Basic switch....should I upgrade?

Stuck in the 2 cups and a string era? 😊

I don't have a clue what you guys are talking about.🤔  Too old school I guess.

You can’t “clean up” a bad network switch. Bad network equipment causes packet loss, jitter, and other bad things. 
 

think of it as have a super clean and transparent window, and shine light light through it, the light looks exactly like intended. But if you but a dirty old  window between the source and the clean window, the clean window can’t do anything at all to “clean up” the source. 
 

that said, the transfer protocols at the layers above take care of quality, with a crappy network switch like d link, you may experience enough issues that it could potentially impact sound quality, and there is nothing you can add to fix this. Now, “audiophile” switches are typically not better from my research, you really need an enterprise switch, from juniper, extreme networks, or arista for example. 

I've been following the advice of @melm, ​​@dbb, & @sns  with streaming improvements & it's been VERY beneficial. 

• D-Link DGS105 switch (with ifi iPower X power supply 5v)
• AQ Pearl Ethernet cables 
• Fiber Patch Cable (30')
• 2 Ethernet to Fiber converters (both with ifi iPower X power supplies 5v)
• Linear Power Supply to streamer (I went with Nuprime LPS-212)

The cost to improvement ratio has been a bargain.

@wsrrsw 5v

I also need a switch going into my nucleus.  I bought the Silent Angel Bonn 8 and I think it helped vs the old netgear.  I power my Nucleus with an HD Plex and there is an extra output so I power my switch this way also. I use an Ifi power station  to plug in all my computer stuff.

My ether regen is downstairs with the audio stuff, feeding directly into my streamer Auralic G2.1 with Supra cat 8 on both sides.  Then USB into my Tambaqui.  Everything matters. 

iFi 5v power supply for the D-Link is inexpensive for a PSU...Will check out

@audphile1 9V for the D-Link 105?

@audphile1 I have tired direct into EtherREGEN (can’t tell much of a difference, hymn) but need a switch in my set up for a roon nucleus, ect. Thx

Yes D Link switch.

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?

@melm  Yes a better PSU regardless if the switch is changed. Thx.

I can’t advise on a better switch, but to bring the D-Link to its potential it needs a better power supply than supplied. An iFi iPower 5v will do just fine. Also, be sure to ground the unit using the screw on the back.

I assume you’re using a DGS105 or similar.  Apparently some expensive switches use a D-Link inside a fancy case.

I use a Netgear router via WiFi  to a Netgear wall wart extender with Ethernet cable to a EtherRegen and cable to my streamer. My streamer / digital end sounds as good as my really good vinyl rig.

Everything matters, but at the level of performance I currently am experiencing, I am very happy. Maybe I’ll play with it someday. I am enjoying the music right now.