Basic switch....should I upgrade?

I just got the iFi 5v power supply for my D-Link 105 and will be testing it vs the supplied smps this weekend. The switch by itself with the included smps made a positive difference though. @wsrrsw have you tried without switch direct into EtherREGEN? Does the switch before the ER improves things?

@wsrrsw 5v

See my take and updates on different configs I had just tested (including Network Acoustics Eno Streaming System, D Link switch and basic FMC) in my post here

@ghdprentice definitely. What we’re trying to achieve is minimize electrical noise in the analog signal that carries digital information via copper Ethernet. Buffering in streamers helps with the digital part of it while noise is noise. Higher end streamers supposedly deal with both aspects. Also if a streamer has optical input, going over fibre optic cable eliminates electrical noise. But..there’s just no easy way out…

I don’t think stacking switches is a great idea. I would just recommend running one EtherREGEN with a good cable on a dirty side and the best possible cable you can get your hands on for the clean side going into your streamer. Also try grounding the switch/EtherREGEN. 

@wsrrsw ok. So you need one Ethernet to Roon core and one to streamer. I thought EtherREGEN can split one in to two outs. So I fail to see why fibre optic is necessary in this chain at all.
One more thing…I tested and didn’t care for the iFi power supply on d-link switch. I returned the iFi. I also returned the FMCs.
I just ended up with EERO to NA Eno Streaming System to Lumin U1 Mini. No further plans to touch or “enhance” this chain.
This is the best sounding combination. But…it is system/ears/brain//OCD driven and dependent so yeah I get it….

@wsrrsw you can try the EE8 from upscale. Their return policy is decent - 60 days.

Check out Hans Beekhuysen’s review of the Eno filter which is detailed with lots of good info on the subject in general and what I hear in my system with Eno pretty much aligns with Hans’ results. He also ran it with and without the EtherREGEN in the chain. He has a review of the Muon switch as well. 
If you need help choosing Eno vs. Muon reach out to Network Acoustics. Rob from NA recommended the Eno for me based on my set up (components and speakers). Nothing but positive experience to report from my interactions with Rob.

You might end up with less clutter and better results. A slam dunk in my book!
 

@wsrrsw that’s awesome to hear! 
I would not change anything at this point. Just make sure you use the best Ethernet cable between the EtherREGEN and the streamer. 

@scottfraser in what way is Ethernet used in a recording process by the recording studios?

@scottfraser NAS storage makes sense. As far as recording and mastering…there are so many poorly recorded albums out there that no amount of fixes by the end user/listener in their system can address these issues be it mastered over Ethernet or direct.
Studios, at least some, also use basic cables and mid fi monitors. Then there are recording studios and engineers that are so anal about the quality of the product they put out that they use the best possible gear. What does all this mean to us as end users? In my opinion - absolutely nothing. We’ll pursue getting the best sound we can and that includes fixes and tweaks. 

Now we tend to get carried away in the process and go deep into the woods but still see just a tree or two as opposed to seeing the entire forest. That’s a good point to pump the breaks and reassess…do I continue to add crap in an attempt to make a mediocre component sound better than it possibly can or do I stop and just upgrade that component? Realizing when that is is what will get you to the next level. We’re all guilty of missing that mark…

Didn’t mean to get philosophical here but that’s about how I look at it. You may see it differently.