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Relationship between Ethernet Switch and SQ

This one will probably invite some withering mockery, but I will ask....

I only stream, and my streamer (Bryston BDP) is fed with an ethernet cable that runs back to my router.  Literally back to my router; there are enough output jacks on the router that I have a long run to the streamer and no ethernet switch in the chain (or the house system for that matter).   (There is an Eno filter right before the streamer).

I happen to OWN a nice LHY ethernet switch.  I am assuming that there is no reason to use it in this configuration, that is, assuming there are noisier switches, and less noisy switches, there is still no net benefit of adding any switch to this chain.  But maybe, just maybe, in the metaphysics of electrons that I do not understand, there is some reason why a nice switch prior to the streamer accomplishes something (in theory...I get that I can A/B test and try to fool myself whether I can hear a difference).  For the first person with a correct answer, I will mail a nice $600 switch to the address you specify! (JK)

mathiasmingus
fastfreight
1,288 posts
 

@audphile1 said:

But one thing we can finally agree on, you and I, is the addition of switches. In every scenario I ever tried a switch caused degradation in sound quality.

I do not think this is generally agreed upon.  Look at the Taiko Switch forum on What’s Best. It is 100% positively received as a great sonic improvement. (It is not actually a switch as it is one in and one out) but obviously expensive and well implemented.  Reports on other quality or modified switches are similar.  My ears report similar…it just (like most components) takes good design and implementation.  I do agree that the better the streamer, the less improvement to be had, but I still hear improvement.

So interesting that no one argues using an amazing set of mono amps sounds better than a stereo amp.  Everything matters, it is just a case of is it worth it to the individual or if they can hear it.

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,947 posts
 

@fredrik222 ok

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,947 posts
 

@fastfreight agreed. Everything matters.

Not sure what the Taiko switch is or what it is doing for $5,200 (technically it isn’t a switch with one in one out), but when we’re talking switches that the average schmucks will implement in their setup, best you can do is hope to not hurt anything. Hey if you get an improvement in the process, you can consider yourself lucky. 

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
6,180 posts
 

“I do not think this is generally agreed upon”
@fastfreight

If one thing we can agreed upon is our collective experiences. There are so many variables in concluding to a viewpoint on the effectiveness of a certain gear in our system. Speaking of @audphile1, maybe he has yet to experience a high end switch like Telegartner or he feels that kind of money best spent on attaining a better gear. We all have our priorities. IMO, tweaking your streaming with a switch should be last priority once you have sorted your DAC and Streamer. I didn’t start playing with switches until I have the base line established. Now that I’ve experienced how a switch like Telegartner elevates SQ in a highly resolve system, I simply cannot live without it. The bar is set so high by this switch that it leaves no desire to tinker with multiple tweaks.

 

fastfreight
1,288 posts
 

+1 oh elegant spoken @lalitk Happy New Year!

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