Basic switch....should I upgrade?

@wsrrsw 

Thank you for the info. Like you, I also prefer LAN cables over fiber. The fiber sounded ‘bland’ in my system. 

@lalitk Yah...who would have thought fiber wouldn't be the end all? Checked out you system. Wow! Good on you.  (My Dad had Tannys and my mom in a deserved  fit of anger gave them away along with the rest of the excellent stereo.) I'm guessing you might have been to a certain La Verne, California destination?. 

Plugged in my modded network switch over the weekend.

A Cisco SG110D-8. Modded by adding a C4Mk2 clock from Fidelity Audio.
Also added a new DDC, USB cable, LAN isolators, and ethernet cables to the system.

Initially couldn’t get sound from the streamer over ethernet. Switched to wifi to check connections/settings. Got it working. Had a quick listen. Back to ethernet, and an immediate and big improvement in sound. Upon further listening, it was ’jaw dropping,’

At some stage will evaluate the switch on its own, but as part of a whole, brilliant.

@jerrybj How did you come up with those mods and build please? Did you put it together yourself? What’s the overall cost? I’m not asking for my self but we know there’s more than just a little bit of interest in ethernet improvement from the old blue cable.

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.

@wsrrsw 

I had been considering a network switch for a while.

Bought a modded one from Audiophool.nl (he sold me a Ciso 2960).

When it arrived, I realised I needed something with a smaller footprint. Thought the 2960 could then go at the modem end of the house. Had been considering the Fidelizer Etherstream for its size and effectiveness.

Looked at buying the same switch - the Cisco SG110D - and getting it modded. Liked that it had a 12v input. Had been discussing options with Brent at fidelityaudio.co.uk for a few weeks. Noticed they had modded that model. Asked him about the Fidelizer mods. In his view the most effective ones were replacing a capacitor and adding a clock.

Decided to get the Fidelity Audio C4Mk2 installed at £290. Bought a cheap SG110D from eBay UK for £35. Had an old 12v Teradak linear power supply, with a Ghent Audio DC cable and a cheap AMR Gold fuse.

I've noticed that some have an EtherRegen before or after a fiber bridge.  Can I ask if having both offers any benefit?  As far as I'm aware they perform the same "re-generation" and noise removal function, but by different means.

What's the point of regenerating the ethernet signal twice?

@antigrunge2 .  I'm going through the same.  I think my USB is pretty good, but I'm still seeing some digital noise (apparent mostly in sibilance), so am focusing now on ethernet stage.

I've tried Eno, and cheap fiber bridge, but both too analytical.  

So, I've bought an iFi iPower Elite for my Netgear Orbi Satellite - it's the only viable route open to me.  And have a Sotm dbl-cat7u cable on order.  Their cables, by consensus, seem to offer the best bet of de-digitalising the sound. And once I have a decent cable in place I'm hoping to try either the EtherRegen or a decent fiber setup.

@lollipopguild  -  I have not tried Eno but I have Muon and do not think it is analytical.  I actually have two!  Rich at Network Acoustics could help you with differences. I do not use fiber.  I would have an EtherRegen in front of both, but I only have one!  I have swapped it back and forth and I can hear the difference for the better with the ER in front of the Muon filter.  Plus I need a switch to go to my Apple TV, so the ER does that on the A side as well.

@antigrunge2 ​​​​@wsrrsw ​​​​​@jerrybj - after many emails with Marcin at JCAT, I have ordered an M12 switch with four of their 1m cables.  One to my Modem, one to my Nucleus+, and one to each of my audio room cables (family room and basement),

This will replace my Silent Angel Bonn8 switch.  Oh my I can't wait!  Ken

@fastfreight Welcome to the M12 KoolAid club. I also had a lot of back and forth emails. Marcin’s English is excellent. What did you do for power? You saved a few hundred USD as the Euro is sluggish  

My unit should be here in two-three weeks.

The old D-Link seems like decades ago.

The EtherRegen will get placed into a whole house “B-” system.

@wsrrsw  Exciting yes!  I hope it is worth it.  Yes Marcin's English is so good it made me wonder if I had the right guy!  :)  I have an HDPLEX linear power supply with two outputs (two rails I think)  One powers my Nucleus+ and the other powers my switch.  Marcin first recommended I put the M12 directly in front of my Auralic Streamer.  But when I clarified that I already had a switch where I needed a switch, he recommended putting it there - connecting my modem to my Nucleus and my two audio room runs.  I will need to connect the M12 using their special cables to my longer runs with two of their NET Isolators.  My longer runs to each room are standard Amazon Cat 7 cables.