Network Switches


Another digital question from an analogue guy.

I am currently running an Electrocompanient EDM MKII ( Streamer DAC) and a Small Green Computer Sonic transporter.  Both run off of a Trendnet                         ( unmanaged)  basic switch.

Would an upgraded switch have any sonic impact?

If so what switches in the 500 dollar range would be recommended?

 

rivinyl

Showing 1 response by lurch-uk

I agree with the above comment, the EE8 is an overpriced piece of shite, and would struggle to be vfm at 20% of rrp. I had one here and ran it for 14 days and couldn’t wait to return it for a refund. It’s effect on my streaming rig at best could be described as a very mild polishing of the sound.

I achieved far better results for <£40 with the purchase of 2 used metal bodied commercial office switches (Zyxel 8 port & Cisco 5 port) which I mildly modded by disabling the LEDs, using gardeners copper slug tape over 100% of the internal of the casework, + some 3M RF/EMI patches and leaving only 2 ports open [1 in & 1 out].

Last week I added a Stack Audio Smooth-LAN passive filter directly behind my ZeniTH mk3  and this gave a pretty significant uplift to the sound. This little unit so impressed me that I’ve gone ahead and ordered their Smooth-LAN Regenerator  to see if this will up the ante.

Current Network = Full Fibre to property > 1.5m as supplied lan cable >

Router > 2m cat 5e > Zyxel 8 port > 0.75m cat 5e > Cisco 5 port > 0.75m cat5e > Smooth-LAN > 0.25m cat 8 > ZENith mk3.