We Need To Talk About Ones And Zeroes

@sns 

Well said! I agree that galvanic isolation is essential and should be intrinsically baked into any serious DAC or streamer these days. Ground contamination and timing errors have a way of creeping in subtly, and you’re spot on; the higher the system’s resolution, the more these small tweaks and upstream changes can reveal themselves.

I also like your point about comparing streaming to physical media — it’s a great benchmark. If the chain is dialed in, high-quality streaming can absolutely go toe-to-toe with local files or even well-done vinyl. I’ve experienced and achieved that in my setup. 

As for Dejitter switch and any other audiophile dubbed switches, I share your curiosity. My personal experience says otherwise. After experimenting with a very high end switch (Telegartner M12 Gold switch) and few sub $1K switches, I am now of opinion, less is more.

I found audiophile switches redundant or have very minimal impact as long as we have addressed galvanic isolation between network devices, effectively breaking ground loops and blocking electrical noise from traveling through Ethernet cables. 

I found audiophile switches redundant or have very minimal impact as long as we have addressed galvanic isolation between network devices, effectively breaking ground loops and blocking electrical noise from traveling through Ethernet cables.

Too often, people only consider an item’s primary purpose and judge it by how well it accomplishes that purpose, but that’s a limited, it not somewhat blinkered approach.

Indeed, by that token no one should buy a Patek Philippe because a lowly iphone keeps perfect time and the Patek sure doesn’t, so Patek Philippe must be snake oil.

Of course, accurate timekeeping has long since ceased to be the raison d’être of fine watches. Therefore their secondary purposes of beauty and craftsmanship have superceded their primary one of timekeeping.

Similarly, if a person doesn’t like to look at items of low or average quality in their home, then a well-designed network switch milled from solid aluminum and fitted with the best components and ports available makes sense. 

If the goal for that network switch is to improve sound quality, however, disappointment is bound to ensue.

The Telegärtner M12 switch doesn't use RJ-45 connectors. Instead, it is equipped with proprietary connectors, requiring the use of proprietary patch cables.

An interesting approach for sure.

He says it all boils down to galvanic isolation. More food for thought. I have no dog in this fight. 

with an forum alias of @nonoise that goes without saying. 

@devinplombier 

Since you choose to highlight my comment about an M12 Gold switch redundancy….I would like to provide bit more context to my previous post. On its own, M12 in my system, contributed to a smoother and more refined sound. And further improved tonal density and micro-dynamics. No other filtering device were used with M12 Switch. 

When Telegartner released the Optical Isolator Bridge, I decided to take the plunge. My prior experience with fibre optic / Ethernet converters didn’t yield favorable outcome. I never cared for the dry (clinical) sound through fiber optic cables. 

One of the prime reason for me to consider the Telegartner Optical Bridge is its ability to keep the transmission over Ethernet cables. IME, Ethernet cables sounds much more organic over any fibre optic cables. 

In a/b comparison, i.e. Optical Bridge vs M12 Switch, Optical Bridge went few steps further in terms of increased dynamics, presence and resolution during both streaming and local playback. Keeping M12 in signal chain with Optical Bridge brought no audible enhancements hence my assessment of a Ethernet switch redundancy in a system that has already addressed galvanic isolation effectively. 

Hope this clears any confusion!