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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.

128x128curiousjim

Showing 2 responses by zlone

zlone
420 posts
 

@jjss49 to do this assessment correctly you should have a well filtered or linear power supply on the ’clean’ side (receiving end) fiber media converter... otherwise, the noisy power supply there puts the electrical hash right back in ... before the dac gets the bitstream, thus defeating the purpose...

I added fiber to my system using the supplied switching supplies and could hear a clear difference. I then added a LPS on the streamer end to complete the setup. I think he is safe taking things in steps.

 

zlone
420 posts
 

@curiousjim It’s way to early decide anything, but without buying another $500 power supply, is there any decent LPS’s that have two or more 9 volt output connections that I can use on these network boxes?

I used one of these from Solupeak on the streamer end, though my FMC's are 5V:

https://www.amazon.com/Audiophile-Regulated-Converter-Raspberry-Solupeak/dp/B08HDGCP3V/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=SOLUPEAK&qid=1680293203&sr=8-6&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.18ed3cb5-28d5-4975-8bc7-93deae8f9840

The price has gone up significantly since I bought mine in December, but still affordable. I can't say that adding the LPS was night and day, but overall the fiber has been a nice upgrade.

 

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