is a Shunyata Alpha v1, which is by no means a slouch. What was swapped in was the $4000 QSA Landri Gamma Infinity clock cable, which a friend sent me.

The improvement surprised me so much that I had to have a friend hear it as well to make sure I hadn’t lost my mind. I played a single track for him: “Some People’s Lives” from Janis Ian’s excellent “Breaking Silence” album. This track features only Janis’s voice and her piano and both are wonderfully captured. I should point out again that this track was played off local storage. This track been ripped from a blu spec CD and then upscaled with PGGB.

What most struck about the piano, was how much more naturally beautiful it was portrayed with the QSA-L cable. More of the overtones were being allowed to emerge. Janis’ voice was far more present as well - as if she was more in the room with us. Switching back to the Alpha v1, it was as if some of the magic had hit a wall and wasn’t being allowed to pass. Again, I don’t understand how this can be. It sounded like these two cable were having the kind of influence that placed them directly in the signal path, and yet that’s not where I would think to place a clock cable.

Despite being blown away by this, I ultimately concluded that the improvement wasn’t quite worth the cost - at least for me. That’s a lot of money!

At some point I will be receiving a QSA-L DC extension cable, which is priced at only a grand and yet it is predicted that this will have an even greater impact on the EtherRegen. That will leave me even more puzzled.

I guess this is another reminder that “everything matters”. I just wish I better understood this one.

1 Like
172

And connect six of the Ansuz switches mentioned in series. In addition the Ansuz Ethernet cables. They’re not that expensive. Each cable around 4000 € or so. Then the Oladra MK9. 100% no more noise.

173

:thinking::roll_eyes::weary::sunglasses:🤷I do not have a clue either. It is to be crazy.:disappointed_relieved:

1 Like
174

:rofl: :joy: :rofl:
I understand you have given up

175

Harry vs. Network = A neverending Story.

I’ll put a network switch on my grave instead of flowers. Lots of switches.

176

@dbastin2605 Super insightful & helpful as always. Much appreciated and many thanks. Where’s the best place to go / best resources to look at to get a 101 intro to / understanding of all matters relating to grounding?

177

@Christian

For streaming (80% of my listening) having ethernet plugged in is a necessary “evil” (if I understand correctly where you are coming from). If I didn’t stream so much, I’d most likely have kept my CD transport. I think the alternative you are suggesting is to buy music digitally and to store it on one’s music server. Versus that option, I still think I’d prefer the CD transport option given the SQ I have experienced with top notch products and the fact that it is a much more mature technology (ie not undergoing such rapid development as music servers). Ofcourse that option comes with the disadvantage of having to own and store physical media…but hey there’s no silver bullet and life is full of trade-offs / compromises that have to be made.

terms of one manufacturer being more “professional” than another. Do you mean that in the context of after sales customer care/service? And/or the quality of manufactured product itself or the way products are delivered to market. To be fair to manufacturers, I think it is super important to clarify - especially when specifically naming manufacturers.

In terms of network switches “sounding audiophile” (definition?)… my experience is that a network switch cannot of and by itself transform sub reference sound quality to reference quality. In a properly set up/dialiled in system, switches can however make improvements to an already reference level sound.

That said, a switch can be audiophile grade…meaning great care has been taken in the design and manufacture of its power supply, low noise circuits, isolation, vibration management etc… but not in my view “audiophile sounding” in & of itself.

I do concur that this whole area is potentially a very dangerous & never ending rabbit hole to go down. So if one is not not inclined to tweaking/exploring/experimenting (which lots of people enjoy and is part of their hobby), then my advice would be 1) get the best possible music server you can and 2) feed it with a good, relatively inexpensive consumer network switch (eg Netgear GS108) with a good power supply (eg ifi ipower elite with good power cable). It may appear disproportionate to spend >3x the cost of the switch on the power supply but my direct experience is definitive in that being the better way, than say having a $300 switch and a <$100 per power supply.

Hope my insights are of value and actionable.

1 Like
178

@Christian Love the humour btw…helps us stay sane & grounded :grinning:

179

What ground cable are you using?? :rofl:

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180

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:…and the one end of it is plugged into the “socket” where the sun don’t shine​:see_no_evil: