You continue to evolve and improve your reviews. Exceptional descriptions on the nuances of sound. I don't think many reviewers can match your level of communication with respects to sound quality and auditory experience. I truly mean this. Beekhuyzen is technical, Darko is charismatic, Jay has high production quality, British audiophile is balanced overall but doesn't elaborate often on the technicality of sound, Guttenberg is a bit shallow with his descriptions, Zerofidelity is sometimes political and noncommittal, and others are a bit commercial. You by far have the best communication the experiencing sound. I think your background in music really comes out in your reviews. If i could afford to send you whatever you wanted to review, I would (but I can't). However if you ever considered providing sound samples and needed gear to record it, I would donate to such a project. You really are an undiscovered talent in audio review space. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to the hobby.
Always an enjoyable listening experience! You truly have a gift of being able to discuss what many would consider a "Dry" subject matter with humor and a humble manner that comes Shining Through🤙
My good man, you give an excellent presentation. The thoroughness of your reviews are well received. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into them. Be well.
I found out about the audiophile switch the same way and I couldn’t believe the improvement! I use the Lhy switch too. I have a similar system and I agree 100% with what you said.
Another excellent and highly informative review. Particularly telling, helpful and unique, that you compared the results between different systems to help us understand when and how the right pairing becomes relevant. You're reviews get right at the heart of upgrade concerns, helping us find a rational and clear solution for unique considerations - which really puts me - and I'm sure many here - at ease! 🙏
Hi. My personal experience i replaced my non hifi d-link switch with a Cisco 8 ports switch. I bought the Cisco from a company selling its obsolete hardware on eBay. Price was 100 EUR. Sound Quality improvement was immediate. I dont see the point paying thousands of EUR for a switch.
D-Link is trash in the networking world wouldn't surprise me it was better, a good brand like cisco vs one of these audio switches tho prove to me there is a difference.
Greetings from Perth, Western Australia. This review was a terrific description of the sound impact of the switch and the (dilemma) of the cost effective upgrade when you are otherwise happy with your streaming system. So I bought one. The effect is exactly as you described it and I couldn't be more pleased. As an entirely unexpected bonus, the quality of streaming video on my big screen TV has gone to another level of clarity. Thanks so much for your time and efforts to share your discoveries with us. Its cables next for me :-). All the best.
The only way an ethernet switch could change the sound signature (spaciousness, resolution, soundstage,...flavour ) would be by adding an undercover DSP feature inside it... DId someone ever opened one of this "audiophile" switches and analyse the circuitry, or have found any detailed specs. ?
This is incorrect. The qualities you noted above can, and are, improved by re-clocking the digital signal via the better OCXO clock... this is where the 'magic' is happening.
Hello@@snomofilms I’m sorry, but this is technical nonsense. The network card of your downstream streamer also has its own clock and will transmit the 'audio' data to the DAC, in S/PDIF or I2s format, which has its own clock with which most of the time it over-samples the signal before reforming it in the original sampling rate format, which eliminates any jitter. The 'time base' of the DAC is almost independent of any clock upstream.
@@nicovince9972 correct. But the steamer’s clock may not be better quality than a good ocxo clock in a network switch. So in this case there are improvement to the chain.
Srboljub, what is your DIY dac design which beats Lampizator? I am super curious. I maybe build the same if you direct me. do you plan to share this build? Thanks
what I dont understand: You just send a file to your streamer via TCP/IP. The streamer is where the music file is decoded and sent to the DAC. So how can the Streamer benefit from this Switch? If this was a real problem then all files transfered via TCP/IP would have problems. This would be the downfall of the whole IT world.
The data you send over the network, before it gets to your streamer, is buffered to eliminate jitter and error corrected to ensure data integrity. You could argue that there can be a difference between different digital transports between the streamer and the DAC - and indeed it is possible to measure differences in analogue output due to clock jitter - but the same *cannot* be said for everything *before* the streamer. An "audiophile" network switch is grade A snake oil.
Thank you again for another frank and honest video! Its ironic that you put this video out now as I am in the middle of experimenting with switches.. My system is very revealing, obnoxiously so. Its a blessing and a curse! I used a Meraki 220 for over one year. I still was not getting the detail from streaming that I want. I watch The Alpha Audio guys' channel from Holland. They did a video in December where they tested switches. The Netgear GS108 tested really clean and sounded really good. It was in Jaap's top 3. Its $40 U.S. so I am trying it (with a LPS of course). It is an improvement over the Meraki, especially because I can connect it to an LPS. They were not big fans of the LHY. They noted similar sound qualities that you mentioned but the did not like the mid-high details. I still want to try it! Thank you for again, fearlessly wading into controversial subjects for us! PS. I notice you took down the video where you tell us your name. I really enjoyed that video. I hope that was not because people were rude. You are so kind. Keep being you and delete the rude comments and don't read them! 😊
Glad this video hits the spot. I don't plan to shy away from this topic just because some people don't like it, because it clashes with their understanding of how the digital part of the chain should (not) affect the sound. Also, I did not take down that video, I hope YT didn't block it in some regions, I was certainly not notified about it. Here's the link to it: ruclips.net/video/Cr_CZMqJK9c/видео.html
Hi Matt, as I posted in an earlier comment I have both the LHY and Netgear GS108E switches, the latter with an Ifi Power X PS. The LHY is a class above in naturalness and resolution, sort of sounds warmer and more calm than the Netgear which to be fair was a big improvement over the wifi router. However adding the Netgear in series between the LHY and the router improves the resolution and focus even more, incl the bass tightening up, but retaining the easeful sound character of the LHY alone. Also if you read the separate Alpha Audio written review of the SW-8 they rated it very highly indeed.
@@Wharariki Thanks Jake! When I get a bit of money put together, I think I want to try the LHY. I'll try the pairing with the Netgear (or the D-Link) Michael seemed to prefer the D-Link and the Alpha Audio guys thought it was just as good as the Netgear. It has a bit more detail for me than the Netgear. The Alpha guys thought the LHY had even more detail. I can't stand that some of the files when streaming sound compressed. My streaming is the best its ever been but a bit more would be nice!
Srboljub described it in a way that made me think of alpha audio directly :-) You both provided the best explanations of what a switch does to the sound. And it correlates with my own experience using a netgear gs108 instead of my ISP box
I will make a video about it at some point. It is an old project of Lampizator's designer called Lampucera... But made in an end-game fashion (3 oversized linear power supplies, coper foil caps, etc).
I will tell you about a $40 switch with filtering that matches the SW-8, the Netgear GS108Ev3. I also own the LHY SW-8... Alpha Audio did a switch shootout, it is here on YT and there are some nice write-ups on both switches on their website. Both work, but for the money... Try out the Netgear.
Great review Srbolijub. You make this understandable and interesting. I wonder how these audiophile network switches compare to (lower cost) passive solutions such as the Pink Faun LAN isolator or the iFi Lan iSilencer... Hans Beekhuyzen just gave a positive review on a (higher cost) LAN filter by Muon.
Great stuf, I now use this switch in conjunction with my AppleTV for watching Netflix and Disney+. The image is improved so much, I almost would say it is 8K. So vibrant! 🤩
I've tried a lot of consumer switches (TP-Link, D-Link, Trendnet, Netgear) and they all sound different. After adding a linear power supply they started to sound better. Then I went to Cisco consumer switches and they are in a superior sound class. I ended with a small business Cisco powered by Sbooster as it sounded the best non-audiophile switch. Then I added two media converters with industrial gigabit Single Mode transcievers (powered also by linear PSUs) and a 0.5m fiber optic cable before that switch and the sound improved again. The transcievers sound different also, SM ones sound more airy and natural than MM ones, industrial transcievers have less smearing than the consumer transcievers. For me LHY SW-10 sounds a better investment as it uses Cisco board (better quality components with less tolerance limits). LHY SW-8 is just a linear power supply and a good OCXO linked to a garbage board.
@@iikatinggangsengii2471 definitely, better LAN cables (AQ Carbon/Vodka/Diamond) just before the streamer, in the rest you can use Supra CAT8 or Viablue EP-7 as they are not very expensive. Also swap the stock power bricks from any router/switch you may have upstream (iFi Audio iPower X offers a tremendous price/performance ratio).
I have tried the Sonore deluxe ,as well as uptone etherregen with 7 v Sbooster The SW8 is better ,add the upgraded power cords andfusesincreasesfidelity to all 3 Ethernet switches The Sonore the fiber optic I feel thins out sound slightly in my system.
LHY SW-8 clearly won (IMO) a comparison against multiple switches un by Alpha Audio youtube channel. In order to further improve your digital front end, HEADquarter Audio guy has revealed you also need: autiophile ethernet cables (e.g. Tubulus), LPSU for your modem/router (e.g. LHY), galvanic isolator plug into your stream (e.g. Pink Faun). Also Puritan PSM156 power distributor and Puritan power cables will raise the performance of all your components, especially those with a clock such as Dac and switch. HEADquarter and Hans Beekhuyzen botjh say if you take care of all that, then streaming quality will surpass CD quality on your system.
Hey Connor, how's things. Strong recommendations there which I can vouch for from experience in my system: the LHY SW-8, iFi LAN iSilencer galvanic isolator, Puritan PSM156 + Ultimate cable + Groundmaster. All sounds rather good feeding an OCK-2 clocked R26 into my Athena/Nilai pre/power. And I've yet to upgrade my ethernet cables from a mix of basic cat 5/6 UTP and generic cat 7...
@@Wharariki hey Jake, that is a very well thought out system on paper there - I bet it also sounds great in reality! My hot tip for ethernet cables is Tubulus, they are more of a purist engineering company with great value for money like LHY, Puritan, Gustard, Denafrips, etc. And their ethernet cables are specifically well thought out, not just more or less standard cable in a fancy jacket like many brands. Regarding Athena/Nilai combination, those are two of my favourite components in isolation - how do they synergise in practice? And btw what speakers are you driving?
@@connorduke4619 Cheers man. I built the Nilai two weeks ago have been running it in. It is super smooth, resolving, dynamic and non fatiguing. From memory more 'analogue' and natural sounding than a Topoing PA5 I had (blew a channel so can't compare). The mid-range is a touch leaner - again from memory - than my LFD class A/B mosfet amp (a little like the Yamaha vs Nilai demo Alpha Audio did) but has been filling out a bit I think. Still early days but will do an AB vs the LFD this weekend. May experiment with replacing the internal cables (basic tin, copper connectors) with something like Mundorf Angelique to bring some more mid-range warmth and even more resolution. Sopra No. 1 speakers.
@@Wharariki Thanks for your detailed analysis of the Nilai. Sounds like you have a plan to address one of its very few weak points. Possibly changing to a ceramic liquid filled fuse such as from Furutech (requires long burn in but then excellent) might help as well. Sopra No. 1 is a great speaker!
Not that I would discount anyone's experience with adding a switch to their chain specifically for audio improvements but it's definitely a port where I exit the boat on audiophile gear and spending. I mean if it's such an issue why not save money and just use WiFi for audio streaming? Eliminate the cables all together no? I just don't think people can consistently hear and identify the jitter they claim. I don't think most people can even identify the difference between a mp3 or a flac file ffs, or really regard the difference in sound quality a few DBs of volume will make on a listening impression. I don't think these things would be so contentious if the prices made sense but they just don't, not without evidence of claim that goes beyond experiential. And unfortunately there seems to be a lot of bad information on this subject in the reviewer community stemming from what a network switch actually can and can't do. Even if the perception of SQ improvement is attributed to some sort of improved power conditioning.. still seems like too little a gain for too high a price. 600 dollars for a network switch. I guess it's people's money they can do what they want but damn.. I'm in the wrong business.
It's just audiophile nonsense. He claims he can hear a difference between wired and wifi screaming witch is beyond apsurd. If you closely listen to his audio description is full of contradictions.
Switching from wifi to Ethernet is bound to improve the timing of the streaming. If the local streamer experiences buffer starvation (the streamer not receiving data on time), even for very short times, then this may impact the sound. Any switch would improve the timing the same. Beyond timing, there is the ground loop issue. If the DAQ, the streamer and the switch have their ground connected, then one could imagine some noise from the ground.
Thankyou Srbo for another interesting review. Your experiences mirror mine with the SW-8: it was a big jump over direct to my stock wifi router, a less dramatic but still substantial step or two up over the Netgear GS108E with Ifi power X PS. A suggestion for you if you've not tried it - put the two switches in series, the LHY feeding your streamer. Better still add an Ifi LAN iSilencer on top of the two switches into the chain - they are seriously impressive for their cost and take things up another notch. Review worthy i would suggest.
@@marcgoldstein2957 The iFi LAN iSilencer I presume you mean? I actually have two, both plugged into the SW-8 - one to my Mac Mini M1 Roon/HQP Server (or TV - I switch it over as it seriously improves TV streaming apps sound too but is a hassle to sorta tempted to get a third - I know! 😅), the other to the upstream Netear switch then router. R26 plugged directly into LHY. This the best sounding setup so far after a bit of experimentation, but need to try a couple more locations. Incidentally the system sounds best with the server also plugged into the LHY like this, rather than into the Netgear. This was true even before adding the iFis.
@@Wharariki thank you. Just ordered one to experiment. I use AQ Diamond Ethernet cables (because I can) and an overall very revealing system, so I should be able to hear the most subtle of differences. Thanks for the rec!
I will make a video about it at some point. It is an old project of Lampizator designer called Lampucera... But made in an end-game fashion (3 linear power supplies, coper foil caps, etc).
What you described is what I have heard with other digital components such as CD players, streamers and DACs. Thank you for the very good observances of these sonic differences.
Thank you so much for a review of this product type. I've got the sw 10 and it really scales up if you're using high quality ethernet cables between the components 👍it's a must for showing it's potential, best regards
One thing to mention put a decent $200 Pangea power cordon it and a noticeable upgrade To take it to another level still a synergistic purple fuses for a Audiophile gaining another $7% to me Of improvement on top ofthe SW8 is a nice upgrade to anyone That streams .
I start using a Luxul ags-1016 av grade switch that i got for bargain price on ebay between router and volumio primo hifi edition dac streamer. It make the sound more calm and really fun to listening to all kind of music for long time. For the price its worth it but buying a "audiophile" switch for + 400-500eur will be tuff to spend. Thanks for another great review 😊
Some never, it's not necessary to understand everything you use and enjoy. If you don't know how automobile works, you can still drive one and notice if it's fast, slow, turns well, brakes well... Same for phones, computers, etc. Do you remember how long people truly believed that we can't perceive more than 30 frames per second. Now, a competitive gamer doesn't know much about the biology and how human eye works but it can easily tell 60 from 144 fps. If your understanding of that topic tells you otherwise then you simply don't know enough. Even science discovers new ways to explain some phenomena all the time. The same way, your own knowledge about this topic might not be as deep as you think or you might be looking for answers in the wrong place (digital data itself opposed to the physical analog signal that carries that digital data). I'm both an electrical engineer with a degree that entailed passing "digital communications" among other things, and an audiophile that clearly hears what he presents in these videos. If theoretic knowledge that I possess doesn't match what I repeatedly experience... I just know that I still have things to learn.
@@iiWiReviews " If you don't know how automobile works, you can still drive one and notice if it's fast" - acording to your review of this piece of crap, canging the fragrance, light bulbs and speakers makes the car drive better.
Hi what a great review. I have an experience on psu upgrade for my modem/ router each but not audiophile switch. Which is using the switch mode psu iFi ipowerX for both modem router each. Is much better than same price LPS, the improvement is so good even though WiFi networks streaming. The sq not just lower noise, it makes the sq even live like.
Very interesting, I’m intrigued. I recently went a bit of a different route to make my system better before I knew this existed. I’m now wondering how this would compare. I use an Nvidia Shield android TV as my source which receives its internet connection via my router which then feeds to a TP-Link media converter, that coverts the RJ45 Ethernet into multimode fiber on the transmit side. At the receiving side I have the same media converter but it is powered this time by an Ifi ipower X power supply. That is fed into a ifi Lan silencer filter thingy, which then goes to the shield. From the streamer the data travels via USB to the Holo Audio Red which is being used as a DDC. Now before someone blows a gasket and screams “You bought an audiophile streamer!…Why the heck wouldn’t you use the dedicated streamer as your source in the first place???” It’s because my system plays double duty as home theater and from my experience, I heard minimal difference if any, from dedicated streaming mode compared to DDC mode over USB. Sound quality should be the same from what I’ve been told. I didn’t make these upgrades all at once and I did hear incremental improvements with each upgrade. Now I wonder if the upgrades I made will render this switch redundant for me? 🤔 Also I should note that the cost of my system is nearly $20k worth of gear and is very neutral and resolving, so I could definitely hear if there was a difference or not.
40k + system here. I had the same fiber converter like you and I have the ifi Lan filters. I used that with a server grade Cisco nexus 9372tx switch which was 30k back when it came out in 2013. These are used in Google level server rooms. Can be hand now for like $900 and the changed my system made with these ethernet upgrades was quite insane. I still don't believe it lol. So yes, there is always more.
Srbo, you mentioned a DIY tube DAC in the video, that doesn't appear to be listed in your test system? Can you link to that DAC, please? Are you going to review this, I hope? I am going to look at using a linear power supply on my current network switch. And I will consult with my IT support - i.e. my son - about whether we are using any features of our unit, and what might be involved in swapping these out.
I will make a video about the DAC at some point. It is an old project of Lampizator's designer called Lampucera... But made in an end-game fashion with 3 linear power supplies, coper foil caps, etc.
I believe youre very honest with your reviews and you do a good job describing what you hear. I have had similar experiences with a switch and USB cable different power supplies, you name it. After a certain level, everything makes a difference, one must know what to look for.
I really enjoy your videos and have learned much also. Your love of music must be boundless. Please share more of that side of your journey. I am listening to the musician Tommy Guerrero on my new Eversolo DMP Master Edition. Sharing music is a very productive way to communicate, and better one another's music library at the same time.
Thank you for stepping into these shark infested waters Srbolijub! My experience with an audiophile switch, in this case an Uptone EtherRegen paralleled yours with your tube DAC, however my setup at the time was: Router with a good switching PS > quality Cat 6a > EtherRegen > quality Cat 6a > unmodified Bluesound Node 2i > good quality spdif (Coax) > Benchmark DAC1 Pre. Part 1 There was a little time lag between inserting inserting the EtherRegen in front of the Node 2i, so I did not notice the apparent volume level change, but I absolutely noticed the obvious change in sound quality. Resolution jumped - stereo image (instrument placement and definition), lower noise floor and tighter bass, to keep it short. To be honest I was shocked. I was expecting a difference, but not one that made me think I was listening to a different system. The Benchmark DAC1 Pre went into production ~ 2008 so it's very old, while it was marginally better than the DAC in the Node, one of the things that had really started to irritate me was the graininess of the sound which at times, to my ear, bordered on distortion. This was so diminished after inserting the EtherRegen I actually wondered if I needed a new DAC at all.... and this happened with a newer streamer sending the digital signal to an older DAC. Part 2 I bought the EtherRegen (used) in preparation for a front end upgrade. I demoed the Wattson Madison, a Swiss streaming DAC with Leedh processing volume control and headphone amp. I was sufficiently impressed to buy the demo unit (OUTSTANDING) and I am expecting that this DAC will be endgame for me. When it arrived I replaced the Node 2i and DAC1 Pre with the Madison, leaving the EtherRegen in play. Following a week of listening to the Madison, a used AQ Vodka RJ45 cableI bought arrived, and I did some testing. First I took the EtherRegen out and listened to a track I know well, Prince - album "The Vault - Old Friends 4 Sale", track "When the lights go down". The extended intro has a great bass groove interspersed with pretty bight percusives, piano and drum kit peppering. This was the first thing I listen to that day. It sounded fine, definitely enjoyable, perhaps a little smoother than I remembered a recent playing. Then I put the Madison back with a reasonably priced ethernet cable replacing the AQ Vodka cable. Right off the bat the soundstage changed. Instrument definition, reverb and details I had not heard without the EtherRegen were there. What had been what I had thought of as smooth I realized had just been flat. Resolution jumped and the same things described earlier were back. I have done this test 3 times since and the differences are always obvious. As I intend to listen mostly to streamed music, I see improving the signal chain in front of the Madison further in the future. By the way, the Vodka makes a difference in clarity too and this is where I noticed the thing you experienced with the apparent volume dip...... I would almost describe it as a headroom thing because when you turn the volume up it's a bit like tapping the gas pedal in a Ferrari rather than in an ordinary car. Conclusion Improving the signal going to a streamer or streaming DAC definitely results in clearly perceivable improvements in sound quality. Not sure why you could not hear difference with the Topping DAC. Perhaps it is just the general quality of the DAC but my experience with the Node 2i was markedly different. The audio switches are designed to remove noise and to re-clock the signal using a superior clock, both things are very important, one would assume that better streamers with components that might deal with these issues internally would not show as much improvement but that has not been true with the the two systems I have been listening to, as both benefitted from the audio switch and in the Madisons case, a better cable. Thanks for sharing your findings!
This seems like a no brainer since it’s so cheap to try, I’ll definitely give it a go. Just one question, what are your thoughts on using a NAS to play music from? Would it still benefit from having a network switch between router and streamer?
Ahh… nice intro into the transport, streaming world. Thank you for this. Very happy with this way of testing and comparing. But one point needs more: the router, the entry point. How good is the pass through of the music (information) here? How neutral is it?
No you haven't. I will make a video about it at some point. It is an old project of Lampizator designer called Lampucera... But made in an end-game fashion (3 linear power supplies, coper foil caps, etc).
Even if, hypothetically, noise on the ethernet cable could impact sound quality - a far cheaper *and more effective* solution would be to use an optical SFP network switch and adapter. The network essentially becomes a huge opto-isolator. That would completely electrically isolate your streamer from anything upstream, and the optical cable is entirely immune to any EMF. There is no universe in which these overpriced ethernet switches make any sense. ...not to mention the impossibility of the network affecting audio in the first place. That just isn't how the technology works.
Exactly my thought! As an electronics engineer, the only way I can see a network switch affecting the audio is if the DAC/streamer is letting any noise coming through the Ethernet cable spill over to the analog output stage. In high end equipment I'd expect they'd do a better job on that end... On PoE devices, in the same way as USB powered devices, I could understand that poor filtering on the power supply side having an effect on the analog output stage, but that's not the case here...
This is very timely as I have been looking at this part of my chain. I have Qobuz=>NetGear modem/router=>Ethernet cable=>Mercury Streamer v1=>18” audiophile I²S cable=>Pontus II=>Schiit Freya+ (w/supercharged tube circuit, replaced all capacitors & resistors w/audiophile-grade)=> McIntosh MC512 Power Amp=> DynAudio Contour 20s. I think that my system may get an audible benefit from this network switch? I have also been contemplating putting a medical isolation transformer (Tripp Lite IS250HG Isolation Transformer 250W Medical Surge), between my wall outlet and just my source components (Modem, Steamer & DAC), to clean-up the electrical supply. What do you think?
No it wouldn't change a thing. You might "hear a difference", but it's just in your head. The problem here is that people who are coming from analogue world seem to think that digital transfer is similarly affected in that the sender sents a pristine signal and the receiver receives something resembling the original signal. That is not how digital transmission works. The signal is broken into packets of data that have timestamp, order number and checksum as metadata in addition to the signal data itself. It is then reconstructed by means of metadata and then fed into the DAC's buffer. It's mathematically same. Any difference you hear is your brain having fun with your wallet (buffer underruns due to faulty cabling notwithstanding).
I am always looking for more budget friendly solutions so I went looking in the medical world. There is such a thing as a Baaske medical network separator you can find it for around a 100. It is a transparent (to the network) yet galvanically separated passive connector.
I have also been contemplating putting a medical isolation transformer (Tripp Lite IS250HG Isolation Transformer 250W Medical Surge), between my wall outlet and just my source components (Modem, Steamer & DAC), to clean-up the electrical supply. What do you think?
@@bobb.9917 I think anything that reduces HF electrical noise in connections to your components can only be a good thing. Ethernet galvanic isolation via filters like the Baaske etc or a cleaner AC source together contribute to a lower noise environment. Better grounding including signal grounding helps too. All highly recommended.
@@bobb.9917I think Srbo will probably try an isolation transformer/power conditioner in the future aswell. It's the next step. Or a common ground sink.
I'm gonna call bull on this. This could be perception bias but as the streamer will have a buffer to ensure packets that arrive 'out of order' and errored cause no problems how can the transport have any effect ? The internal construction of the device is excellent though (as it should be at that price, deserves a glass lid)
EMI is a little more complex than focusing on only the signal itself, as an example I recently bought a galvanic isolator for 20 euro quite recently just for trying (in worst case I just have some surge protection for my streamer) and just put it between my streamer and switch. And to my surprise it did improve the sound a by giving me a tiny bit more detail, but the effect stayed regardless if I played local or streamed music. So it was noise introduced by the physical connection to my switch rather than a change to the digital signal.
@@tobiaxelsson Its nothing to do with EMI at all, The buffer takes care of any timing of arrivals of packets even if they're not in order. It like saying you can taste the difference in water from a lake at the instant a drip is put in a mile away.
@@jeffreydoujon638 I wasn't referring to timing at all if you actually cared to read what I wrote instead of directly jumping to defense. Timing is just one aspect and for any asynchronous signal it would be less critical (unless there are some serious issues in the chain). But your analogy is not applicable in my case, a more fitting would be if I pour some really bitter stuff continuously upriver (keyword continuously) then you should not be surprised that anything you taste downriver tastes a bit bitter.
@@tobiaxelsson OK lets reverse the question, How does this switch affect EMI or anything if the signal goes into a buffer which removes ANY affect before the DAC stage ? In the lake analogy a the lake takes out the bitter taste entirely before it gets to you.
If you know what preamplifier is you're an audiophile for sure. 😊 Price doesn't even matter. I considered myself one even with an old $80 Harman Kardon integrated hooked to $200 speakers, with Creative Audigy 4 feeding them. 300 in total. That was my budget, that was what I had and enjoyed. The fact that I liked the hoby and the music is what made me an audiophile, not the price of components.
If we open the audio grade switch are we going to find yet another D-LINK switch covered in glue and with chip numbers sanded off to hide nothing is different - but for the price.
Maybe watch the video before copy pasting other brand's behavior to this one. Or just go and look official page where all of that is fully disclosed and even pictured.
Have you ever done a video on your tube dac that you built? That's my favortie thing to build and I have built a couple of tube dacs, my favorite being my TDA1541A with a hybrid SS P-P with a 5687 follower. Great reviews and I would love to hear about your dac.
I haven't but I will make a video at some point. It's Ficus' old design based on CS chip (don't know the model without checking) and 6N6P tube (anode follower). When done with high quality parts it sounds soo good I was completely surprised.
@@iiWiReviews Ficus' did a lot of fun things over the years and documented them well, so I can look at that. You should acquire a TDA1541A (single crown is best) and do something like what you did with the CS chip. It's amazing. There's a great board on DIYAUDIO called the Ryanj D3 board. I wrote a guide on how to populate the board (lots of smds but not hard) Cheers, and thanks for your reviews!
Everything travelling along a digital signal that isn't actually the 0's and 1's let's say electrical noise can cause problems at the DAC. Aka jitter. Jitter can actually only cause problems at analog conversion. That's why clean power everywhere in a HiFi system is that important, even at the ethernet level. It has nothing to do with the signal integrity in the digital domain. Remember that a digital signal isn't anything more than an actual analog signal representing 0's and 1's. The easier it is to interpret a digital signal, the less processing is required as well, resulting in better sound. So even the exact time a signal arrives is very important.
Great and concise explanation by Alain. Unfortunately it's not super intuitive. People that don't understand it will probably fall back to oversimplified idea of equalising the whole signal with the data it carries. It's a common pitfall even for people with decent technical background.
@@afrancois1968 The exact time a packet of data arrives over an Ethernet TCP/IP stream is absolutely irrelevant they can arrive seconds late or early, synchronously or asynchrounously it make NO difference as an ethernet device has a defualt buffer of 8KB (To a maximum of 8MB (So nearly a whole track at 16/44))
Got my Lampizator Baltic V3 upgraded to V4 and I am super curious of your comparison review of your new tube DAC given you prefer it to the Baltic, btw which Baltic version did you own? The Baltic is by a considerable margin better than my Denafrips Terminator II, your tube DAC must be a killer value...
Thanks for great review, I am also thinking to buy switch 8 but want to know if I use wifi for my Ifi zen stream which is connected to xsabre pro with Schiit Freya+ n nad c298, vs switch 8 for wired connection will there be sound diff. Thanks n regards Vivek
Ethernet cables are extremely resistant to electrical noise. They transmit data through balanced twisted pairs inside a grounded shielded cable. The data on the recipient end is buffered to eliminate jitter, and integrity checked and retransmitted to eliminate any possible corruption due to signal noise that manages to get through - which for individual cables (rather than tight bundles of dozens of cables) over short domestic runs, is essentially zero. These cables are designed to run close to their limits pushing many orders of magnitude more data in far more electrically noisy environments (e.g. in datacentres) than you have in your home. A short run of XLR balanced cable between your DAC and amp is an antenna in comparison to an ethernet cable.
Took a chance on an SMSL SU10 by recommendation of this channel and pleased with it. Can anyone share the make and model of the DAC shown here in this video? Is it available in the States? Thanks!
- spaceX sending rockets to space using normal switches, using petabytes of data with magnitudes more precision then audio signal - all bit perfect - whole financial system sending billions of hundreds currencies, stocks, derevatives, where single bit of imperfection could cause lose of unimaginable amounts of money - using standard switches - audiophile - this digital signal is colored, you need to buy more expensive device I'm sure you can hear the difference - you just don't realise that what you call sound is generated by your brain, not the device.
Great review! I connected an iFi iPower 2 low noise power supply to my router and loved the improvement in Sound Quality - as you said everything is less hazy and more palpable; ditto with volume too. I would love to get this switch but I ditched LAN cables because Wi-Fi sounded better with my Zen Stream. Crazy, isn’t it? 😅
@@andrewmccorkell652 I thought so too. But WiFi on 5Ghz turned out to be better Sound Quality than Audioquest/Belden LAN cables. And cheaper of course.
The "last switch", that your zen is connected to, must be quality switch. And your lan cable is equally important. You may have better results with non-shielded cables. WiFi offers complete isolation, that's one advantage.
@Aditya I believe you are correct the Zen stream sounds better with wifi rather than ethernet cable. I hear a softer treble, not less detailed but a hard edge has been removed, making the sound less digital. Thanks for the suggestion.
Very helpful video thank you.! PS. I recently went back to CD’s but am still keen on streaming. You should try a high end dedicated CD transport ( with no dac) say like jays Audio. I personally use a Primare DD35. It’s blows my streamer ( which is a pretty decent one out of the water) It is night and day.
I'm sorry you did this review. I've always valued your independence and a good, balanced review but the audio network switch is audio voodoo, as are the gold fuses and hi-end cable stands, too bad the last independent reviewer screwed up and sold out
I'm sorry that you truly belive that I sold out and I'm lying to all of you. Has it ever occurred to you that most of us reviewers are actually not sellouts but simply have good systems and trained ears to spot these differences cause we do this a every day? As I said in the video, this is not even affiliated... I was well aware this will have a strong pushback. I did it anyway because I'm not doing what masses want me to but what I belive to be right, because I hear what I hear. That's all from me, if my whole body of work so far was not enough for you not to call me a sellout as soon as I did something you didn't like... Then goodbye and good luck.
@@iiWiReviews so you don't make any profits from profit through your youtube channel? and you do it for purely altruistic reasons? and the ending topic of the switch of the laws of physics can not be cheated, companies selling such audio voodoo are based on the lack of knowledge of people, that's why they never conduct blind tests, so I won't polimise so much from me, it's a pity because it was good canal
Lepo je Siniša Rankov - Sinevoice objasnio: Postoje audiofili i postoje hajfisti, Audiofili uživaju u slušanju muzike na kvalitetnoj opremi a hajfisti vole da slušaju svoju opremu misleći da vole muziku. Ja bih lično dodao i da potonji obožavaju da preplaćuju svoju opremu bespotrebnim stvarima kao što je ovo đubre kome bi jedan CISCO pozavideo na ceni (metafora na ovce i šišanje). Srboljube, svič je mrežni uređaj pa samim negova konstrukcija mora da bude kompatibilna sa nekim od IEEE 802 standarda, mene zanima ako bi mi ljubazno objasnio koji tačno 802 standard pokriva "audio" svičeve, i šta taj standard - ako postoji uopšte, tačno doprinosi u kvalitetu zvuka?? Primera radi kao što je recimo 802.11 doneo nove standarde u Wi-Fi konekciji koristeći nove metode modulacije signala uz veću širinu propusnog opsega sa svakom sledećom iteracijom itd. To bih zaista voleo da čujem pre nego ove High Files magazin tipove arbitrarnih izjava koje potpadaju pod lične preferencije, trenutno raspoloženje i doživljaj recenzenata tipa "oštriji zvuk, šira pozornica, punchy udarac basa, responzivnija činela, orkestar koji svira ispred tebe tj. kao da si tamo" Pozdrav
without writing my impressions on various tests made, the best and cheapest solution for the best sound is the following: modem (connect only one cable if possible that goes to the switch, turn off all the LEDs on the modem (if possible), I had done with an external device (range extender) the wi-fi connection, to minimize electrical noise on the modem, then turn off the wi-fi on the modem) ---> "1" switch (netgear or dlink the best cheap) yes re-enter another switch "2" (to be dedicated exclusively to the stremer)---> streamer/pc, ifi power2 power supplies, and minimum audioquest ethernet cables cinnamon, cables as short as possible (audioquest to be used only between modem-switch -switch-streamer, for everything else use normal cables), all under filtered power strip for all digital components, dynavox 4200s is already fine. For further fine tuning, place rubber grommets under the various components to eliminate vibration. I still have to try the fiber optic solution which then converts to ethertnet, it's another 100e, but thanks to amazon if it doesn't work I'll return it, I've heard conflicting opinions on this solution, so I have to try it on my skin as always.
I have used the "Apple Airport Extreme " in this capacity since the dawn of my digital streaming life. I plan to test how a D-Link might improve things or not. A path to an audiophile switch is forming. Everything affects the muic.
If you play the same song twice it will buffer into the streamer and you won't be "listening" to the switch but to the internal memory of your streamer. Try disconnecting the switch while playing audio and it will keep going for quite some time - you are always listening to the streamer, and not the switch because of buffering. Also you lost me on the beginning of your sound comparison - "energy of the leading notes decreased, and that makes the sound more revealing" - this makes no sense because it should be the other way around.
that may be true if it is a song fetched from your local network, but no streaming service permits storage of a complete song. but that is actually not the point, as the problem seem to not be in the data represented by voltage or current signals in the ethernet cable, but some noise that rides along with it, and despite inductive coupling, finds its way into the streamer.
@@gioponti6359 Whatever you are listening to gets prebuffered one way or another. Also his audio description makes no sense. How can less energy lead to more revealing? Seems to me he is just spewing audiophile terms.
@@TheSecondMaker i do not doubt that data gets buffered, but streaming content provider e.g. Quobuz or Tidal etc do not allow that your internal temporary storage contains your last soandso many songs. You didn’t comment on the more important parts i commented…? Noone doubts the datastream arrives fully and intact at the streamer. There seem to be some other effect taking place by connecting a streamer with a switch despite inductive coupling i.e. not conductive, at least predominantly.
@@TheSecondMaker Not all energy is useful and informative. When you have positive feedback anywhere in the chain (like with microphonic tubes, or mics in live events) that's added energy to notes. It's also distortion of the original tone that doesn't cary any useful information but actually overshadows it. So no, I'm not inconsistent but you're mixing energy with information.
@@gioponti6359if a song is play from Tidal , You have the switches from tidal data Center and cables they use, SO it won't matter what switch You have local. When You play using buffering , You are just copping data files , SO local switches never matters anyways
Have you tried the fiio r7 it is a good DAC and seems as good as my Mytec DAC , My cobal Fyer Fly DAC is ok when I travel.. There are differences vy all DAC's I agree, The fiio r7 works well all a round. If yuo can do a review. I have 4 DACs I likethe fiio as much as the Mytec the headphone make a huge difference also so I test always with the same headphone at a time then another like the HiFIMan or Audiotecnica,
You continue to evolve and improve your reviews. Exceptional descriptions on the nuances of sound. I don't think many reviewers can match your level of communication with respects to sound quality and auditory experience. I truly mean this. Beekhuyzen is technical, Darko is charismatic, Jay has high production quality, British audiophile is balanced overall but doesn't elaborate often on the technicality of sound, Guttenberg is a bit shallow with his descriptions, Zerofidelity is sometimes political and noncommittal, and others are a bit commercial. You by far have the best communication the experiencing sound. I think your background in music really comes out in your reviews. If i could afford to send you whatever you wanted to review, I would (but I can't). However if you ever considered providing sound samples and needed gear to record it, I would donate to such a project. You really are an undiscovered talent in audio review space. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to the hobby.
Well said, E. Sand! I couldn't agree more.
Ditto!!!
Definitely agree with you ❤ he is exceptional
Totally agree. Very detailed and easy to understand audio description. Also like Simon Price.
Well said!
Always an enjoyable listening experience! You truly have a gift of being able to discuss what many would consider a "Dry" subject matter with humor and a humble manner that comes Shining Through🤙
My good man, you give an excellent presentation. The thoroughness of your reviews are well received. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into them. Be well.
I found out about the audiophile switch the same way and I couldn’t believe the improvement! I use the
Lhy switch too. I have a similar system and I agree 100% with what you said.
Another excellent and highly informative review. Particularly telling, helpful and unique, that you compared the results between different systems to help us understand when and how the right pairing becomes relevant. You're reviews get right at the heart of upgrade concerns, helping us find a rational and clear solution for unique considerations - which really puts me - and I'm sure many here - at ease! 🙏
Hi. My personal experience i replaced my non hifi d-link switch with a Cisco 8 ports switch. I bought the Cisco from a company selling its obsolete hardware on eBay. Price was 100 EUR. Sound Quality improvement was immediate. I dont see the point paying thousands of EUR for a switch.
For those wondering, I'm certain this is a reference to the Cisco 2960 8 port switch. Can confirm that I also had this positive experience with it.
Which model please?
@@listopad44as mentioned above. Cisco.
D-Link is trash in the networking world wouldn't surprise me it was better, a good brand like cisco vs one of these audio switches tho prove to me there is a difference.
Greetings from Perth, Western Australia. This review was a terrific description of the sound impact of the switch and the (dilemma) of the cost effective upgrade when you are otherwise happy with your streaming system. So I bought one. The effect is exactly as you described it and I couldn't be more pleased. As an entirely unexpected bonus, the quality of streaming video on my big screen TV has gone to another level of clarity. Thanks so much for your time and efforts to share your discoveries with us. Its cables next for me :-). All the best.
I'm very glad to hear this kind of feedback. Cheers for the Australia! 🍻
The only way an ethernet switch could change the sound signature (spaciousness, resolution, soundstage,...flavour ) would be by adding an undercover DSP feature inside it...
DId someone ever opened one of this "audiophile" switches and analyse the circuitry, or have found any detailed specs. ?
This is incorrect. The qualities you noted above can, and are, improved by re-clocking the digital signal via the better OCXO clock... this is where the 'magic' is happening.
Hello@@snomofilms
I’m sorry, but this is technical nonsense. The network card of your downstream streamer also has its own clock and will transmit the 'audio' data to the DAC, in S/PDIF or I2s format, which has its own clock with which most of the time it over-samples the signal before reforming it in the original sampling rate format, which eliminates any jitter. The 'time base' of the DAC is almost independent of any clock upstream.
@@nicovince9972 correct. But the steamer’s clock may not be better quality than a good ocxo clock in a network switch. So in this case there are improvement to the chain.
You are clueless. Another keyboard warrior with no direct experience
Srboljub, what is your DIY dac design which beats Lampizator? I am super curious. I maybe build the same if you direct me. do you plan to share this build? Thanks
what I dont understand: You just send a file to your streamer via TCP/IP. The streamer is where the music file is decoded and sent to the DAC. So how can the Streamer benefit from this Switch?
If this was a real problem then all files transfered via TCP/IP would have problems. This would be the downfall of the whole IT world.
The data you send over the network, before it gets to your streamer, is buffered to eliminate jitter and error corrected to ensure data integrity. You could argue that there can be a difference between different digital transports between the streamer and the DAC - and indeed it is possible to measure differences in analogue output due to clock jitter - but the same *cannot* be said for everything *before* the streamer. An "audiophile" network switch is grade A snake oil.
some people SWEAR by linear power supplies for USB SSD/HDD drives.
i just smile along and keep it movin’
@@Aethid which data? Broadcast ARP, UDP, DNS queries?
@AudriusN We are talking about music files stored on a device on the local network. So SMB or NFS via TCP.
@@Aethid Audio**** think there's no other traffic going in the network. Or that switches know which packets/frames contain audio data in paylod.
Thank you again for another frank and honest video! Its ironic that you put this video out now as I am in the middle of experimenting with switches.. My system is very revealing, obnoxiously so. Its a blessing and a curse! I used a Meraki 220 for over one year. I still was not getting the detail from streaming that I want. I watch The Alpha Audio guys' channel from Holland. They did a video in December where they tested switches. The Netgear GS108 tested really clean and sounded really good. It was in Jaap's top 3. Its $40 U.S. so I am trying it (with a LPS of course). It is an improvement over the Meraki, especially because I can connect it to an LPS. They were not big fans of the LHY. They noted similar sound qualities that you mentioned but the did not like the mid-high details. I still want to try it! Thank you for again, fearlessly wading into controversial subjects for us! PS. I notice you took down the video where you tell us your name. I really enjoyed that video. I hope that was not because people were rude. You are so kind. Keep being you and delete the rude comments and don't read them! 😊
Glad this video hits the spot. I don't plan to shy away from this topic just because some people don't like it, because it clashes with their understanding of how the digital part of the chain should (not) affect the sound. Also, I did not take down that video, I hope YT didn't block it in some regions, I was certainly not notified about it. Here's the link to it: ruclips.net/video/Cr_CZMqJK9c/видео.html
Hi Matt, as I posted in an earlier comment I have both the LHY and Netgear GS108E switches, the latter with an Ifi Power X PS. The LHY is a class above in naturalness and resolution, sort of sounds warmer and more calm than the Netgear which to be fair was a big improvement over the wifi router. However adding the Netgear in series between the LHY and the router improves the resolution and focus even more, incl the bass tightening up, but retaining the easeful sound character of the LHY alone. Also if you read the separate Alpha Audio written review of the SW-8 they rated it very highly indeed.
@@Wharariki Thanks Jake! When I get a bit of money put together, I think I want to try the LHY. I'll try the pairing with the Netgear (or the D-Link) Michael seemed to prefer the D-Link and the Alpha Audio guys thought it was just as good as the Netgear. It has a bit more detail for me than the Netgear. The Alpha guys thought the LHY had even more detail. I can't stand that some of the files when streaming sound compressed. My streaming is the best its ever been but a bit more would be nice!
Nice decription of what a switch does. Kudos! 🙂
Srboljub described it in a way that made me think of alpha audio directly :-) You both provided the best explanations of what a switch does to the sound. And it correlates with my own experience using a netgear gs108 instead of my ISP box
Can you share more about your DYI tube dac that you mentioned?
Yes tell us more!
I will make a video about it at some point. It is an old project of Lampizator's designer called Lampucera... But made in an end-game fashion (3 oversized linear power supplies, coper foil caps, etc).
@@iiWiReviewswhat switch are you currently using in your system?
I can’t afford this level of equipment, however it’s nice to hear a legit comparison to a more real world piece to a semi expensive piece
I will tell you about a $40 switch with filtering that matches the SW-8, the Netgear GS108Ev3. I also own the LHY SW-8... Alpha Audio did a switch shootout, it is here on YT and there are some nice write-ups on both switches on their website. Both work, but for the money... Try out the Netgear.
One of those products where I always will require any kind of ab testing before I buy into any claims
A DIY tube dac you're using now? looking forward to that review!
Great review Srbolijub. You make this understandable and interesting.
I wonder how these audiophile network switches compare to (lower cost) passive solutions such as the Pink Faun LAN isolator or the iFi Lan iSilencer...
Hans Beekhuyzen just gave a positive review on a (higher cost) LAN filter by Muon.
Great stuf, I now use this switch in conjunction with my AppleTV for watching Netflix and Disney+. The image is improved so much, I almost would say it is 8K. So vibrant! 🤩
I've tried a lot of consumer switches (TP-Link, D-Link, Trendnet, Netgear) and they all sound different. After adding a linear power supply they started to sound better. Then I went to Cisco consumer switches and they are in a superior sound class. I ended with a small business Cisco powered by Sbooster as it sounded the best non-audiophile switch. Then I added two media converters with industrial gigabit Single Mode transcievers (powered also by linear PSUs) and a 0.5m fiber optic cable before that switch and the sound improved again. The transcievers sound different also, SM ones sound more airy and natural than MM ones, industrial transcievers have less smearing than the consumer transcievers.
For me LHY SW-10 sounds a better investment as it uses Cisco board (better quality components with less tolerance limits). LHY SW-8 is just a linear power supply and a good OCXO linked to a garbage board.
should try better lan cable for more bass
@@iikatinggangsengii2471 definitely, better LAN cables (AQ Carbon/Vodka/Diamond) just before the streamer, in the rest you can use Supra CAT8 or Viablue EP-7 as they are not very expensive. Also swap the stock power bricks from any router/switch you may have upstream (iFi Audio iPower X offers a tremendous price/performance ratio).
🤣@@iikatinggangsengii2471
@@iikatinggangsengii2471😂
Nice review, precisely what I was looking for. Subscribed!
I have tried the Sonore deluxe ,as well as uptone etherregen with 7 v Sbooster
The SW8 is better ,add the upgraded power cords andfusesincreasesfidelity to all 3 Ethernet switches
The Sonore the fiber optic I feel thins out sound slightly in my system.
Great video, hard to find reviews on LHY products. I'm interested in this and the LHY SW-6, which is also hard to find reviews on....
LHY SW-8 clearly won (IMO) a comparison against multiple switches un by Alpha Audio youtube channel. In order to further improve your digital front end, HEADquarter Audio guy has revealed you also need: autiophile ethernet cables (e.g. Tubulus), LPSU for your modem/router (e.g. LHY), galvanic isolator plug into your stream (e.g. Pink Faun). Also Puritan PSM156 power distributor and Puritan power cables will raise the performance of all your components, especially those with a clock such as Dac and switch. HEADquarter and Hans Beekhuyzen botjh say if you take care of all that, then streaming quality will surpass CD quality on your system.
Hey Connor, how's things. Strong recommendations there which I can vouch for from experience in my system: the LHY SW-8, iFi LAN iSilencer galvanic isolator, Puritan PSM156 + Ultimate cable + Groundmaster. All sounds rather good feeding an OCK-2 clocked R26 into my Athena/Nilai pre/power. And I've yet to upgrade my ethernet cables from a mix of basic cat 5/6 UTP and generic cat 7...
@@Wharariki hey Jake, that is a very well thought out system on paper there - I bet it also sounds great in reality! My hot tip for ethernet cables is Tubulus, they are more of a purist engineering company with great value for money like LHY, Puritan, Gustard, Denafrips, etc. And their ethernet cables are specifically well thought out, not just more or less standard cable in a fancy jacket like many brands.
Regarding Athena/Nilai combination, those are two of my favourite components in isolation - how do they synergise in practice?
And btw what speakers are you driving?
@@connorduke4619 Cheers man. I built the Nilai two weeks ago have been running it in. It is super smooth, resolving, dynamic and non fatiguing. From memory more 'analogue' and natural sounding than a Topoing PA5 I had (blew a channel so can't compare). The mid-range is a touch leaner - again from memory - than my LFD class A/B mosfet amp (a little like the Yamaha vs Nilai demo Alpha Audio did) but has been filling out a bit I think. Still early days but will do an AB vs the LFD this weekend. May experiment with replacing the internal cables (basic tin, copper connectors) with something like Mundorf Angelique to bring some more mid-range warmth and even more resolution. Sopra No. 1 speakers.
@@Wharariki Thanks for your detailed analysis of the Nilai. Sounds like you have a plan to address one of its very few weak points. Possibly changing to a ceramic liquid filled fuse such as from Furutech (requires long burn in but then excellent) might help as well. Sopra No. 1 is a great speaker!
Not that I would discount anyone's experience with adding a switch to their chain specifically for audio improvements but it's definitely a port where I exit the boat on audiophile gear and spending. I mean if it's such an issue why not save money and just use WiFi for audio streaming? Eliminate the cables all together no? I just don't think people can consistently hear and identify the jitter they claim. I don't think most people can even identify the difference between a mp3 or a flac file ffs, or really regard the difference in sound quality a few DBs of volume will make on a listening impression. I don't think these things would be so contentious if the prices made sense but they just don't, not without evidence of claim that goes beyond experiential. And unfortunately there seems to be a lot of bad information on this subject in the reviewer community stemming from what a network switch actually can and can't do. Even if the perception of SQ improvement is attributed to some sort of improved power conditioning.. still seems like too little a gain for too high a price. 600 dollars for a network switch. I guess it's people's money they can do what they want but damn.. I'm in the wrong business.
It's just audiophile nonsense. He claims he can hear a difference between wired and wifi screaming witch is beyond apsurd. If you closely listen to his audio description is full of contradictions.
@@TheSecondMaker
Witch 🧙♀️
Which 🤔
Apsurd ???
Absurd 🤷♂️
Could you do a video on your diy dac please?
I'd like to hear more about your DIY DAC 🙂
Switching from wifi to Ethernet is bound to improve the timing of the streaming. If the local streamer experiences buffer starvation (the streamer not receiving data on time), even for very short times, then this may impact the sound. Any switch would improve the timing the same.
Beyond timing, there is the ground loop issue. If the DAQ, the streamer and the switch have their ground connected, then one could imagine some noise from the ground.
Thankyou Srbo for another interesting review. Your experiences mirror mine with the SW-8: it was a big jump over direct to my stock wifi router, a less dramatic but still substantial step or two up over the Netgear GS108E with Ifi power X PS. A suggestion for you if you've not tried it - put the two switches in series, the LHY feeding your streamer. Better still add an Ifi LAN iSilencer on top of the two switches into the chain - they are seriously impressive for their cost and take things up another notch. Review worthy i would suggest.
Looking into that. Where in the chain did you put yours?
@@marcgoldstein2957 The iFi LAN iSilencer I presume you mean? I actually have two, both plugged into the SW-8 - one to my Mac Mini M1 Roon/HQP Server (or TV - I switch it over as it seriously improves TV streaming apps sound too but is a hassle to sorta tempted to get a third - I know! 😅), the other to the upstream Netear switch then router. R26 plugged directly into LHY. This the best sounding setup so far after a bit of experimentation, but need to try a couple more locations. Incidentally the system sounds best with the server also plugged into the LHY like this, rather than into the Netgear. This was true even before adding the iFis.
@@Wharariki thank you. Just ordered one to experiment. I use AQ Diamond Ethernet cables (because I can) and an overall very revealing system, so I should be able to hear the most subtle of differences. Thanks for the rec!
@@marcgoldstein2957 All good. Good luck. Ethernet cables are next on my upgrade list.
Nice! Can we get more info on the diy DAC? 😮
I will make a video about it at some point. It is an old project of Lampizator designer called Lampucera... But made in an end-game fashion (3 linear power supplies, coper foil caps, etc).
I have been waiting for YOU to review an item like this.
What you described is what I have heard with other digital components such as CD players, streamers and DACs. Thank you for the very good observances of these sonic differences.
Great review. Did you try D-link and LHY switch in series?
Thank you so much for a review of this product type. I've got the sw 10 and it really scales up if you're using high quality ethernet cables between the components 👍it's a must for showing it's potential, best regards
@@garynilsson416 😂👍
I think you would feel the same changes with the Silent Angel Bonn N8. The network switch really do a diference! When a review of your DAC???
One thing to mention put a decent $200 Pangea power cordon it and a noticeable upgrade
To take it to another level still a synergistic purple fuses for a Audiophile gaining another $7% to me
Of improvement on top ofthe SW8 is a nice upgrade to anyone That streams .
Interesting to know that network switch makes a difference. Thanks for sharing.
Hey there, you do realize if a switch changes your sound signature, there is something terribly wrong with either that switch or the system itself?
it’s fine if only some people know how and why this must be true. you and i get to save our cash for actual upgrades, or more media
Great work and nice shirt.
The Cisco Meraki MS220-8P is an incredible deal used as it transforms the sound for the better.
Thanks for this review. I am not in the market for a device like this, but I found it very interesting all the same.
Please tell us more about your DIY Tube DAC.
I start using a Luxul ags-1016 av grade switch that i got for bargain price on ebay between router and volumio primo hifi edition dac streamer. It make the sound more calm and really fun to listening to all kind of music for long time.
For the price its worth it but buying a "audiophile" switch for + 400-500eur will be tuff to spend.
Thanks for another great review 😊
Good job on this presentation. BUT when are audiophiles going to understand digital communications?
Some never, it's not necessary to understand everything you use and enjoy. If you don't know how automobile works, you can still drive one and notice if it's fast, slow, turns well, brakes well... Same for phones, computers, etc. Do you remember how long people truly believed that we can't perceive more than 30 frames per second. Now, a competitive gamer doesn't know much about the biology and how human eye works but it can easily tell 60 from 144 fps. If your understanding of that topic tells you otherwise then you simply don't know enough. Even science discovers new ways to explain some phenomena all the time.
The same way, your own knowledge about this topic might not be as deep as you think or you might be looking for answers in the wrong place (digital data itself opposed to the physical analog signal that carries that digital data). I'm both an electrical engineer with a degree that entailed passing "digital communications" among other things, and an audiophile that clearly hears what he presents in these videos. If theoretic knowledge that I possess doesn't match what I repeatedly experience... I just know that I still have things to learn.
@@iiWiReviews " If you don't know how automobile works, you can still drive one and notice if it's fast" - acording to your review of this piece of crap, canging the fragrance, light bulbs and speakers makes the car drive better.
Hi what a great review.
I have an experience on psu upgrade for my modem/ router each but not audiophile switch. Which is using the switch mode psu iFi ipowerX for both modem router each. Is much better than same price LPS, the improvement is so good even though WiFi networks streaming. The sq not just lower noise, it makes the sq even live like.
i'm also wondering this comparision
@@burakoztimur8054
it will surprise you.
Very interesting, I’m intrigued. I recently went a bit of a different route to make my system better before I knew this existed. I’m now wondering how this would compare. I use an Nvidia Shield android TV as my source which receives its internet connection via my router which then feeds to a TP-Link media converter, that coverts the RJ45 Ethernet into multimode fiber on the transmit side. At the receiving side I have the same media converter but it is powered this time by an Ifi ipower X power supply. That is fed into a ifi Lan silencer filter thingy, which then goes to the shield. From the streamer the data travels via USB to the Holo Audio Red which is being used as a DDC. Now before someone blows a gasket and screams “You bought an audiophile streamer!…Why the heck wouldn’t you use the dedicated streamer as your source in the first place???” It’s because my system plays double duty as home theater and from my experience, I heard minimal difference if any, from dedicated streaming mode compared to DDC mode over USB. Sound quality should be the same from what I’ve been told. I didn’t make these upgrades all at once and I did hear incremental improvements with each upgrade. Now I wonder if the upgrades I made will render this switch redundant for me? 🤔
Also I should note that the cost of my system is nearly $20k worth of gear and is very neutral and resolving, so I could definitely hear if there was a difference or not.
40k + system here. I had the same fiber converter like you and I have the ifi Lan filters. I used that with a server grade Cisco nexus 9372tx switch which was 30k back when it came out in 2013. These are used in Google level server rooms. Can be hand now for like $900 and the changed my system made with these ethernet upgrades was quite insane. I still don't believe it lol. So yes, there is always more.
Srbo, you mentioned a DIY tube DAC in the video, that doesn't appear to be listed in your test system? Can you link to that DAC, please? Are you going to review this, I hope?
I am going to look at using a linear power supply on my current network switch. And I will consult with my IT support - i.e. my son - about whether we are using any features of our unit, and what might be involved in swapping these out.
I will make a video about the DAC at some point. It is an old project of Lampizator's designer called Lampucera... But made in an end-game fashion with 3 linear power supplies, coper foil caps, etc.
@@iiWiReviews Our LinkSys network switch is a 12V device - and I have a 12V 25W linear power supply. I will try it tomorrow. 🙂
I believe youre very honest with your reviews and you do a good job describing what you hear. I have had similar experiences with a switch and USB cable different power supplies, you name it. After a certain level, everything makes a difference, one must know what to look for.
Does the d-link switch DGS have a darker background(lower noise floor) than the LHY SW-6? Are you using a LPS with the LHY SW -6?
I really enjoy your videos and have learned much also. Your love of music must be boundless. Please share more of that side of your journey. I am listening to the musician Tommy Guerrero on my new Eversolo DMP Master Edition. Sharing music is a very productive way to communicate, and better one another's music library at the same time.
Hans has said that linear power supplies are not good for powering switch boxes. I’m using the ifi wall wart xpower.
Thank you for stepping into these shark infested waters Srbolijub! My experience with an audiophile switch, in this case an Uptone EtherRegen paralleled yours with your tube DAC, however my setup at the time was: Router with a good switching PS > quality Cat 6a > EtherRegen > quality Cat 6a > unmodified Bluesound Node 2i > good quality spdif (Coax) > Benchmark DAC1 Pre.
Part 1
There was a little time lag between inserting inserting the EtherRegen in front of the Node 2i, so I did not notice the apparent volume level change, but I absolutely noticed the obvious change in sound quality. Resolution jumped - stereo image (instrument placement and definition), lower noise floor and tighter bass, to keep it short. To be honest I was shocked. I was expecting a difference, but not one that made me think I was listening to a different system. The Benchmark DAC1 Pre went into production ~ 2008 so it's very old, while it was marginally better than the DAC in the Node, one of the things that had really started to irritate me was the graininess of the sound which at times, to my ear, bordered on distortion. This was so diminished after inserting the EtherRegen I actually wondered if I needed a new DAC at all.... and
this happened with a newer streamer sending the digital signal to an older DAC.
Part 2
I bought the EtherRegen (used) in preparation for a front end upgrade. I demoed the Wattson Madison, a Swiss streaming DAC with Leedh processing volume control and headphone amp. I was sufficiently impressed to buy the demo unit (OUTSTANDING) and I am expecting that this DAC will be endgame for me. When it arrived I replaced the Node 2i and DAC1 Pre with the Madison, leaving the EtherRegen in play. Following a week of listening to the Madison, a used AQ Vodka RJ45 cableI bought arrived, and I did some testing. First I took the EtherRegen out and listened to a track I know well, Prince - album "The Vault - Old Friends 4 Sale", track "When the lights go down". The extended intro has a great bass groove interspersed with pretty bight percusives, piano and drum kit peppering. This was the first thing I listen to that day. It sounded fine, definitely enjoyable, perhaps a little smoother than I remembered a recent playing. Then I put the Madison back with a reasonably priced ethernet cable replacing the AQ Vodka cable. Right off the bat the soundstage changed. Instrument definition, reverb and details I had not heard without the EtherRegen were there. What had been what I had thought of as smooth I realized had just been flat. Resolution jumped and the same things described earlier were back. I have done this test 3 times since and the differences are always obvious. As I intend to listen mostly to streamed music, I see improving the signal chain in front of the Madison further in the future. By the way, the Vodka makes a difference in clarity too and this is where I noticed the thing you experienced with the apparent volume dip...... I would almost describe it as a headroom thing because when you turn the volume up it's a bit like tapping the gas pedal in a Ferrari rather than in an ordinary car.
Conclusion
Improving the signal going to a streamer or streaming DAC definitely results in clearly perceivable improvements in sound quality. Not sure why you could not hear difference with the Topping DAC. Perhaps it is just the general quality of the DAC but my experience with the Node 2i was markedly different. The audio switches are designed to remove noise and to re-clock the signal using a superior clock, both things are very important, one would assume that better streamers with components that might deal with these issues internally would not show as much improvement but that has not been true with the the two systems I have been listening to, as both benefitted from the audio switch and in the Madisons case, a better cable. Thanks for sharing your findings!
This seems like a no brainer since it’s so cheap to try, I’ll definitely give it a go. Just one question, what are your thoughts on using a NAS to play music from? Would it still benefit from having a network switch between router and streamer?
Ahh… nice intro into the transport, streaming world. Thank you for this. Very happy with this way of testing and comparing. But one point needs more: the router, the entry point. How good is the pass through of the music (information) here? How neutral is it?
I want to hear ALL ABOUT that DIY Tube DAC!!! 😀
Did I miss a Video?🤷🏻♂️
No you haven't. I will make a video about it at some point. It is an old project of Lampizator designer called Lampucera... But made in an end-game fashion (3 linear power supplies, coper foil caps, etc).
@@iiWiReviews OH! I AM INTERESTED! 😮
Interesting review 👍
Even if, hypothetically, noise on the ethernet cable could impact sound quality - a far cheaper *and more effective* solution would be to use an optical SFP network switch and adapter. The network essentially becomes a huge opto-isolator. That would completely electrically isolate your streamer from anything upstream, and the optical cable is entirely immune to any EMF.
There is no universe in which these overpriced ethernet switches make any sense.
...not to mention the impossibility of the network affecting audio in the first place. That just isn't how the technology works.
Exactly my thought! As an electronics engineer, the only way I can see a network switch affecting the audio is if the DAC/streamer is letting any noise coming through the Ethernet cable spill over to the analog output stage. In high end equipment I'd expect they'd do a better job on that end...
On PoE devices, in the same way as USB powered devices, I could understand that poor filtering on the power supply side having an effect on the analog output stage, but that's not the case here...
This is very timely as I have been looking at this part of my chain. I have Qobuz=>NetGear modem/router=>Ethernet cable=>Mercury Streamer v1=>18” audiophile I²S cable=>Pontus II=>Schiit Freya+ (w/supercharged tube circuit, replaced all capacitors & resistors w/audiophile-grade)=> McIntosh MC512 Power Amp=> DynAudio Contour 20s. I think that my system may get an audible benefit from this network switch?
I have also been contemplating putting a medical isolation transformer (Tripp Lite IS250HG Isolation Transformer 250W Medical Surge), between my wall outlet and just my source components (Modem, Steamer & DAC), to clean-up the electrical supply. What do you think?
No it wouldn't change a thing. You might "hear a difference", but it's just in your head. The problem here is that people who are coming from analogue world seem to think that digital transfer is similarly affected in that the sender sents a pristine signal and the receiver receives something resembling the original signal. That is not how digital transmission works. The signal is broken into packets of data that have timestamp, order number and checksum as metadata in addition to the signal data itself. It is then reconstructed by means of metadata and then fed into the DAC's buffer. It's mathematically same. Any difference you hear is your brain having fun with your wallet (buffer underruns due to faulty cabling notwithstanding).
@@anokpe4337 But I want to BUY something!
you wil have to buy fancy audiophool cabling and switches/router to and for each AWS data center, that's where Qobuz hosts it's media.
Curious about your diy dac. Care to share info about that build. Thanks for the great reviews.
If you ever get a chance. Get an Aurender N20. It will blow your mind as to how good a streamer can be.
I am always looking for more budget friendly solutions so I went looking in the medical world. There is such a thing as a Baaske medical network separator you can find it for around a 100. It is a transparent (to the network) yet galvanically separated passive connector.
As is the iFi LAN iSilencer which I can highly recommend. Its effect is additive to that of my SW-8.
I have also been contemplating putting a medical isolation transformer (Tripp Lite IS250HG Isolation Transformer 250W Medical Surge), between my wall outlet and just my source components (Modem, Steamer & DAC), to clean-up the electrical supply.
What do you think?
@@bobb.9917 I think anything that reduces HF electrical noise in connections to your components can only be a good thing. Ethernet galvanic isolation via filters like the Baaske etc or a cleaner AC source together contribute to a lower noise environment. Better grounding including signal grounding helps too. All highly recommended.
@@bobb.9917I think Srbo will probably try an isolation transformer/power conditioner in the future aswell. It's the next step. Or a common ground sink.
😀 it NEVER ends! 👍🏼
I'm gonna call bull on this. This could be perception bias but as the streamer will have a buffer to ensure packets that arrive 'out of order' and errored cause no problems how can the transport have any effect ? The internal construction of the device is excellent though (as it should be at that price, deserves a glass lid)
EMI is a little more complex than focusing on only the signal itself, as an example I recently bought a galvanic isolator for 20 euro quite recently just for trying (in worst case I just have some surge protection for my streamer) and just put it between my streamer and switch. And to my surprise it did improve the sound a by giving me a tiny bit more detail, but the effect stayed regardless if I played local or streamed music. So it was noise introduced by the physical connection to my switch rather than a change to the digital signal.
@@tobiaxelssoni can confirm this: inserting a galvanic isolator improves things notably
@@tobiaxelsson Its nothing to do with EMI at all, The buffer takes care of any timing of arrivals of packets even if they're not in order. It like saying you can taste the difference in water from a lake at the instant a drip is put in a mile away.
@@jeffreydoujon638 I wasn't referring to timing at all if you actually cared to read what I wrote instead of directly jumping to defense. Timing is just one aspect and for any asynchronous signal it would be less critical (unless there are some serious issues in the chain). But your analogy is not applicable in my case, a more fitting would be if I pour some really bitter stuff continuously upriver (keyword continuously) then you should not be surprised that anything you taste downriver tastes a bit bitter.
@@tobiaxelsson OK lets reverse the question, How does this switch affect EMI or anything if the signal goes into a buffer which removes ANY affect before the DAC stage ? In the lake analogy a the lake takes out the bitter taste entirely before it gets to you.
I must not be an audiophile as I'm happy with my $300 150 wpc class a/b amp, $220 preamp, $110 dac and $325 used speakers ($2000 new).
If you know what preamplifier is you're an audiophile for sure. 😊 Price doesn't even matter. I considered myself one even with an old $80 Harman Kardon integrated hooked to $200 speakers, with Creative Audigy 4 feeding them. 300 in total. That was my budget, that was what I had and enjoyed. The fact that I liked the hoby and the music is what made me an audiophile, not the price of components.
Excellent review. Where can I get the linear power supply? I use a RP Link 8 port switch and I want to try a different power supply. Thank you.
If we open the audio grade switch are we going to find yet another D-LINK switch covered in glue and with chip numbers sanded off to hide nothing is different - but for the price.
Maybe watch the video before copy pasting other brand's behavior to this one. Or just go and look official page where all of that is fully disclosed and even pictured.
🙋♂️THANKS SRBJ, FOR THE WARNING ⚠️😁 I will watch anyway…just for the info and your story 💚💚💚
🙏THANKS FOR ENLIGHTENING US…SOME OF US…WITH YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE 🧐💚💚💚
tbh this q1 amp is highend enough for most peoples phones, and way more realistic purchase
Have you ever done a video on your tube dac that you built? That's my favortie thing to build and I have built a couple of tube dacs, my favorite being my TDA1541A with a hybrid SS P-P with a 5687 follower. Great reviews and I would love to hear about your dac.
I haven't but I will make a video at some point. It's Ficus' old design based on CS chip (don't know the model without checking) and 6N6P tube (anode follower). When done with high quality parts it sounds soo good I was completely surprised.
@@iiWiReviews Ficus' did a lot of fun things over the years and documented them well, so I can look at that. You should acquire a TDA1541A (single crown is best) and do something like what you did with the CS chip. It's amazing. There's a great board on DIYAUDIO called the Ryanj D3 board. I wrote a guide on how to populate the board (lots of smds but not hard) Cheers, and thanks for your reviews!
I'm sorry, can someone explain how a *digital* stream can be colored by a transport device? Is it data loss?
It is never just digital on a copper wire. There is noise that also gets transported into the sound that comes out of your speakers.
Everything travelling along a digital signal that isn't actually the 0's and 1's let's say electrical noise can cause problems at the DAC. Aka jitter. Jitter can actually only cause problems at analog conversion. That's why clean power everywhere in a HiFi system is that important, even at the ethernet level. It has nothing to do with the signal integrity in the digital domain. Remember that a digital signal isn't anything more than an actual analog signal representing 0's and 1's. The easier it is to interpret a digital signal, the less processing is required as well, resulting in better sound. So even the exact time a signal arrives is very important.
Great and concise explanation by Alain. Unfortunately it's not super intuitive. People that don't understand it will probably fall back to oversimplified idea of equalising the whole signal with the data it carries. It's a common pitfall even for people with decent technical background.
@@afrancois1968 The exact time a packet of data arrives over an Ethernet TCP/IP stream is absolutely irrelevant they can arrive seconds late or early, synchronously or asynchrounously it make NO difference as an ethernet device has a defualt buffer of 8KB (To a maximum of 8MB (So nearly a whole track at 16/44))
ASR would have fun with this :D
I'm really looking forward to your review on the smsl d400ex !!!
The LHY SW10 is fantastic
My Wifi can stream 4K video then it should not have an issue to stream tidal HiFi and will Ethernet switch make any diff
Got my Lampizator Baltic V3 upgraded to V4 and I am super curious of your comparison review of your new tube DAC given you prefer it to the Baltic, btw which Baltic version did you own? The Baltic is by a considerable margin better than my Denafrips Terminator II, your tube DAC must be a killer value...
I would have to check the version. They have them for a few years now so it's not the latest one for sure.
@@iiWiReviews, would you please share more information about this Tube DAC? Thank you
please try connecting the lhy to your existing router in series, use good ethernet cables.....
Now i'm curious what your daily driver setup is. maybe that'll make a good video! :)
maybe, depends whether its/they worth the hassle and noise, i do curious abt its maximum capabilities
Do you think you will be able to hear a difference in a blind test?
Thanks for great review, I am also thinking to buy switch 8 but want to know if I use wifi for my Ifi zen stream which is connected to xsabre pro with Schiit Freya+ n nad c298, vs switch 8 for wired connection will there be sound diff.
Thanks n regards
Vivek
So i go Wi-Fi from my modem/ router to my RPI4 streamer to eliminate any EMF noise that an eithernet cable might pick up.
Ethernet cables are extremely resistant to electrical noise. They transmit data through balanced twisted pairs inside a grounded shielded cable. The data on the recipient end is buffered to eliminate jitter, and integrity checked and retransmitted to eliminate any possible corruption due to signal noise that manages to get through - which for individual cables (rather than tight bundles of dozens of cables) over short domestic runs, is essentially zero. These cables are designed to run close to their limits pushing many orders of magnitude more data in far more electrically noisy environments (e.g. in datacentres) than you have in your home.
A short run of XLR balanced cable between your DAC and amp is an antenna in comparison to an ethernet cable.
Yes, I glad you said on the lower system that it was not much of a difference . This is why cables make little difference on many systems.😊
Took a chance on an SMSL SU10 by recommendation of this channel and pleased with it.
Can anyone share the make and model of the DAC shown here in this video? Is it available in the States? Thanks!
Why do you need a switch between the router and the streamer?
Hi, could you please review the JCat USB Card and maybe their NET Card as well ? Thank you for your efforts!
- spaceX sending rockets to space using normal switches, using petabytes of data with magnitudes more precision then audio signal - all bit perfect
- whole financial system sending billions of hundreds currencies, stocks, derevatives, where single bit of imperfection could cause lose of unimaginable amounts of money - using standard switches
- audiophile - this digital signal is colored, you need to buy more expensive device
I'm sure you can hear the difference - you just don't realise that what you call sound is generated by your brain, not the device.
Does it make sense for me to use the LHY switch if I am connecting my streamer through a LAN output from my Powerline adapter?
It doesn't make sense to use this switch in any situation - but even less so if there is a powerline network in between the switch and your streamer.
Great review! I connected an iFi iPower 2 low noise power supply to my router and loved the improvement in Sound Quality - as you said everything is less hazy and more palpable; ditto with volume too.
I would love to get this switch but I ditched LAN cables because Wi-Fi sounded better with my Zen Stream. Crazy, isn’t it? 😅
Hmm have to try this as I was always of the mind that cable was better ( more reliable connection)
@@andrewmccorkell652 I thought so too. But WiFi on 5Ghz turned out to be better Sound Quality than Audioquest/Belden LAN cables. And cheaper of course.
The "last switch", that your zen is connected to, must be quality switch. And your lan cable is equally important. You may have better results with non-shielded cables. WiFi offers complete isolation, that's one advantage.
@@jeffg6479 Indeed, the last switch plus I tried with regular and AQ lan cables - that didn’t help as much as switching to WiFi.
@Aditya I believe you are correct the Zen stream sounds better with wifi rather than ethernet cable. I hear a softer treble, not less detailed but a hard edge has been removed, making the sound less digital. Thanks for the suggestion.
Very helpful video thank you.! PS. I recently went back to CD’s but am still keen on streaming. You should try a high end dedicated CD transport ( with no dac) say like jays Audio. I personally use a Primare DD35. It’s blows my streamer ( which is a pretty decent one out of the water) It is night and day.
I'm sorry you did this review. I've always valued your independence and a good, balanced review but the audio network switch is audio voodoo, as are the gold fuses and hi-end cable stands, too bad the last independent reviewer screwed up and sold out
I'm sorry that you truly belive that I sold out and I'm lying to all of you. Has it ever occurred to you that most of us reviewers are actually not sellouts but simply have good systems and trained ears to spot these differences cause we do this a every day?
As I said in the video, this is not even affiliated... I was well aware this will have a strong pushback. I did it anyway because I'm not doing what masses want me to but what I belive to be right, because I hear what I hear.
That's all from me, if my whole body of work so far was not enough for you not to call me a sellout as soon as I did something you didn't like... Then goodbye and good luck.
@@iiWiReviews so you don't make any profits from profit through your youtube channel? and you do it for purely altruistic reasons? and the ending topic of the switch of the laws of physics can not be cheated, companies selling such audio voodoo are based on the lack of knowledge of people, that's why they never conduct blind tests, so I won't polimise so much from me, it's a pity because it was good canal
You shouldn’t waste your time with stupid guys.
Are the special switches for video content or can you use audio switches?
Lepo je Siniša Rankov - Sinevoice objasnio:
Postoje audiofili i postoje hajfisti,
Audiofili uživaju u slušanju muzike na kvalitetnoj opremi a hajfisti vole da slušaju svoju opremu misleći da vole muziku.
Ja bih lično dodao i da potonji obožavaju da preplaćuju svoju opremu bespotrebnim stvarima kao što je ovo đubre kome bi jedan CISCO pozavideo na ceni (metafora na ovce i šišanje).
Srboljube, svič je mrežni uređaj pa samim negova konstrukcija mora da bude kompatibilna sa nekim od IEEE 802 standarda, mene zanima ako bi mi ljubazno objasnio koji tačno 802 standard pokriva "audio" svičeve, i šta taj standard - ako postoji uopšte, tačno doprinosi u kvalitetu zvuka??
Primera radi kao što je recimo 802.11 doneo nove standarde u Wi-Fi konekciji koristeći nove metode modulacije signala uz veću širinu propusnog opsega sa svakom sledećom iteracijom itd.
To bih zaista voleo da čujem pre nego ove High Files magazin tipove arbitrarnih izjava koje potpadaju pod lične preferencije, trenutno raspoloženje i doživljaj recenzenata tipa "oštriji zvuk, šira pozornica, punchy udarac basa, responzivnija činela, orkestar koji svira ispred tebe tj. kao da si tamo"
Pozdrav
Please do a review of the LHY 2 external clock
How can I build a DAC like your custom tube DAC ?
I will make a video about it in the next two months.
Does Switch is relevant only to streaming or to local files?
Let me reassure you - not that you need my approval - that your "personal opinion and personal experience" is very much appreciated!, 😁😁😁
but Srbo, what about my doubts and personal insecurities? is there a hardware-based solution
without writing my impressions on various tests made, the best and cheapest solution for the best sound is the following: modem (connect only one cable if possible that goes to the switch, turn off all the LEDs on the modem (if possible), I had done with an external device (range extender) the wi-fi connection, to minimize electrical noise on the modem, then turn off the wi-fi on the modem) ---> "1" switch (netgear or dlink the best cheap) yes re-enter another switch "2" (to be dedicated exclusively to the stremer)---> streamer/pc, ifi power2 power supplies, and minimum audioquest ethernet cables cinnamon, cables as short as possible (audioquest to be used only between modem-switch -switch-streamer, for everything else use normal cables), all under filtered power strip for all digital components, dynavox 4200s is already fine.
For further fine tuning, place rubber grommets under the various components to eliminate vibration.
I still have to try the fiber optic solution which then converts to ethertnet, it's another 100e, but thanks to amazon if it doesn't work I'll return it, I've heard conflicting opinions on this solution, so I have to try it on my skin as always.
If my streamer is buffering jiw can this possibly make anu difference? Ill pass
Tell us more about your dac 🥔
So interesting. But we are all only human so did you do any blind testing? What about blind demoing to others to see what they could hear?
I have used the "Apple Airport Extreme " in this capacity since the dawn of my digital streaming life. I plan to test how a D-Link might improve things or not. A path to an audiophile switch is forming. Everything affects the muic.
If you play the same song twice it will buffer into the streamer and you won't be "listening" to the switch but to the internal memory of your streamer. Try disconnecting the switch while playing audio and it will keep going for quite some time - you are always listening to the streamer, and not the switch because of buffering. Also you lost me on the beginning of your sound comparison - "energy of the leading notes decreased, and that makes the sound more revealing" - this makes no sense because it should be the other way around.
that may be true if it is a song fetched from your local network, but no streaming service permits storage of a complete song.
but that is actually not the point, as the problem seem to not be in the data represented by voltage or current signals in the ethernet cable, but some noise that rides along with it, and despite inductive coupling, finds its way into the streamer.
@@gioponti6359 Whatever you are listening to gets prebuffered one way or another. Also his audio description makes no sense. How can less energy lead to more revealing? Seems to me he is just spewing audiophile terms.
@@TheSecondMaker i do not doubt that data gets buffered, but streaming content provider e.g. Quobuz or Tidal etc do not allow that your internal temporary storage contains your last soandso many songs. You didn’t comment on the more important parts i commented…? Noone doubts the datastream arrives fully and intact at the streamer. There seem to be some other effect taking place by connecting a streamer with a switch despite inductive coupling i.e. not conductive, at least predominantly.
@@TheSecondMaker Not all energy is useful and informative. When you have positive feedback anywhere in the chain (like with microphonic tubes, or mics in live events) that's added energy to notes. It's also distortion of the original tone that doesn't cary any useful information but actually overshadows it. So no, I'm not inconsistent but you're mixing energy with information.
@@gioponti6359if a song is play from Tidal , You have the switches from tidal data Center and cables they use, SO it won't matter what switch You have local.
When You play using buffering , You are just copping data files , SO local switches never matters anyways
did i miss a vid bout your diy dac?
Have you tried the fiio r7 it is a good DAC and seems as good as my Mytec DAC , My cobal Fyer Fly DAC is ok when I travel.. There are differences vy all DAC's I agree, The fiio r7 works well all a round. If yuo can do a review. I have 4 DACs I likethe fiio as much as the Mytec the headphone make a huge difference also so I test always with the same headphone at a time then another like the HiFIMan or Audiotecnica,