Where to place your best switch?
I have a cheap switch after my modem/router connected with cat 8 between them. From that switch I have a 35 foot run of cat 8 that fits into my Eno filter which is then connected to my streamer. (This cheap switch also has a PC, audio receiver, and my TV upstairs connected to it. I have read that audio is best to be separate?) I have purchased and on it's way a high quality LHY Switch that has an OCXO clock and linear power supply built in. MY two options would be:
1. Replace the cheap switch with this switch.
2. Place the better switch at the end of the 35 ft long cat 8 and use a short quality ethernet cable such as a WW Starlight 8 into the Eno Filter.
My suspicion is that #2 will be better but I was wondering if all these connections make a difference and detract from any gains. I have been reading a lot but many of these threads get into pissing matches and get off topic so it's hard to sift through them.
I realize I can just try both options myself. I am not going down the fiber optic route, I am happy with the 35 foot cat 8 connection. This is in my basement and the cable is run already.
Option #2 is what I'm going to try. The lesser of my two audio switches at the end modem/router. Run by a cheapish Aliexpress linear power supply. 15m run of Cat 5 cable to my system. Then Triode Wire Labs Freedom ethernet cable to Acoustic Revive RLI-1GB-TripleC LAN Isolator to better switch fed by a Teradak DC30W linear power supply. TWL Freedom to Pink Faun LAN Isolator to streamer. |
@fthompson251 sounds good. And I’m glad you found my post helpful! Please follow up with your updates when you get around to it. |
@audphile1 The Rubicon has stopped production due to supply chain issues. Thank you. Since I have the LHY sw-5 already coming from Alvin Chee - I will place it at the end of the long cat 8 run, then use a HQ .5 m silver wire ethernet cable to Eno which is attached to the streamer. We will see if that makes any improvements, I will also have a nice shunyata power cord on the switch FWIW. BTW, I read our post about your adventure on this connection with switches, eno, etc-it was helpful, thanks.
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In my recent experience having a fiber connection between the network switch that connects my Roon server to my DAC was a noticeable, inexpensive, upgrade. I put a IFI power supply on the DAC side. This significantly reduced digital glare for me. I then put in a Shunyata Ethernet cable that opened up the sound a bit more, but the greater improvement came from the fiber connection. |
@fthompson251 network acoustics have a new switch called Rubicon. I assume it was developed and tested in conjunction with their Eno and Muon filters so might be worth reaching out to them for a consultation. |
I just went through this. I concluded to put the generic netgear switch near the router and then put the Etherregen at the streamer with a short quality cable into the streamer. Then I realized I could move my Roon Core over to the audio stand and elimate the negeear switch all togehter. So I have an 8 meter AQ silver plated cable supplying my Etherrregen and then all my accessories hooked to it. Addressing Erik’s comment. Etherregen comes with a switching power supply but they claim that their onboad power managment system is all that is necessary. I bought the Nutone audio linear power supply, could hear no difference, and sold it. I didn’t sell it because I could hear no difference. Small improvments are sometimes not audible in a listening session. It was not expensive, and I would have kept it. I sold it because I was sure the difference was small and it runs too hot for my taste. I"m looking casually for an LPS for it, 7 to 12 volts that runs cooler. I just bought Farad power supplies for my DAC and they are nice but pricey. They DID make a difference on the DAC. Jerry |
