Ethernet Switch Recommendations Please


Hi - I am currently using a Melco S100 switch and considering upgrading. I had an Ansuz D2 before the Melco and thought it was a fantastic switch, but ended up selling it when I moved. Any first hand experience and recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks, Todd

tntmcdade

The recommendation is very much dependent on the budget available. The EtherRegen is a great starting point an offers room for further upgrades with power supply, clock etc.  The LHY switch is a nice next step. 
 

When going „big“ it’s definitive wise to go also for an integrated solution consisting of switch, power supply and reference cable geared to each other perfectly. In that regard the new Tempus switch by Network Acoustics as has already been mentioned here is amazing outperforming even far higher priced switches.  

I tried a number of switches including the 8Switch, Etherregen. Ended up purchasing Ansuz. Ansuz is a cut above the rest. You’ll be hard pressed to get something better. I’m thinking of upgrading to D3 next year. 

I have an LHY SW8 switch to provide multiple access points for my home theatre/ stereo set up (admittedly, more home theatre than stereo). I also bought their power upgrade and LPS power supply for my Bluesound Node, which made a major difference in sound quality. LHY makes nice stuff.

That said, I would NOT recommend the LHY ethernet switch, and I shared this reason with LHY directly. In the never ending effort to upgrade my system, I purchased better ethernet cables, which typically include solid and formidable connectors, e.g., Telegartner. The sonic improvement from a better connection is desirable, and if you have good quality cables with this sort of connector, be aware of how they would fit into the switch. LHY in particular has the inputs recessed slightly, which makes it an absolute bear if and when you need to move/ remove cables, particularly those with beefy connectors. That recess prevented me from accessing the tab on the connector to release a cable, and I resorted to using a screwdriver to press the tab. In hindsight I should have used a longer, thinner screwdriver, because I managed to break the tab off a pricey Shunyata cable.

I came across the Ediscreation Silent Switch, https://nandeaudio.com/geo/, which has gotten excellent reviews here and elsewhere online. I also auditioned the Synergistics Research UEF switch, which was underwhelming at its price. If my wife wasn’t looking , I would be very tempted to swap the LHY for the Ediscreation.

Hope this information is helpful.