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

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.

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. 

 

Thank you for your comments and input. Greatly appreciated. I live in Abu Dhabi and there is not a lot of options and/or brands in the UAE to audition. So my decisions are based on research / reviews / YouTube and this Forum. 

@soix thank you for the links. The Etherregen seems like a good option and at a decent price. Will seriously consider this.

 

@zlone Thanks for the kind comment on my system. I was out of audio for nigh on 30 years. Now with settling down and much less business travel decided to get back in. Wanted a highly revealing and low noise sound system. Thus the Benchmark and Martin Logans. Stack Smoothlan is a great option and will investigte the Audio sensibility cables. 

@mclinnguy  Another vote for Stack Smoothlan plus the Auva -which is on my list on the speaker side - weighing it up against the Tough Nut speaker isolators .....sigh.

 

The $750 is a separate budget only for digital. There are 3 budgets - on the old 'envelope' process. This digital upgrade envelope. Another envelope for the speaker isolators and lastly an envelope for separate streamer / DAC upgrade you are all mentioning

 

Shortlist for DAC, is of course, the Benchmark DAC 3b, and the streamer the Volumio Rivo+. The Benchmark DAC 3b will provide the revealing / low noise synergy with the rest of the downstream components and the ESL's. 

 

 

"Do upgraded LAN cables/purifiers/switch box make a difference."

IME, little to none.  This stuff seems to go through a life-cycle starting with early adopter fervor, leading to a bandwagon of vocal supporters, and then the inevitable manufacturer's upgrade to the new de rigueur version of the same thing.  The cycle keeps going as long as people keep buying.

In my world of streaming through Roon, changing/upgrading DACs has made the most improvement to the sound of my digital front end, followed by upgrading streamers.  The server has surprising made little difference (assuming separate server and streamer).  I do like using linear power supplies on everything, but I couldn't swear that I hear a difference.  The rest of it, including cables, filters, purifiers, switches, optical lines, etc., even though I still use some of those, have made little (imaginary?) sonic difference in my system.  YMMV

Everything makes a difference. You have to experiment with different tweaks. I have isolation, as well as different filters throughout my entire audio system, including my speakers. Yes tweaks are a critical part of my audio system. Happy listening.