zonx Posted August 23, 2021 Posted August 23, 2021 Just curious about upgrading my network switch and cables. Currently using a TP Link 10/1000 mb switch and cheap Cat6 cables. Cat6 from the switch to my Trigon Chronolog music server which is hooked up to the Trigon Epilog integrated amp which is running my Elac FS 509s. The sound is pretty good just curious is upgrading the switch and cables would make a noticeable difference. If anyone has any experience upgrading their setup please let me know what you think. Thanks
Bass13 Posted August 23, 2021 Posted August 23, 2021 27 minutes ago, zonx said: Just curious about upgrading my network switch and cables. Currently using a TP Link 10/1000 mb switch and cheap Cat6 cables. Cat6 from the switch to my Trigon Chronolog music server which is hooked up to the Trigon Epilog integrated amp which is running my Elac FS 509s. The sound is pretty good just curious is upgrading the switch and cables would make a noticeable difference. If anyone has any experience upgrading their setup please let me know what you think. Thanks I dare say you should check out The great audio Debate section, many threads in there about what you asking about... 3
dbastin Posted August 23, 2021 Posted August 23, 2021 (edited) On 23/08/2021 at 2:07 PM, zonx said: If anyone has any experience upgrading their setup please let me know what you think. Hi, I am creating a new thread soon about putting together an ethernet system for audio together. The answer to the question if it will make a difference is yes, how much depends on many things, but basically the better your system the more difference it will make. Edited August 25, 2021 by dbastin 2
Snoopy8 Posted August 23, 2021 Posted August 23, 2021 Be warned, audiophile network switches is controversial and caused major trauma here and in many other forums. It is also a deep rabbit warren that can suck you in.. 2
Niktech Posted August 23, 2021 Posted August 23, 2021 Perhaps an idea is for @Marc to trial curated threads by the thread/topic starter. Something like that would ensure the thread doesn’t get derailed. Audiophile Style has several curated threads exploring the bleeding edge of what’s possible. cheers 1 1
Snoopy8 Posted August 23, 2021 Posted August 23, 2021 21 minutes ago, Niktech said: Perhaps an idea is for @Marc to trial curated threads by the thread/topic starter. Something like that would ensure the thread doesn’t get derailed. Audiophile Style has several curated threads exploring the bleeding edge of what’s possible. Not sure that curated threads can cure this. I started a previous EtherRegen thread (now permanently suspended) and made many appeals for sanity to prevail (& got abused!). The Mods intervened several times, suspended the threads temporarily, warning many people and suspended a few. All to no avail. Even today, there are still some people intent on disrupting threads that Dale @dbastin started. Dale tried to separate the believers and non-believers into different threads and that has been a limited success. To some extent, the disrupters have succeeded because there are fewer people willing to share their postive experience on network switches. Dale to his credit, has not been deterred and continues to publish useful information. 3
MattyW Posted August 23, 2021 Posted August 23, 2021 (edited) I've had fantastic results with a Renolabs Ultimate Audio Switch. Likewise Supra CAT8 was a little better than the no name CAT8 I was running before. I'll be trying a pair of the fake Nordost Odin cables off Aliexpress. I've not liked this sort of wire for RCA cables or SPDIF however it might be interesting for network cable. It's the individual shielding of each wire which makes things interesting. The silver plated copper, not so much. Inexpensive Chinese made linear power supplies for media PC's, NBN modem and TP-Link Deco X60's all seem to have brought sonic benefits too. It all adds up. Basically this layout means all traffic passes through the Renolabs switch. It's given significan improvement. j Edited August 25, 2021 by MattyW 1
TDX Posted August 23, 2021 Posted August 23, 2021 I got renolabs as well and the difference is not subtle… 1 1
Boomboy Posted August 24, 2021 Posted August 24, 2021 I bought this and upgraded from the standard version. Very happy with it https://www.adark.co/collections/project-giesemann-ocxo/products/afterdark-project-clayx-netgear-gs105-x-giesemann-ocxo-video-switch-for-netflex-and-4k-youtube?variant=39354587971702 2
zonx Posted August 24, 2021 Author Posted August 24, 2021 Has anyone tried the Paul Pang Quad switch? I’ve read some pretty good reviews about it but it is a bit pricey.
atya Posted August 24, 2021 Posted August 24, 2021 1 hour ago, zonx said: Has anyone tried the Paul Pang Quad switch? I’ve read some pretty good reviews about it but it is a bit pricey. At that price point, it’s worthwhile looking into the PhoenixNET. There has been couple of good feedbacks on the head-fi forum, saying it’s a step up from Ether regen / Sotm / Melco switches. But as with anything people tend to gush over new toys. I have mine incoming so can’t comment yet. 1
zonx Posted August 25, 2021 Author Posted August 25, 2021 I had a look at the Phoenix Net switch and it looks great but is priced pretty high. I can’t find too many reviews on it compared to the other switches.
dbastin Posted August 25, 2021 Posted August 25, 2021 On 23/08/2021 at 2:56 PM, dbastin said: Hi, I am creating a new thread soon about putting together an ethernet system for audio together. 2
atya Posted August 25, 2021 Posted August 25, 2021 18 minutes ago, zonx said: I had a look at the Phoenix Net switch and it looks great but is priced pretty high. I can’t find too many reviews on it compared to the other switches. Hi Danny, I haven't got the PhoenixNET yet, hopefully get it delivered tomorrow. However I just received a high end Ethernet cable (Shunyata Alpha) and I have to say it's definitely making streaming music more enjoyable. I have a test track in local SSD to test how streaming impacts sound quality, and with just the Ethernet cable it seems to close the gap where it's hard to tell. The Shunyata claimed all types of technologies to block out power / network noise etc, so it's something to look into and possibly paired with an audiophile switch should help ease your mind in terms of streaming and network isolation. A lot of this is unfortunately psychological, and perceived benefits is sometimes all we can get. For me at least, it's unlikely I will do extensive AB testing and or double / triple blind tests to see if items are worth keeping. Most of the time, it's a 5 to 10 mins test to see whether adding item helps, and if yes than it's a keeper. To keep things simple in my head, I come down to conclusion that streaming quality can be hampered by two things: 1) power / network noise from normal internet gear like routers etc that's not meant for hifi systems, and noise and / or data quality from normal ethernet cable that's again, not meant for hifi systems. I reckon a good quality audiophile switch and ethernet cable should take care of most of these things. Just a quick browse on the internet, and there's lots of arguments that none of this is required and bits are bits, but it's your system at the end of the day and you're the one enjoying it, so all that matters is what you think. 1
dbastin Posted August 25, 2021 Posted August 25, 2021 23 hours ago, atya said: There has been couple of good feedbacks on the head-fi forum, saying it’s a step up from Ether regen / Sotm / Melco switches. Could you share a link to these? 29 minutes ago, atya said: I have a test track in local SSD to test how streaming impacts sound quality, and with just the Ethernet cable it seems to close the gap where it's hard to tell. There may be a time when streaming is better than SSD depending on if the SSD implementation is doing more damage than when it is removed. 30 minutes ago, atya said: Most of the time, it's a 5 to 10 mins test to see whether adding item helps, and if yes than it's a keeper. Be careful, cables do burn and/or settle in. Burn in can be 100s of hours and before then a cable can sound aweful or average. Settling can take a couple of days or more and may improve sound quality, depending on the system and cable.
Bass13 Posted August 25, 2021 Posted August 25, 2021 (edited) 15 minutes ago, dbastin said: Quote Be careful, cables do burn and/or settle in. Burn in can be 100s of hours and before then a cable can sound aweful or average. Settling can take a couple of days or more and may improve sound quality, depending on the system and cable. I agree it does take 100s of hours to burn many components/cables etc in & imo with tubes and or / hybrids need a minimum of 12 hours of warm up time before they really sound at the best. Edited August 25, 2021 by Bass13
atya Posted August 25, 2021 Posted August 25, 2021 42 minutes ago, dbastin said: Could you share a link to these? There may be a time when streaming is better than SSD depending on if the SSD implementation is doing more damage than when it is removed. Be careful, cables do burn and/or settle in. Burn in can be 100s of hours and before then a cable can sound aweful or average. Settling can take a couple of days or more and may improve sound quality, depending on the system and cable. Hi, see below link, specifically referring to "Triode User" posts in which he mentioned he has since replaced the ether regen. "Triode User" is the maker of Wave cables for the m scaler, but besides that, I probably put more weight on his feedback as my setup is quite similar with his with Antipodes and Chord gear, so YMMV as with anything. There's a couple more if you search PhoenixNET in the head-fi search bar. Hugo M Scaler by Chord Electronics - The Official Thread | Page 939 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org
atya Posted August 25, 2021 Posted August 25, 2021 Also re matter of burn in, yes I do agree with that. The ethernet cable I managed to get is a demo version so probably plenty burn in already. 1
Jsen18 Posted August 27, 2021 Posted August 27, 2021 Currently I'm using the Silent Angle Bonn N8 ethernet switch with good result. But I need to experience is a good & cheap ethernet cable to go with it? 1
TDX Posted August 27, 2021 Posted August 27, 2021 36 minutes ago, Jsen18 said: Currently I'm using the Silent Angle Bonn N8 ethernet switch with good result. But I need to experience is a good & cheap ethernet cable to go with it? Supra cat8 is good a cheap, a good start point.
MattyW Posted August 27, 2021 Posted August 27, 2021 (edited) Supra and the fake Nordost Odin 2 CAT8 cables are priced fairly similarly. I'd give the edge to the fake Nordost Odin cables. If you need something physically flexible though the Supra is the better choice. Edited August 27, 2021 by MattyW
Jsen18 Posted August 27, 2021 Posted August 27, 2021 Thanks bros for the recommendation. I'm considering the fake Nordost Odin ethernet cable as I'm currently using their coax cable too. Imho, they're vfm. What worries me is the brightness it will bring as they are silver plated.
atya Posted August 27, 2021 Posted August 27, 2021 Wait I think I found more info on the other thread. all good.
MattyW Posted August 27, 2021 Posted August 27, 2021 (edited) I'd suggest getting a single Supra and a single Nordost Odin. Each take about 2 weeks burn in. Try both on your end point and decide what you like best before ordering more. I'm running both on different parts of my sound chain. Each are fantastic cables and each sound different. I like both. I didn't realise like them for digital coax cables hey. I found copper cables from Abbas Audio the best I've come across for this. Expensive though. Edited August 27, 2021 by MattyW
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