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Do I really need an " Audio Grade Network Switch "?

I think it's been a quite controversial topic for years, like what's the difference between normal network switch and an audio grade network switch, the price difference is certainly obvious though...
Anyway, I've done some researches, most audio reviewers say that under this " new digital streaming era " that an network switch is a must for an audio system, which is understandable for me, I mean because if I wanna play TIDAL or Qobuz or Spotify, I gotta use network so I can stream these online services, so yeah I get that if the network quality is good enough, it can possibly level up the music performance.

But anyhow, I'm new to this area, so I don't like to spend big bucks on my first purchase hahaha... there's a very wide range of the prices though, the top one is Ansuz Power Switch I think, the inner circuit and design look pretty sharp, and surely over my budget lol

So I'm choosing between Bonn N8 and SW-8, these two both got good reviews, and the prices seem so darn much friendly to me as I'm looking for an entry level switch now, do any of you have any insights to share?
or should I just go for the higher level ones?

Best,

preston8452

Showing 3 responses by herman

herman
2,274 posts
 

anybody care to go back and see how many times this has been discussed on this and many other forums with the exact same results? Next time somebody wants to discuss this, please do just a tiny bit of research and see that it has been discussed ad nauseam..If I had seen it before you all chimed in I could have summarized the responses before they were posted. 

It is an endless and fruitless debate. It is an utter and complete waste of time. We see the same things stated over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over again

and yet we will very soon see yet another thread where we see the same things stated over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over again

herman
2,274 posts
 

I only wish that people who have nothing but theoretical postulates to reiterate would exercise some restraint.

Dear Mr. Grunge.... amen

I have absolutely no interest in hearing from the engineering crowd about why it can’t possibly work. I have absolutely no interest in looking at test results from Audio Science Review where he doesn’t even listen, he just measures.

I do see value in people stating what they have tried and what the results have been. I see absolutely no value in the naysayers who have various argument about why it shouldn’t make a difference. Bumblebees shouldn’t be able to fly.. but they do.

(and yes, I do know that the bumblebees can’t fly theory has been disproven)

 

 

 

 

herman
2,274 posts
 

spend the 700 bucks for a REGEN and see for yourself. If you don’t like it, it will sell in a matter of hours here on AG.

 

Wonder what this great switch is supposed to do. Will it send more bits? Or less bits? Or bigger bits? Or warmer bits? Or cleaner bits? Or?

Uptone has a money back guarantee. Unlike the smartass who sits and wonders then makes a snarky comment about something they have no experience with  that adds nothing to the conversation, I have tried a variety of such devices including a variety of USB and ethernet reclockers so I at least have a basis for comment. I tried the Regen and returned it as I did not hear a difference.

I currently use a Mutec mc3+ USB to convert USB to AES because I do hear an improvement when I feed my DAC via AES rather than USB. I am not saying this is a universal truth, but it works for me.

 

 

 

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