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network switches and cables.

I’m considering upgrading my network cables and adding an audiophile switch for streaming music from the internet.  I may also consider adding a filter system like the Network Acoustics muon pro. I currently use an Innuos Pulsar streamer connected directly from my Comcast cable modem/router using Supra Cat 8 patch cable.  I have some questions for those who have incorporated these types of components into your digital front end.  Any and all help is greatly appreciated.  If you have tried something similar but don’t feel that these types of components are of benefit I would appreciate your experiences as well.  If however you are just a denier, I respect your opinion but please respect mine by refraining from posting demeaning comments.

Some of my questions are:

1. What are the best locations to place the filter and switch? I understand that the order from my router is router to switch to filter to streamer.  But what are the correct distances between the router, switch, filter and streamer? Equal distance? Switch placed closer to the router? Switch placed closer to the filter? Etc.?  Or it doesn’t matter? My modem/router is located in my listening room so I have the option to move the switch and filter around to the desired locations and purchase cable lengths to match.

2. Is the quality of Ethernet cable between each component of equal importance?  So for example is the Ethernet cable between router and switch as important as the Ethernet cable between the filter and streamer, etc?  If they are not of equal importance,  which connection is the more important? Or again, does it matter?

3.  Aside from the streamer and DAC, do the switch or filter/cables have the greater impact on streaming sound quality.

I ask the above questions in case finances do not allow for the purchase of all components at the same time.  I’d like to be sure that I at least purchase the more important components at the onset.

i have already posed the same questions to network acoustics and I’m awaiting their reply.  In the meantime, any help I can get from the forum will again be very much appreciated.

 

marco1
steakster
2,165 posts
 

Re: ethernet cables.   I’m very happy with my Sablon 2020.  Have 2 of them.  Body, texture, air.  

Re: cable order.   I can hear the difference when swapped around.  Very subjective as to which is preferable.

Re: Network Acoustics.     The guys at NA said the Eno filter can be reversed - meaning the in/out can be flipped - which I’ve done with mine.  IDK about the Muon Pro.

Re: Importance.  It all matters - even more so with the digital streaming chain.  A weak link will harbor some digititus.    A clean system will remove it.

No switch in my streaming chain.  But it is tricked out with power conditioning, Eno’s, LPS’s - and a modded router. Good luck!

grunge1000
101 posts
 

Please save your money and your sanity and purchase a durable cable and ditch the "audiophile" switch. Nothing has been proven that either of these components affects sonic quality. Enjoy your music, don't analyze it. 

 

Cheers,

sns
4,218 posts
 

@marco1 I'm  running two computer setup in bridged mode via Euphony operating system on a custom build streamer. this being used as the server only, Streamer is Sonore OpticalRendu, so this fiber conversion post server. I have both modem and gaming router installed close to audio system, 1/2m Audioquest Vodka ethernet cable modem to router, both router and modem on outboard lps. Router feeds the custom server through JCAT NetXE, this optimizes/isolates ethernet. Wifi also disabled on this router so no issue with high levels of RFI on audio side of network, this I label as 'clean' side of network. From this router I daisy chain a second router located elsewhere in house, this provides wifi for house. So my audio system router minimizes noise via disabled wifi and external lps, gaming router chosen for fast speed, low latency. low latency/high speed good as signal in noisy environment (router0 for minimal duration.

 

Adding an audiophile switch proved to be redundant in this case since router is relatively clean via above measures. All adding the switch did was add two more ethernet cables and another quality AC cable. Renolabs Ultimate was the switch in question, pretty high quality switch. Don't mean to cast dispersions on this particular switch , may be helpful in the usual setup where modems and routers located far from audio system. Locating modems and routers far from audio system  means long ethernet cables, most running wifi off this router likely no lps running off dirty whole house AC. Forgot to mention both my modem and router powered by lps connected to my power conditioner on dedicated AC line. Result of the usual setup means relatively high levels of noise, means loss  of transparency/resolution, the audiophile switch mitigates this to some degree, issue is you can't get back what you lost via noisy signal path prior to switch. Audio system network needs to be optimized along the entire path, let the noise be offloaded to rest of home network.

toneranger58
166 posts
 

My original set up was Innuos Zen MK 3 to Denafrips Terminator 2, which sounded quite good, connected by Pinetree Audio USB cable. I have since added as follows:  SmoothLAN Network Filter>ZenM3>Pinetree USB cable to LAIV uDDC>I2s cable Wireworld Sphere 48>T2. The uplift in sound has been remarkable, see my reviews/user opinion on Audiogon regarding the addition of these two units. Cleaning up the incoming signal has made a big difference for me, my system is revealing so that must help me in hearing the benefits. Enjoy the music and the journey.

marco1's avatar
marco1 OP
706 posts
 

Thanks again everyone for your contributions.  As the saying goes, until you try it in your own system, you’ll not know what differences might await you.  I think I’ll do a switch with a new “good” network cable between the switch and my streamer.  Based on some of the feedback here, and the response from Network Acoustic and other things I’ve read, it seems to be a good starting point.  Whether I’ll need to add a filter will be a decision I’ll tackle down the road.  I failed to mention that I had previously removed a ifi Lan ipurifier pro, which since upgrading to the Pulsar, seemed to inject noise into the playback, rather than clean it up as it did with the Aurender streamer I used before the Pulsar. Maybe I’ll try the ifi filter again after the switch but seems like it might serve me better in my 2nd system where my streaming components probably need the help.

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