2. pc-audio
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best network switch configuration for audio

I have ceiling and walls opened for a remodel for an audio/ HT room. My primary 2 channel music listening will be streaming using Roon, a NAS and Tidal.Have decided to redo entire house (not that big) ethernet. Question is whether my current configuration of a single Cisco managed switch for PoE WAP's, streaming movies over internet, office equipment, etc as well as my 2 channel music can be improved upon.Is it better to run individual ethernet cables to each piece of equipment in HT room (only one of which is streaming 2 channel) and in 2 other "audiophile" listening and media watching areas, or is it better to run 1 ethernet cable to each equipment location and put individual switches there? Is it better to keep dedicated 2 channel ethernet isolated from other ethernet uses, and if so, how? PS. if you think none of this matters, could you give some reason other than' "It's all just 1's and 0's?"
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Showing 2 responses by erik_squires

erik_squires
15,662 posts
 
I'm not sure that wall warts WILL cause an issue, but a couple of audiophiles have chased noise problems that ended up being related.

No, bandwidth will not be a problem at all, assuming you are running anything more modern than Token Ring. :D :D :D

Cheap switches are almost all universally 1 GigE. Unless you are running multiple DSD256 at the same time. :)
erik_squires
15,662 posts
 
The biggest issue IMHO are not the switches and data but the wall warts and the noise they might inject into the power line.

Switches at the rooms are extremely convenient, and often necessary. :-) I have 4 devices in close proximity that need Ethernet access. TV, DVD, Chromecast plus my music server.  Wifi is severely congested here so wireless streaming is unreliable.

I would use local switches when necessary, but try to isolate the wall warts by putting them "outside" any power conditioning.
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