rc22,
Like your ethernet connection, mine is pretty simple. I have an Innuos Zen Mk3 in my living room that is connected to a Netgear router in my basement. I'm using 50 feet of BJC Cat-6a with no switches or wall plates in between. I connect the Zen to a PS Audio DAC via USB, and the sound is excellent. I tried inserting a Netgear GS105 switch into the ethernet run at a spot close to the Zen, but the system sounded better without the switch (which probably just added noise from the cheap power supply). I would think that a better power supply and an "audiophile" switch could improve the sound quality further, but I haven't tried them yet.
I might go ahead and try an EtherRegen switch to help isolate any noise from my router and the long ethernet run, but then I'd also need to add a short but decent ethernet cable to run from the EtherRegen to the Zen.
Tweaks for the future could include use of fiber-optic cable to replace my long Cat-6a run, which could terminate in the EtherRegen (if I decide to try one of those). Right now, I'm comparing six different USB cables, which is very interesting. If you're happy with your current USB, I would not urge you to dive down the deep USB "rabbit hole." I'm finding that some of the better sounding cables can get quite expensive - and I'm not even listening to the really high-end stuff.
Like your ethernet connection, mine is pretty simple. I have an Innuos Zen Mk3 in my living room that is connected to a Netgear router in my basement. I'm using 50 feet of BJC Cat-6a with no switches or wall plates in between. I connect the Zen to a PS Audio DAC via USB, and the sound is excellent. I tried inserting a Netgear GS105 switch into the ethernet run at a spot close to the Zen, but the system sounded better without the switch (which probably just added noise from the cheap power supply). I would think that a better power supply and an "audiophile" switch could improve the sound quality further, but I haven't tried them yet.
I might go ahead and try an EtherRegen switch to help isolate any noise from my router and the long ethernet run, but then I'd also need to add a short but decent ethernet cable to run from the EtherRegen to the Zen.
Tweaks for the future could include use of fiber-optic cable to replace my long Cat-6a run, which could terminate in the EtherRegen (if I decide to try one of those). Right now, I'm comparing six different USB cables, which is very interesting. If you're happy with your current USB, I would not urge you to dive down the deep USB "rabbit hole." I'm finding that some of the better sounding cables can get quite expensive - and I'm not even listening to the really high-end stuff.