I received my Tempus last week – as a replacement for my SOtM sNH-10G switch with Farad3 LPS – I let it burn-in for approx. 110 hours.
Based on Hamelin’s Fauré piano works and Shostakovich symphony 10 by Haitink on BR KLASSIK. I can tell you that the Tempus is the better switch:
Hamelin is played with more pace and sounds more friendly in the higher frequencies
Shostakovich 10 directed by Haitink on the BR Klassik label is portrayed calmer and with more pace also
Put in other words: I notice myself listening in a more relaxed manor to the music – there are mo distractions anymore like sudden aggressive spikes and too fast presented notes.
Please note that I am using the Tempus with:
Network Acoustics Muon Ethernet filter in between audio server and switch
Network Acoustics Muon Streaming Ethernet cable & filter in between switch and DAC
AudioPhool music server 2.1 with JCAT XE network card > Network Acoustics Tempus switch > Weiss 501 MKII DAC >ASR Emitter II excl. amp. > Harbeth 40.2 loudspeakers resting on top of TonTräger audio stands
@adriaan- Thank you! I’m very curious about your impressions of the Tempus.
I thought I was pretty much done with my system, but have become intrigued with the potential improvements from companies like Network Acoustics.
Thank you for your soft words on your perspective @jji666. I am the first to agree that I take things to the nth level, and for many or most this might not be their chosen path. But I do hear the improvements, stand by this, and to me it is worth it. Take care!
PSA: Just a balancing comment that many network engineers and others who understand packet based communications believe that these network enhancing devices do not have any effect on sound quality.
And if there is any "dirt" in a signal there are far less expensive ways to address that theoretical possibility - i.e. fiber.
Not here to debate, just to notify those starting out in audio that these devices are, if anything, well less of a priority than quality base components like preamp, amp, speakers, DAC...
@fastfreight Thanks for posting all your findings. Can you comment on whether the Muon made any difference downstream of the SwitchX? Was there any difference in having it there vs direct SwitchX->streamer -- this would be an interesting delta if the SwitchX negates the need for it compared to the JCat....
@lalitk Bingo; but I suspect that given so many up have less than perfect rooms (the most important and perhaps most neglected component) if if it sounds great for a person (he, she, they, them, x, xemself (saw that one last week)) then that's the ticket. The JCat and Grimm for me were the Brass rings. Make the Grimm a gold one. Next up for me is a try out of Edgar Y. Choueiri's BAACH system. Box is waiting to be unpacked.
I concur with your opinion of less is more, one of the reason I didn’t go crazy with tweaks in my system despite of what I’ve read here and other forums. IME, higher quality implementation wins over multitude of tweaks.
@lalitk I' also thinking of getting the Opt Bridge 1000M Optical Isolator. I wonder it if it requires the special ethernet cabling? Marcin (of JCAT) will know. Have a n open rail /cord from the Cat PSU.
Hello @lalitk, I have now spent some time comparing my current JCAT M12 Gold switch with the GTT Switch X and its companion Wifi X.
The Switch X sounds better. Soundstage is wider and deeper. Instruments are more separated, background blacker. Bass is more present. It is easy for me to hear.
I know I am hijacking the Tempus discussion. I am sure the Tempus is amazing. I love Network Acoustic products and use two Muon Pro systems. But I think it is that the Switch X is also a modem, and creates a clean network for music only. Plus a switch. I think we will see many more of these clean network modems from other manufacturers.
I can handle this upgrade because it is compact, goes in my office, and replaces something rather than just adding another device. (yes it adds the wifi but that is just a fact of having an isolated network for music only).
I could say almost the exact same things as Mr. Kennedy (he is very elegant) about the Switch X as he did about the Tempus. The big difference here is that he is comparing the Tempus to an English Electric (same as teh b with iFi power vs my comparing the Switch X to the much better (as @lalitkknows) JCAT M12 Gold Telegartner switch. with Sean Jacobs AR6 power supply.
The Switch X with Wifi X with included DeJitterit Power Supplies looks like the real deal and a value at GTT's price for this kind of upgrade.
Also to note, I tried adding the M12 back in just before my Muon filter (downstream of the Switch X) .It seemed to make no discernible difference. I wonder if there is a benefit to putting it between my Verizon modem and the Switch X?
Finally, I think most folks miss the point of Switch X also being a modem.
?Smitch X ? Clean Switch X? SwitchMode X? ModeSwitch X ? Modem x Switch?
Looking forward to your further thoughts on M12 vs Switch X. I haven’t thought about any network upgrades since installing M12 more than two years ago. If anything, I am tempted to add Telegartner OPT BRIDGE 1000M Optical Isolator ahead of M12 Switch. This upgrade puts me well over $10K in network upgrades…LOL!
Good thought @wsrrsw, but I don’t think the closet helps. Every device on your network sends and receives lots of packets of info. All this info is bombarding every other device on your LAN.
I have gone back to M12 and listening for a bit…
@fastfreigh Maybe one of the contributing factors to the streamer (we have the same one) sounding so fringing good (ok the current DAC in the mix too) is that in the stereo closet the streamer and DAC are shielded from WIFI interference?
I'm on the cusp of trying the Switch X & Wifi X but it ain't broke and yet I'll fix it. How's that for a deffiniton of an audiophile?
Better yet, are we chasing sound that we experienced when sixteen? Are we trying to keep an audio link to our youth thus defining age? Endorphins any way they come are very good for the soul.
I was worried about this but I am impressed with the Wifi X range. I have an Eero mesh system with two wired units and one wireless booster for my main wifi.. I needed this for whole house coverage. I also have issues with cell reception.
But the Wifi X in my main level office reaches basement, main level and upstairs for control with ipad. The Wifi X is designed to reach for control, but does not need to be super fast ie for streaming or tv etc.
You can play around with the location of the Wifi X, as long as you can get an ethernet cable from Switch X to Wifi X, Of course shorter cables are better than longer, but I have runs of 30, 40 and 50 feet in my house. Most do somewhere. The only requirement is that the Dejitterit power supply (for Wifi X) is near the WifiX unit and a power outlet.
I’m trying to imagine how to implement in my house.
The house is clad in metal & Galvalume. Wifi is needed for cellular service.
In an upstairs closet is “control central” where the house’s Ethernet web starts. In the house are several Ubiquiti mesh devices; the closest to the hard wired streamer fourty plus feet away around a corner. The streamer is in a closet as well.
In an unplumbed small out building is my “shop” with another stereo system in the works. There’s wired Ethernet in there too. SwitchX and WifiX could go there too but that defeats a “clean” house. Further more into the crappy switch in shop is an Ubiquiti security camera keeping an eye on my tools, etc.
Exactly. The Switch X creates an entirely new network in your home called 'Clean Network". You have to reboot your Roon core once connected, then your audio is only available on this clean side or clean network. As such, ipads etc on your existing home wifi will not see the clean side. So the WifiX handles this by creating wifi on the clean network. I use my ipad, select the 'clean Wifi' and control my music. I can easily jump from clean wifi to home wifi when needed, or I just cheat a little bit and use the same ipad on clean wifi to read my book or check messages.
The SwitchX and WifiX are sort of a necessary package, unless you control your digital audio by touching the streamer.
For perfection, this audio ipad would do NOTHING except control your audio. We all know Apple devices like to chatter a bit and all of it cannot be turned off. I think a we bit of internet usage on the clean wifi is negligible to the sound. Chris at Dejitterit explains that the WifiX is intentionally controlled is scope so as to not pollute the audio stream
I’m curious - If the SwitchX is creating a separate network, are you then using a separate device like an iPad only connected to that network for control of the system? Or, are you switching to that network when you want to listen? I assume this separate network is not connected to internet - it is control only. Is that correct?
I suppose it’s an analog to the dedicated A/C circuit many of us are installing for our Hifi systems.
Hi @wsrrsw, Once installed and up and running, I have not removed the SwitchX and WifiX. I do not have the VideoX. To my ears, the SwithX sounds better than my M12 Gold with fancy power supply. I have these components on demo from Bill at GTT.
Three things going on with the SwitchX:
1) Djitterit Power Supply filters DC output to switch.
2) Modem in Switch X creates Audio only 'Clean Side" of your in home network to keep all other noisy things like cell phones, TV's, security systems, Alexa etc. from constantly bombarding the audio signals with noise.
3) The usual good switch stuff.
Wifi X is added to have clean wifi to only control your music (Roon remote or any app based music play software).
I will change back to the M12 soon for comparison. Likely my M12 Gold and its power supply will be available!
Up until the SwitchX, the M12 Gold (with good power supply) was the best switch I had ever heard.
There are many audiophile switches now; but the SwitchX is the only one I know of that has an internal modem to create a clean side of your network. Others offer separate router to do this (Taiko) for much more $. Pretty though!
@fastfreightHow's SwitchX & Wifi X testing coming along?
I'll keep the JCat but I'm working on another system that requires cleaning up ethernet. Just looked a t JCat and the Gold is no longer offered but now there is a Jcat Premium/improved switch.
You bought the SwitchX & Wifi X Audio & Video. Right? Do they allow a thirty day test?
You're welcome @astev1968. The EtherRegen is an EZ upgrade (it was for me).
It gets hot, is easy to sell and a variety of switch upgrades are available and worthwhile. I tried the Bonn 8 but meh. The M12 was revealing. then adding the JCAT power supply even better. The Sean Jacobs is extravagant, but I had it from powering an Auralic Aries G2 (now gone also). So what the heck I tried the SJ on the M12 Gold and it was even quieter. I may have several things available! :) The SwitchX is different. I guess it is by creating the clean network. Sound is more spacious and holographic. I heard this in Bill's GTT room at CAF. Fun to walk from room to room and hear differences (or not even go in!).
Thanks that clarifies things greatly. I appreciate your help.
Great to hear that it's a step forward from even an M12 with SJ PS which is a serious combination.
I use an Etherregen and Muon Pro today and am considering hopping over the mid-level stage to hopefully an end game solution (whatever that really means) and the Tempus and Switch/WiFi X are on my radar as they seem to address things to a deeper level.
Not so easy to find discussions let alone reviews of these two products unfortunately but keeping my eyes open.
I feed both of my audio systems off of the 'clean side' of the SwitchX which is also a modem. this 'clean side' also feeds Wifi X. You need it to be able to control any app based server (Roon). Prior I was using a JCAT M12 with SJ LPS which is also excellent, but does not address noise on your local network.
I have never used AppleTVX; not a videophile...maybe I should. I think the AppleX has the Dejitterit power supply common to the Switch and Wifi.
So far I think the SwitchX sounds better. It is not a fast or easy A/B comparison as I need to rewire a few cables in my office and then reboot my Core (Grimm MU1) and or reboot the Wifi X. so about 10 minutes minimum to change over.
I will do this, but now just exploring the sound of SwitchX and testing the limits of my wifi control w WifiX.
No extra boxes needed. The WifiX comes with modules that allow my RJ45 LAN cables to directly plug in. The Switch is every bit a simple as any switch with a separate power supply. Port 4 is for feed from existing Modem. Ports 5-8 are the clean side. There is an additional RJ45 port for the WifiX
What is extra is the separate wifi X router. It has its own Dejitterit PS and you just plug it in and it boots up and works like any separate wifi router.
So now you have your regular home wifi for everything else (dirty side). You don't even need to hook any of those wires up to Switch X, just leave them on your existing modem or switch, but there are three ports available. And you need to connect one (ipad) control device to the clean wifi.
@fastfreight Also very interested to hear about the performance and how you use the SwitchX.
Do you also use it with WiFiX and AppleTVX?
How do you use the SFP sockets with SFP to RJ45 modules and then Ethernet cables to your Streamer/NAS etc or do you run longer fiber cables to SFP/RJ45 conversion boxes separately which means a lot of boxes!
It seems to be quite a complex setup with a lot of extra items needed so wondering if the improvement outweighs the cost and amount of equipment...
@fastfreightCurious to hear if you think the GTT Audio SwitchX improves on the JCAT M12 Gold w/Jact power. In addition to the Jcat you are also using the MUON w/ the Jcat??? PM if you like.
I also have the Jcat gear coming up from the EtherREgen (and it was good).
@fastfreight Yes I will be replacing an EtherRegen powered by a Farad Super3 with Furutech and SR Purple upgrade on a AudioQuest Monsoon power cord. Before that that I also had the Bonn, Innuos and some other switches.
The EtherRegen with the moat also has a "clean side" - and in addition I have also been using a Sonore OpticalModule Deluxe V2 (also with Farad Super3) and Finntech SFPs. As a Internet modem I use a Fritzbox which has options for routing various protocols, subnetworks, devices etc. specifically - options which definitely further improve sound quality.
In developing the Tempus it was interesting to hear they benchmarked the very best switches on the market - some of them ranging in the 10-20k price range.
So this is a really innovative and integrated approach with switch, hybrid power-supply and reference DC cable everything geared to each other.
Hi @markush, will you be replacing another switch? I am a Network Acoustics fan and have two of their Muon Pro filter systems, As far as a switch, I have gone from netgear(basic) to Bonn 8 (slightly better maybe) to JCAT M12 Gold (much better) to adding JCAT Optimo 3 Duo power supply (much better again). I now have in on trial the GTT Audio SwitchX with GTT Dejitterit Power supply (comes with it)
This is different! The SwitchX is also a modem, and creates a 'clean side' so internet ONLY feeds your audio (ow whatever you want on the clean side) I have my two main audio systems on the clean side. It also comes with a wifi router that also is only on the clean side. So now no internet traffic or pinging from TV's. house wifi, cell phones, security system, other computers or gaming, et can pollute my audio stream. And then the swith aspect further cleans the signal.
This 'dirty / clean' second router system is being employed by other companies including Taiko. They now sell both a Taiko Router and a Taiko Switch.
Additionally, the power supply included with the SwitchX has (I think) filters which further clean the power.
Initial findings are very good, surpassing the sound of the M12 gold switch.
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