Todd @tntmcdade
Melco S100 is a darn good switch…it would be helpful to learn rest of your system and budget to make meaningful recommendation.
Ethernet Switch Recommendations Please
Hi - I am currently using a Melco S100 switch and considering upgrading. I had an Ansuz D2 before the Melco and thought it was a fantastic switch, but ended up selling it when I moved. Any first hand experience and recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks, Todd
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Try the Melco N100 with the Plixir 12v 4amp Linear Power supply. A noticible improvement by adding this power supply. There is also a Signature DC cable - which your dealer should lend you, once you hear the Plixir with the Signature cable you will likely buy both together. Finally there is the ADOT Optical Converter also sold by Melco dealers which takes your digital to a yet higher level. Find a Melco dealer and speak with them about these products. Trying them will convince you! |
I am using the LHY Sw8, I love it. It is built like a tank and made by the people who work with Jay's Audio, the maker of that great CD transport and DAC. I tested several before settled on this. It has great improvements when tested with Tidal. Now I m using it with Plixir power conditioner and mostly Tidal and NAS. |
The most technically adept and best sounding switch I've heard is the Switch X from the DeJitter It company. This switch gets at the heart of what truly makes an ethernet switch a benefit in your system.
https://dejitterit.com/SwitchX/SwitchX.htm
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The recommendation is very much dependent on the budget available. The EtherRegen is a great starting point an offers room for further upgrades with power supply, clock etc. The LHY switch is a nice next step. When going „big“ it’s definitive wise to go also for an integrated solution consisting of switch, power supply and reference cable geared to each other perfectly. In that regard the new Tempus switch by Network Acoustics as has already been mentioned here is amazing outperforming even far higher priced switches. |
I have an LHY SW8 switch to provide multiple access points for my home theatre/ stereo set up (admittedly, more home theatre than stereo). I also bought their power upgrade and LPS power supply for my Bluesound Node, which made a major difference in sound quality. LHY makes nice stuff. That said, I would NOT recommend the LHY ethernet switch, and I shared this reason with LHY directly. In the never ending effort to upgrade my system, I purchased better ethernet cables, which typically include solid and formidable connectors, e.g., Telegartner. The sonic improvement from a better connection is desirable, and if you have good quality cables with this sort of connector, be aware of how they would fit into the switch. LHY in particular has the inputs recessed slightly, which makes it an absolute bear if and when you need to move/ remove cables, particularly those with beefy connectors. That recess prevented me from accessing the tab on the connector to release a cable, and I resorted to using a screwdriver to press the tab. In hindsight I should have used a longer, thinner screwdriver, because I managed to break the tab off a pricey Shunyata cable. I came across the Ediscreation Silent Switch, https://nandeaudio.com/geo/, which has gotten excellent reviews here and elsewhere online. I also auditioned the Synergistics Research UEF switch, which was underwhelming at its price. If my wife wasn’t looking , I would be very tempted to swap the LHY for the Ediscreation. Hope this information is helpful. |
@chowkwan - At the risk of over-simplifying, a router provides a transition between two separate networks, whereas a switch just allows multiple devices to communicate on a given network. Technically, if you only had one device - say, a streamer - you could just use a pure router to get your music from the internet. Most people are interested in audiophile switches because many on the market are reputed to reduce or eliminate network noise (which is a real thing - networks are noisy places). You might just want to put the switch between your streamer and your router to achieve this. But most people have more than one device, and therefore need a switch. As a side note, many Internet routers have built-in switches so that multiple network cables can be connected. These are of the noisy variety, however, and so an ‘audiophile’ switch may be needed for the best fidelity anyway. Hope this helps… |
@tntmcdade if a switch is absolutely necessary then go for it. Otherwise I would sell the T3 and the Melco switch and invest in a better quality streamer or a streaming DAC if you use Roon with good Ethernet cable. Better ROI than a switch. IMO. |
audphil1 - The T3 is definitely a stepping stone and I knew that when I bought it. I am interested in the new Auralic Vega G2.2, but still researching options. I just finished room treatments using GIK Acoustics and I am so impressed with the results. I am starting to really hear the magic of these Magico A5. |
I agree that the best move is to go back to Ansuz. Earlier this year Ansuz updated their Powerswitch lines to the 3 series-generation , so the D3 available now is better than the D2. I have the Ansuz A3 and am very happy with it. Ansuz switches (and several other components from Audio Group Denmark) work best used with Ansuz Darkz resonance control footers. The Darkz footers are expensive, but an Ansuz A3 switch with Darkz C2t footers has a combined lower MSRP than the Ansuz D3. The Ansuz X-TC3 and A3 Powerswitches are both cheaper than the D3; both ought to be worth consideration along with the D3. |
