Basic switch....should I upgrade?

There is some great info in this discussion, and not heated. In answer to the openning post question is that my experience has been;

• Replacing existing switches with better/audiophile switches can improve sound quality
• Minimising noise in each network device handling your audio data matters, and that noise is from power and ethernet transmissions.
• It is important to pay attention to and be careful with the way cable sheilding is terminated as it could affect devices differently.
• Audiophile ethernet cable can make a big difference, but are not always the best solution for a particular link in a network.
• You need a very low noise floor to hear the full benefit of some little changes
• Fibre optical and wifi can be very beneficial.
• Some audiophile switches may not perform as well as enterprise or managed switches.  For example SFP+ switches are very good. This is a good read ...
• https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/24002-optical-network-configurations/page/98/

"Went back to fiber optic cable and now I think that sounds cleaner.' 

It seems to me ...

Noise = distortion = color 

So

No noise = no distortion = colorless = clean

There are plenty of other things between the streamer and speakers (and your ears) that add color, I'd say ethernet should not.

For info, my chaIn which has evolved from much trial and error is ...

Fibre > NTD > Cat 6a UTP > EtherRegen > fibre > Mikrotik CRS 305 (router) > audio grade Cat 6a > Server > audio grade Cat 7 > WAP >  - wifi - > Devialet

NTD = interface between national broadband network and home network.

Server is Antipodes EX which has a 2 port switch built in, each port has separate PHY and feed from CPU.

Devialet's wifi is extremely good!

@fredrik222

As I said there is the ethernet digital, and something else.

Really I was just popping in here to suggest people consider SFP+ switches and to highlight that audiophile switches not only do the digital as required but some also seem to deal with the 'something else' to varying degrees.

Sorry, I don't have the energy to debate here.  Ultimately it will lead to what people believe is possible.

@sns

If you are not already aware, the SFP modules and FMC make a difference. Some people even say single mode is better than multi mode and the length makes a difference. But one thing for sure, fibre does not collect or transmit noise.

In my network, replacing a generic fs.com FMC with EtherRegen was a worthwhile improvement. Perhaps Sonore Optical Module would be as good there, but I had ER on hand.

Fibre > NTD > Cat 6a UTP > EtherRegen > fibre > Mikrotik CRS 305 (router) > audio grade Cat 6a > Server > audio grade Cat 7 > WAP > - wifi - > Devialet

Who would’ve thought it would make any difference there?

Take note, there is no switch downstream of the router. The SFP+/10Gbe router/switch really makes s big difference for the better. It is not the speed it is the specification for that speed that seems to really matter for audio. I have my CRS running at 100Mb. But patience and learning is needed to set it up. I am not a network technician, but managed to get it done with some help.

Also, need to be careful about the how cable sheilds are terminated. Not all audio grade cables use the same approach.

@fredrik222 I hear what you are saying and hear it many times. However, it appears that as well as the digital encoding in ethernet transmission, there is something else that is detrimental to audio. I have seen it explained that the digital code is carried by analog signal which also transmits ’noise’. That noise also may affect each device differently. Hence trial and error is needed to discover which cables best suit particular devices. I wish it were easier, easy works but gets mediocre results, and that may be satisfying sound, but not as excellent or optimal as it could be.

@lalitk

Great reply!

In my view there are 3 key ways to deal with noise in a system

1. Power source: conditioning, cables, distribution

2. Ethernet: isolation, cabling, conditioning, devices

3. Grounding

@kennyc

In terms of value, judge an etheenet product against spending the same on something else that addresses these 3 things. Pricing is typically comparable to the benefit a product provides to a system, so comparisons to other audio gear help determine price/value. In addition, manufacturers will charge as much as they think the market will pay for their brand.

My spend on ethernet has been the very high value for money for me. I also have excellent power and grounding solutions, the power gear cost by far more the grounding and Ethernet, and the ethernet has cost the least.