Snake oil of the year?


AQVOK Switch SE Audiophile High-End Network Switch Lan.  I think we are going to have some fun with this one, let it rip here.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMFQ3YvR3Eo

 

Here is the product page.

128x128nyc_ben
Post removed 

Audiophile Network switches? There are prior threads dissecting  this. Here is a sample of the  “audiophile” network switches assessments from some our fellow forum members 

 

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/do-i-really-need-an-audio-grade-network-switch?highlight=Network%2Bswitches

djones51 4,473 posts

01-17-2022 6:20pm

“…There is no such thing as an audio grade switch …”


https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/ ... i%20router.

" ... No, I have not, nor will I ever. Having been a network technician for over 30 years I know that a network switch’s job is to faithfully receive packets and transmit them to their intended target. If it doesn’t do that it will be replaced as defective.

Implying that these devices can color audio signals is patently ridiculous, but I knew at some point some one would try it and some one would buy it...."



https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/ ... t=ethernet

" ...Well, I just tried using a wifi repeater and noticed no improvement (or degradation) of sound quality. ... "

 

 

Judging by the tone of your OP, you never tried an Ethernet Switch? They may or may not impact SQ depending on your own system, and your listening skills / preference. I don't know your system. But, judging by the picture on your profile, with the (right or wrong) assumptions that that picture depicts your system, I don't think an Ethernet Switch should be your top priority right now. 

Linus Tech Tips is a reputable YouTube tech channel. They’re currently investing a lot of money in a new facility so they can test different electronics / accessories.

 

It’s no surprise that a blind test showed that the claims AQVOX makes about improvements to sound quality are without merit. As the video states, we’re dealing with digital data. If there were audible changes in the sound, then the data must be different when received by the DAC.

 

You can test this yourself. Connect a PC to your audiophile switch. Select a music file to copy. Create a SHA-512 hash of the file (see below for some tips). Copy that music file to another PC on the switch, network attached storage, or even Google Drive (if you can reach the internet through the switch). Then copy that file back to a different location on the PC. Create a SHA-512 hash of the copy. Compare the SHA-512 ’fingerprints’. If they match, then you know the switch isn’t the source of the change in sound quality.

 

Generating a SHA-512 hash...

on Windows (at command prompt):

certutil -hashfile [file] sha512

 

on macOS (using Terminal):

shasum -a 512 [file]

 

on Linux

sha512sum [file]