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Why do I need a switch?

I just watched a few videos about audiophile switches and I don’t understand the need. Cable comes into my home and goes to a modem and then a NetGear Nighthawk router. I can run a CAT6 to my system or use the wireless. If you don’t need more ports, why add something else in the signal path?  On one  of the videos the guy was even talking about stacking several switches with jumpers and it made the sound even better. He supposedly bought bunch’s of switches at all ranges and really liked a NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Plus Switch (GS108Ev3) That costs $37 on Amaz.

Thanks in advance.

curiousjim

Showing 3 responses by ghdprentice

ghdprentice
7,710 posts
 

@markush

 

What is the streamer and DAC you are using? The key to this is that performance is highly dependent on how high a quality your streamer is. The better your streamer the less dependent you are on switch’s… also the downstream components matter determining how highly resolving your system is.

For instance, I run my system from a wall wart WiFi extender and a very high end streamer. In this scenario an EtherGen did no improvement. As I have upgraded routers. There has been no sonic difference.

Thanks.

ghdprentice
7,710 posts
 

OP,

 

Thanks for documenting your experimentation.

ghdprentice
7,710 posts
 

You can get improved sound by fiddling with the network or buying a better streamer. I would prefer to buy a better streamer. So, my system sounds fantastic plugged in to my wall wart WiFi extender (to my Nighthawk modem / router) next to my system. As good as my great vinyl rig.

Some folks put in switches… and Ethernet Regen (I have one… did not improve the sound for me… I have a top notch streamer) and all sorts of other stuff. It can help a basic streamer sound better.

 

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