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Do upgraded LAN cables/purifiers/switch box make a difference. What is recommended, if so?

Streamer / DAC is Orchard Audio PecanPi+ connected to a TP-Link SG105 switch with a slightly better than basic Ethernet cable. This in turn is connected to the wall  (with same quality Ethernet cable).

 

For completeness, the PecanPi+ is connected via XLR to Benchmark HPA4 -> Benchmark AHB2 (bridged-mono) driving Martin Logan ESL 9's.

 

Analog (Clearaudio Concept Turntable) was upgraded (Sumiko Blue Point 3 MC, Benz Micro Lukaschek PP1 phono with SBooster power supply). This improved sound TT sound quality.

 

Now I'm looking for tweaks to the digital chain to make a difference. FWIW the streaming sound quality is already great. Don't want to spend more than USD 750 on all tweaks. 

 

Would appreciate comments / recommendations.

johannm
soix
11,247 posts
 

This UpTone Etherregen switch has gotten a lot of positive feedback.  Here’s one used at a good price (I think they’re sold out new)…

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650245730-uptone-audio-etherregen-gen-1/
 

For something much cheaper I saw this switch recommended in a TAS article that measures very well for low noise and easily returnable through Amazon if it doesn’t provide meaningful improvements…

https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Ethernet-Unmanaged-Protection-GS105NA/dp/B0000BVYT3

Just a couple ideas FWIW. 

zlone
1,357 posts
 

I have done a lot of digital tweaking, and used to run a custom Pi/DigiOne streamer. I used to have a long run of Ethernet at the time that I replaced with optical, that made a difference. Currently I am using the Stack Smoothlan for the last leg, with a short OCC silver Ethernet cable from Audio Sensibility, and that combo works well, and pretty affordable. You have a pretty nice system, ultimately you may want to move towards a separate streamer and DAC.

mclinnguy's avatar
mclinnguy
1,085 posts
 

To answer your question, do better switches and cables make a difference? Yes. 

But only in a system with enough resolution and a low enough noise floor.

I own both filter recommendations above, and they do improve digital sound quality, but you may not notice a difference at all with a (what I can see is a) <$1000 streamer/DAC combo? 

Honestly my advice would be to use that money to upgrade the DAC/Streamer first, then investigate digital cabling/filtering options.

Then again, Stack Audio's Smoothlan has a money back guarantee, I would be curious to see if you noticed any difference. 

Then again, again, perhaps their Auva speaker isolators would provide more benefit to your overall sound quality for the dollar, and be your smartest option for $750 at this point? Your turntable would also benefit from this of course. 

 

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