Basic switch....should I upgrade?

@vinylvalet

Latency in audio applications is not a significant problem, easily addressed by buffering. Clocking accuracy, though is a whole other matter. Your friend clearly works in the digital domain. Analogue/digital conversion takes completely different priorities than digital transfer

@wsrrsw,

Glad to hear it‘s working. Although it sounds like overkill, I use an Ethernet isolator (EMO EN70-HD) directly at the streamer for good effect (l.e. after the Etherregen‘s moat) Don‘t know why but it works a treat. If you want to go further in overkill tape 2 AAA Bateeries parallel to the cable into the streamer with the + pole pointing to the streamer. (again, don‘t ask me why, but it works)

I also highly recommend an Intona Isolator on the USB connection.

Digital transmission is anything but sorted and mature. It takes lots and trial and error.

Since you have an etherregen: get an ocxo clock (AfterDark, Mutec, Cybershaft or other) You can start with a $100 Chinese clock on aliexpress and the upgrade if worthwhile. I also found dxe filters on the ethernet beneficial. Make sure the Etherregen has a strong ground connection from its post.

Audiosciencereview doesn‘t listen, measures the wrong things and is frightfully opinionated

While YMMV on individual setups, the biggest improvements in my case were the addition of an Antelope clock and Zerozone LPS to the Etherregen as wellas adding an LHYAUDIO Ocxo switch with built in LPS in front of it., I don‘t believe that a mere filter can replicate the improvement from better clocking.

@wsrrsw i have had very substantial benefits from reclocking both the Etherregen and the DACs conversion and USB link; as mentioned YMMV. Reclocking and fltering are different things: In addition to reclocking I use a DXE ISO plus filter and an Emo EN70HD isolator.

Again, decisive is what gets to the converter. Latency is not the problem, RFI/EMI, ground level noise and timing errors are. Adding switches helps with those.

@lalitk,

again: agreed. Given the substantial impact of the 10m clock on the Etherregen as well as the contribution of the Ocxo-switch I am not convinced that mere filtering suffices, though…

@lalitk,

good analogy, only difference: I prevent muck from coming in rather than water leaking out😇. Scary though how every little bit helps. You‘d think a decent designer could do better!

I guess the InnuOS Phoenix Ehrerregen is the most credible attempt by a manufacturer  so far. Disappointing, though that there seems to be no common clock between the two Phoenixes (Etherregen, USB), the server and the DAC in that model.

Cleaning up ethernet ahead of the streamer (InnuOS Zenith Mk3)unfortunately is a lot of trial and error. In my case I started by adding a Zerozone power supply to my Etherregen and using an Antelope10m clock to reclock. I subsequently added DXE filters and a LHYaudio LPS/reclocked switch ahead of the Etherregen. Furthermore switching from thin gauge cat6 to heavy gauge cat 8 Onti cables with Telegartner connectors made a big difference. A lot of people argue to go optical into the server. In my experience this results in an over analytical, thinned out sound. As a starting point upgrading the router and its power supply is equaly worthwhile.

It is frankly disappointing that after 15 years of streaming nobody seems to have found a universal solution, that said I am intrigued by the InnuOS Phoenix Ethernet.