I’ve concluded the listening tests with various config/combos below:

1. EERO -> Supra Cat 8 -> Lumin U1 Mini
2. EERO -> monoprice Cat8 -> D Link Network Switch -> Supra Cat 8 -> Lumin
3. EERO -> Supra Cat8 -> D Link Network Switch -> Network Acoustics (NA) Eno -> Lumin
4. EERO -> NA Eno -> Lumin
5. EERO -> monoprice Cat8 -> FMC -> Fibre patch -> FMC -> Supra Cat 8 -> Lumin
6. EERO -> monoprice Cat8 -> Switch -> Supra Cat8 -> FMC -> Fibre patch -> FMC -> NA Eno -> Lumin

The results I’m going to share here were what I heard in my system, my room, components, etc. I do not and will not dispute if your listening, perception of what’s right etc. may be different or whether or not you can hear these changes in your system.

So here it is…

• Set up 1: Not bad overall as a starting point and by no means terrible. Even after I heard what was possible this is by far not the worst one can do.
• Set up 2: Definite improvement over the base set up. Better, more solid imaging, lowered noise floor, wider and deeper soundstage.
• Set up 3: I thought was the worst sounding combination with switch + NA Eno. The cumulative effect of switch and Eno was unnatural presentation, reduced dynamics, dry sound, slightly artificial sounding instruments, monotone and lacking emotions. I gave it a whirl for couple of hours, enough to confirm what I was hearing with multiple test tracks. 
• Set up 4: Best combination turned out to be a simple one. Reduced noise floor, very solid imaging and soundstage, dynamics improved, deeper more impactful and textured bass. Fleshed out vocals that sound more natural with more natural sibilance. Think of all the improvements I mentioned with set up 2 but taken one notch higher. 
• Set up 5 and 6: The FMC in the chain reduced noise, improved imaging and soundstage but with the FMC I could hear thinner mid and lower bass (although clean and tuneful the bass was just slightly lacking), less slam. However, as I said, because of the improvements achieved here I think this a better configuration than the EERO direct into Lumin. The NA Eno between FMC and Lumin did not help with the thinned out midbass and bass. 
   

I’d like to add that the differences I heard were subtle but important when we’re talking about set up that improved the overall sonics. Again just sharing my thoughts and hope this is a useful read for someone researching and exploring the potential of streaming. 

Very interesting and always great to hear relative comparisons.  To me this says buy good components, and less can be more.  Thank you for sharing your very valuable observations!

@soix 

👍

@audphile1

Not a least bit surprised by your thorough assessment. The ENO Filter is all you need in most applications. I did not care for Netgear Gigabit switch with iFI power supply in my setup either. Now sit back and enjoy music!

@soix

“To me this says buy good components, and less can be more.”
Exactly!

Mine is rather simple too. I run Router-> 6 inch CAT8->switch->Cat 8 30 ft long to ENO-> Streamer. Thinking of placing  iFi LPS on the switch. I need the switch to service both floors of the house

I am definitely in the camp of 'not-so-subtle' differences noted.  I started experimenting with FMCs early last year and the differences were so great, it inspired me to completely switch out my copper LAN for fiber.  I now have tons of boxes (LPS units, video streamers, etc) and a very complex media room.  But it's still whisper quiet.  Try the fiber/media converters on your video streamer(s)/TV.  It will probably surprise you.

@toyman , let's know how they work in your system. The purpose of the two filters is that one blocks crud from the source, the other from induction along the cable.

Try to use non shielded cables in the chain, the sound was rough and hard compared to plain jane, so no need for expensive cables either as most of these are shielded. 

I have the 8Switch and ER and a SOtM switch.

I have the 8Switch between the home router and ER (turned around) to moat the signal to the SOtM.  I found a SOtM dcbCat7u better between the SOtM switch and my streamer than the ENO Ag in the same position.

I was unhappy with fiber between the ER and SOtM.

I'm currently playing about with all this - trying to get the best out of my Zenith Mk3.

I've tried the Sotm ISOCAT7, basic fibre setup and NA Eno.   Of the three the Eno is my favourite, though it's only a day old so hope to hear further improvement.  Like others, I felt the fibre option sounded dynamic and detailed yet brittle.  Impressive in the short term, but wearying to live with.

I'm happy where I am now with:

Netgear Orbi satellite (wifi backhaul)  =>  AQ carbon  =>  TP-Link 5-port switch with iFi iPower X  =>  Eno streaming system  =>  Zenith Mk3

So, unsure whether to sell off the Sotm.

Does anyone think I'll get any benefit from putting it between the Orbi and the TP-link switch, or perhaps between the switch and the Eno?

@audphile1 wrote:

Set up 5 and 6: The FMC in the chain reduced noise, improved imaging and soundstage but with the FMC I could hear thinner mid and lower bass (although clean and tuneful the bass was just slightly lacking), less slam. However, as I said, because of the improvements achieved here I think this a better configuration than the EERO direct into Lumin. The NA Eno between FMC and Lumin did not help with the thinned out midbass and bass. 

This is correct.  Kind of?  The bass seemed thinner because it (fiber isolation) was stripping away distortion.  And if you have big, powerful speakers (Legacy Focus SEs in my case) this is 100% welcomed.  Actually any time you remove distortion - anywhere in the audio frequency band, it is never a bad thing, IMO.  Going fiber all the way from router to FMC before streamer is even better.  Much better actually.  And of course a filter (band-aid) won't help restore lowered distortion unless it's adding it's own distortion to the signal!

I was planning on trying the Muon as next streaming experiment, the following review gives me pause.https://youtu.be/CCLFJgwf21o

This for placement between router and server, already tried fiber and audiophile switch without success, preference is router powered by lps direct to server.

Sorry, this is review I meant to post.https://youtu.be/Elo6cQ1UW1I

@sns  thanks for the link.

He’s not exactly raving (he if can rave) about the Muon. But, he does admit it to being better than the Eno, which he was very enthusiastic about. So I guess it’s a question of trying it out. Its impact will be dependent on the streamer mostly, I guess. I don’t have one of those rinky, dinky Grimm streamers, just a "common-or-garden" Zenith Mk3.

I’ve decided to "what the heck!", and get one as well and try side-by-side with my new Eno. If I don’t I’ll always be wondering, so now’s the time to do it while my Eno is in its 30-day return period.

@fthompson251 ,  I discussed my setup with the Network Acoustics guys before purchasing the Eno.  The advice I got was to put any switch (doesn't have to be a fancy audiophile one) between your wifi router and the Eno.  The switch should have a decent power supply.

I have a TP-LINK TL-SG105S with an iFi iPower X 5V.  As a noise removal step, it's only about £120, so quite the bargain.

If a switch is not needed in your system for switching duties then what good is having one in the chain (as discussed in recent posts in this thread)? In my network, the only hardwired device is my music server, since everything else is connected by Wi-Fi. I can run the Ethernet cable directly from the router to my server, which makes me wonder whether the supposed benefits of clocking and noise isolation provided by “audiophile” switches is of any value, or just another myth coming from the marketing department to sell us more stuff.

Hans Beekhuyzen would have you believe there are benefits in clocking and isolation provided by having a switch as he shows in his “simulated” jitter graph, while Paul at PS Audio and Amir at Audio Science Review both indicate there should be no benefit resulting from the switch, which Amir shows through his measurements saying, “jitter and noise are extremely easy to measure.” Of course, as audiophiles like to say, “everything can’t be measured” and “if you hear the difference but can’t measure it, you are probably measuring the wrong things.” All I know is that in my system the identifiable sonic results of digital add-ons like switches is usually so subtle that I cannot reliably say they improve anything.

@mitch2

As with anything else in Audio, the quality of switch and implementation matters, not to mention the upstream components (like streamer, DAC and so on). I do not know what is your exact setup but I’m using a very high quality switch in my system and it has made a profound improvement in the SQ of my digital front end.

Before buying my current switch, I have tested other Ethernet switches under $1K and they had a minimal or next to nothing impact with ENO filter. Every system is different, so I encourage everyone to do trials and keep what works best in the context of your system.

"I have tested other Ethernet switches under $1K and they had a minimal or next to nothing impact with ENO filter."

@lalitk - I respect your experience and can see that you are currently using the $4K Telegärtner M12 Switch Gold in your system.  However, your comment about "minimal or next to nothing impact" resulting from switches "under $1K" would then rule out the claimed benefits from a number of under $1K switches that are advertised to dramatically lower noise and reduce jitter, such as:

• English Electric Network Switch 8
• Bonn N8 Silent Angel Switch
• UpTone Audio EtherREGEN
• AQVOX AQ-Switch SE
• Fidelizer EtherStream Network Switch
• SOtM sNH-10G Ethernet Switch
• NuPrime Omnia SW-8 Ethernet Network Switch

I noticed you qualified your observations "with ENO filter" so maybe some of the above switches have a larger impact when used without the ENO filter, particularly in systems where there is significant noise on the network cables for some reason.  I guess I keep coming back to -  if I can't hear it, if it can't be measured, and if I don't need a switch, then what benefit am I getting for the money?  Everybody's system and hearing are different but I struggle with the dichotomy between claims of technical superiority by manufacturers and reports of profound sonic improvements by listeners compared to the absence of any measurable differences (Audio Science), and comments by other industry professionals (Paul at PS Audio and networking specialists on these forums) who say these Ethernet switches cannot make a sonic difference wrt to reduced noise and jitter.  Of course the final straw is that if I cannot hear it in my system then it provides no value to me.

the debate or question about whether audiophile grade ethernet switches, high and low priced, provide any better sound is like anything else in considered in our hobby, no?

try it for yourself, then decide - what someone else says only goes so far, it is their system, their ears, their way of comparing, their brain/ego/psychology, not your own

some retailers and makers allow money back trials, or buy it used for a fair price, sell it off if tried and no meaningful improvement is obtained

Streaming can be very confusing, some report great sonic benefits from some particular device, others not. I too have not heard any benefit from the around $1k switch or fiber in front of my server. So now I've been considering Muon filter, but now I see this review,https://youtu.be/Elo6cQ1UW1I

This review gives me pause, seems my assumptions this filter may work in all setups may not be correct.

Per @lalitk, apparent we all need to try these devices for ourselves in the context of our unique setups to determine value. And per @mitch2 , if I cannot hear it in my system it provides no value to me.

@sns

hans is usually quite reliable in his findings i am a fan of his work overall, his dedication

in my own case, i find running an uptone etherregen into sfp to optical rendu (with proper power supplies of course) did make quite a (positive) difference in the sound... but i guess adding up msrp’s of those pieces is well over a grand in cost

@jjss49 I found fiber post server via FMC and OpticalRendu powered by Uptone JS2 to be of great benefit. In fact I've tried many devices POST server that have been of benefit. It's just I've not found switches or fiber PRE server to be of any benefit.

What I did find to be of benefit PRE server:

1.  lengthening  coax to bring modem close to my setup, together with high quality ethernet cable modem to router

2. lps on router (router very close to my setup as well, connected via high quality ethernet cable to server).

3. experimenting with Shakti Stone I had laying around on top of modem.

@sns

ahh got it, i did not appreciate the distinction pre vs post music server...

i think the prevaling thinking is that much noise is going to be on the overall lan, put there by the everyday gear that operates on it, cable modem/router, home office computers, printers, hard wired commodity smart devices, the like... so the key is noise filtration/isolation coming out of the network into the streamer that processes the specific digital feed bearing the music

Following the experience of someone on here (I forget who), I have tried the Eno connected directly from my Orbi satellite into the Zenith - ditching the TP-Link switch (with ifi power supply). And yes, very much so, the SQ was far better. Richer, more analogue, more dynamics, better rhythm.

Just one note of worry, though. With this configuration, several tracks just suddenly stopped - suggesting intermittent internet connection (streaming hires from Qobuz).  In fact, tracks stopping is more common than not.  The Zenith's web interface also struggles to download details of Qobuz playlists, for example

I’ve rebooted the Orbi and the Zenith but the issue returns. But very worrying, but also frustrating as the sound quality is just where I want it.

Has anyone else experienced this?

You'd think a high quality switch would lend lower noise floor to network vs router. If I could do without wifi I'd go with switch, but adding switch to router has not worked out well for me. KISS at work here?

Conundrum is theoretical advantages of adding more filters,etc which adds to complexity, vs most direct route.

“I cannot hear it in my system then it provides no value to me.”

@mitch2 

I couldn’t agree with you anymore. There are so many variables in play when it comes to digital streaming. No two setups are alike, so experimenting from plethora of options in switches, filters and other tweaks is the only way to know what works or doesn’t work in your system. In my experience, I found ENO filter to be way better on its own in terms of performance upgrade (again in my system) than many other options currently available in ENO’s price range.

This weekend, I plan to simplify further by moving my HD Plex LPS to power my modem and router then 45 feet of Cat 8 directly out of the router to the area where my system is and into the Gigafoilv4 (optical isolation) which will be powered by its own LPS, then the Network Acoustics streaming cable into the ENO and into my server.  The server uses the JCAT USB Card XE so I run USB from the server to may DAC.  Later, I will take out the Gigafoilv4 and try it with just the ENO.

Lps on modem is interesting! My present modem supplied by cable company, has internal power supply. perhaps I should look into new modem with external power supply. Powering router with lps was very worthwhile upgrade, I could see this as nice. upgrade.

Several mentions of the Sonore OpticalRendu, but there is a simpler way if you don't want the extra boxes this requires.  Their Signature, ultra, and microRendu devices are ethernet in/USB out devices and have worked well for me.

So I moved things around and my digital signal path is now cable in > modem > router > Silent Angel Bonn N8 switch > Gigafoilv4 > Network Acoustics eno > Mojo Audio server/streamer > Mojo Audio DAC…

The modem and router are powered by two separate DC outputs from a single HDPLEX 100W LPS and the switch and Gigafoilv4 are powered by one each of these 5V LPSs that seem to work quite well for 5V peripherals.

All Ethernet cabling is good quality CAT8 with gold connectors except the run between the Gigafoilv4 and the eno, which is Network Acoustics’ own eno Streaming Cable, and from the eno to my server/streamer, which is the short, captive eno Streaming Cable.

The Gigafoilv4 provides optical isolation just before the eno and streamer/server and is much more convenient than using dual converters and a separate optical cable. The eno provides further isolation using transformers and I am not sure whether this is redundent with the Gigafoilv4.

The Bonn N8 switch is currently located near the modem and router but I also have the option to run the Ethernet cable directly from the router to the Gigafoilv4, without the switch. I may try that option later. I honestly cannot say whether this reconfiguration and adding LPSs has been an improvement, but the system sounds good.

@mitch2  I can't recall all your pre server configurations, but you sure have a lot going on pre server! My experience has always been post server far more important than pre, and simpler has been proven best up to this point.

I'm actually at impasse on network upgrades at this point, no more switches, filters or more fiber for me. At this point all these additions only tilt my sound into analytical side of neutral, certainly there have been the smallest gains in lowered noise floor, but at the cost of a less analog, spacious, natural presentation.

Per usual, YMM, I'm done with any pretense of being able to objectively judge other streaming setups!

@sns, Post server is easy, JCAT USB Card XE outputs USB from the server and the Triode Wire Lab Split Power & Data USB Cable connects the server with my DAC.

I have also tried AES/EBU and coax through an outboard Roon endpoint but none of those options sounds as good to me as the direct USB connection.

@mitch2 did you try without silence angel and gigafoil, just go from router to N.A. Eno. What’s the positive change you hear with these 2 units before the Eno?

I will try w/o the N8 next and then maybe w/o Gigafoilv4.  I am considering running Ethernet to my television, in which case the switch would make sense to keep.  I also sort of like the idea of optical isolation, which makes sense for the Gigafoilv4 so another option would be to leave those two in place and ditch the eno.

@mitch2

There are so many ways to optimize the Ethernet before signal reaches your streamer/server. I believe in keeping fewer devices in the signal chain as each ‘break’ in signal chain introduces new set of problems related to noise and change in overall tonality not to mention complexities from multiple devices. It’s all about striking a fine balance. Alternatively, if all else fails or make negligible audible difference then it’s time to leave it alone or upgrade your streamer/server. Atleast that’s been my experience with my DAC/Streamer and Ethernet switch upgrades. 

@mitch2 cool. Yes definitely try. I found Eno on its own, without switch before it, to be better than with switch/Eno combo. In my system, to my ears.
Agree with @lalitk based on the testing I’ve done, less is more. 

I have some interesting experiments coming up. Have Netgear CM500 modem on way, DOCSIS 3.0 vs. crap Intel chip modems, also external power supply so I can lps it.

Mikrotik CCR-1036-8G-2S+ enterprise scale router, will replace Netgear router/wifi, has built in dual lps, and two fiber modules, also pass 1gb internet speed.

Based on some knowledgable people at whatsbestforum these should provide nice performance boost.

I tried several different configurations tonight between the Gigafoilv4 and the Network Acoustics eno, and I perceived the following differences.

1. Having both the Gigafoilv4 and NA eno fed by Ethernet cable in front of my streamer/server sounded very good. This was my baseline.
2. Removing the Gigafoilv4 and sending the signal through the eno alone caused me to perceive a bit more tonal density. I can understand how this sound could be desirable.
3. Reinstalling the Gigafoilv4 and removing the eno resulted in the perception of a touch more brightness without harshness, but a different sound than the eno alone.
4. Surprisingly, removing both the Gigafoilv4 and the eno, and connecting the Ethernet cable directly into my streamer/server may have resulted in my favorite configuration.

The differences were so subtle as to be borderline perceptible but exercising poetic license related to my aural perceptions I would say #1 sounded pretty good, #2 a touch dark, #3 a touch bright, and #4 perhaps the best balanced. I would like to listen more to #1,2,and 4 but I cannot help wondering if any of this stuff makes a big enough difference to bring value. At least in my system, the direct connection sounded so good that I could easily make a case for buying none of the add-ons.

One other thing I would like to try is to use one of my 5V, 3.5A linear power supplies on the power leg of my TWL “Split Power & Data” USB Cable so the USB power would no longer be coming from the server. I would be interested to hear from anyone else who is powering their USB input using an external linear power supply, and the perceived effect on the sound of your system.

I thought the Mojo dac usb inputs didn't require usb power, if usb board within dac not self powered could make difference. If that case, I'd try another input on Mojo dac, means not optimized for usb.

@sns - I hadn't thought about that but you may be right.  I will try disconnecting the power leg of the USB cable to check it out.  I seem to remember being able to do that with my Pavane DAC. 

Surprisingly, removing both the Gigafoilv4 and the eno, and connecting the Ethernet cable directly into my streamer/server may have resulted in my favorite configuration.

Further listening, and connecting/disconnecting stuff has led me to the same conclusion as before, which I have quoted above.  My system and environment must not suffer any particular noise problems since these accessories that are intended to mitigate noise seem to have almost no sonic effect on my system.  If anything, the ENO adds the extremely subtle effects of smoothness and darkness, with no noticeable improvements in noise reduction as noise in my system is already vanishing low.   

As before, the Gigafoil seems to move things a tiny bit in the other direction, also  with no noticeable reduction in noise.  Maybe this is why my second choice set-up was to include both the Gigafoil and the ENO, since they sort of cancel each other out wrt sonic contribution.  

Therefore, my only conclusion is that these add-on accessories (ENO, Gigafoil, Bonn N8, and fiber with converters) seem to be unnecessary in my system, so I can save my money.  Also, there may be something to the thought that having better components reduces the need for accessories as I cannot envision these things making the substantial levels of sonic improvements reported by some here.  YMMV

@mitch2 not surprised at all by your findings. As the quality of your components goes up the need to have all these filtering and regenerating devices goes away. More is not always better. Like I said earlier, in my system the NA Eno streaming system alone was all I needed. That was with Lumin U1 Mini and Benchmark DAC 3 HGC. 
I’ve since upgraded to Bricasti M3 with Network player (no longer need dedicated streamer) and haven’t yet retested / re-evaluated the sound without the NA Eno. Planning on doing that soon. 

“As the quality of your components goes up the need to have all these filtering and regenerating devices goes away. ”
@audphile1 

That’s been my findings as well. And Congratulations on embracing the future of streaming, today.  The network attached high quality DAC is the way to go. 

@mitch2  Not surprised by your findings. So now I've really upped my game, have custom build ATX board based music server on way, built to exacting standards, this along with JCAT SE Net card, JCAT Optimo S ATX Lps. Will initially use as streamer connected to present OpticalRendu, eventually do rendering via JCAT or Pink Faun usb, I2S, or AES/EBU cards.

I spent some time listening to my digital options yesterday and, as usual, nothing I did was anywhere close to a game-changer with respect to the overall sound of my system.  I reconnected the 45 feet of fiber (instead of Ethernet cable) from my router to a fiber converter and Bonn N8 switch located at my server and then the Network Acoustics eno Streaming Cable into the eno Ethernet Filter and its captive cable into my streamer.  Linear power supplies on everything (even my modem and router) except for the first fiber converter.  Again, no huge sonic changes, but that seems to be the set-up that sounds the best to me. 

I tried the eno in and out of the chain several times and with the eno it seemed to sound just a touch smoother with a touch more tonal density (darkness?), some might call it “organic.”  In my experience, this is not an uncommon effect of adding transformers but I am at a loss to explain why transformers would make a difference to the sound of a digital signal.  Again, any changes were so small that I am not confident enough to say without a doubt that there was in fact a change in the sound.  The recent changes I made by going from Mojo Audio’s EVO B4B21 to their EVO PRO DAC, or by changing tubes in my Hattor Tube Active Stage from reissue Mullard to NOS Amperex 12AU7/7316, both made a more significant sonic improvement.

@mitch2 cool. I’ve done few experiments in the last week or so in my system. 
I picked up a used Purist CAT7 ethernet cable (good deal couldn’t resist). So I ended up listening for a few days with the Purist cable to get acclimated to it. I then replaced the Purist with the Network Acoustics Eno cable (without filter). Then added the Eno filter. The replaced the Eno cable with the Purist CAT7 into the Eno filter. 
Each combination had its own sonic character. I do prefer the sound with Eno filter in place. The most interesting is the Purist/Eno combo as it yields most detailed sound without being harsh. With the full Eno streaming system the sound is just a touch smoother but not as detailed. I can hear these differences without a doubt. 

I am definitely in the camp of: as the quality of your streamer goes up the less important is all that up stream stuff. I have a Aurrender W20SE hung off a wall wart Netgear extender (ok, with an EtherRegen)… the sound quality is equal to my great analog end.

Great topic thanks @audiphile1!  So many great responses resonate with my experience.  A few comments from my own personal experience:

!) Streaming DAC or separate streamer?  Well I thought my streaming Tambaqui was the sh** and so I do not need a streamer.  Tried an Auralic Aries G2.1 and noticeable improvement!  Maybe this means the streamer in my Tambaqui was not up to snuff, but it was clearly noticeable.

2) Upgrading switch or adding switch:  I have a switch in my office and need one. It servers to distribute from my modem to my Nucleus+ and to two audio feeds.  So I need a switch.  I upgraded to a Bonn 8 and I think it improved things.

3) EtherRegen:  This was an early upgrade for me, and I inserted it just before my streaming DAC (or now) just before my streamer.  I look at the ER as a filter or cleaner, and the option to use the A side to feed something else is convenient, but I do not feel that it is to replace a switch but to clean or filter.  It made a noticeable improvement. It does get very warm.  I added three small heat sinks cheap from Amazon to the top and it helps.

4) Acoustic Research Muon Filter System:  Big improvement..  I now have one in both of my systems.  As stated above, it does not necessarily need an ER in front of it, and any switch is reported to be a good thing in front of it.  The Muon improvement was bigger than the ER.  I still like the EtherRegen in front of the Muon.  Fortunately I was late to the ENO game and started with the Muon. If I did not already have the ER when I got the Muon I probably would not have purchased the ER.  Between the heat AND the need to plug it in (I do use their wall wart here) it would be the first thing I eliminated.  But I took it out and missed it!  So it will stay in at least one system.

5) Fibre:  Have not done it.  I have heard pros and cons, and I just use Supra cables.  This is a least more simple and avoids other power needs.

6) Power supplies:  Linear power supplies vs wall warts make a big difference. My main switch and Nucleus + are both powered from one HDPLEX LPS.  Both are in a separate room on separate circuits from my audio equipment.

7) Power supply of streamer:  Look at the expensive streamers- they all have very upgraded power supplies ie Innuos Statement etc.  I went all in here - Custom Sean Jacobs Power Supply for my Auralic Streamer. I  took it on advice and went for it.  This has been a HUGE upgrade.  I suppose I could have bought a 20k streamer but just went at it differently.  Having an amazing and separate streamer does give me the easy opportunity to try different DACS.

8) Next Level:  I have ordered the JCAT M12 switch, 4 cables and two of their connectors for my ethernet runs to my audio systems.  JCAT (Marcin) first recommended I put it just before my streamer.  But as discussed above, I do not need a switch there.  So I will put the M12 switch where I need a switch, in my computer room between my modem and my Nucleus and two audio runs.  Like the Bonn 8 it will replace, I will power it from my HDPlex LPS.  I certainly hope it is amazing!

By adding many things it is difficult to tell what is worth it and what has been surpassed.  Probably in the future streamers or streaming DACS will do ALL OF THIS and maybe some already do.  But, by making the up front improvements (Upgraded switch and LPS for switch and Nucleus in my office), it does keep clutter out of the audio setup.  I have a standard Salamander Synergy four shelf rack in my office to neatly handle the computer front front end, which also includes a RAID hard drive for my ripped CD's and high resolution files.  So Modem, Nucleus+, Switch, Raid hard drive, HDPlex LPS and an iFi Powerbar for it  all live in my office.

All these things are tricky to insert, remove, evaluate etc.  It is certainly nice when you just hear it right away.  I usually have.  I am not a fan of taking things in and out, but have done it enough to decide what I like.  And I have been stubborn.  Each time I say this is it...well we know about that.

I do wonder this - with all the discussion about what DAC is best at what price point, how much is influenced by the onboard streamer?  I think a lot! And of course by the streamer's power supply.  BTW my Sean Jacobs Power supply for my Auralic Streamer uses K-S Realization power cable..noticeable again!

I guess you can tell that I believe everything matters!  

So my new streamer certainly changes things again. No more fiber and no  separate server/streamer.  Present setup: Netgear CM500, Broadcom chip modem, lps powered vs Arris Intel chip, internal switching power supply (this was nice upgrade prior to new streamer). Netgear Nighthawk router with lps directly to new streamer with JCAT Net Card XE (built into streamer), atx motherboard streamer powered by JCAT Optimo S ATX lps (three rails provide 23amps continuous, up to 30amp short term), most amazingly motherboard usb direct into dac. Never believed motherboard usb/rendering was viable vs. dedicated and optimized usb rendering. So, now my simplest streaming setup ever, and at least two floors lowered noise, really one of the greatest increases in resolution I've experienced in many, many years in audio.

At this point, simpler is better, new streamer is extremely versatile so still have many things to try with network and rendering. My experience just goes to show how unique every setup is, what may work in one setup may not in another.