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

@antigrunge2 

Think in future about making apodictic statements that are patently false!

The word apodictic is new to me. Thank you for broadening my vocabulary!

Your ability to contradict yourself in a short paragraph is prodiguous.

In the spirit of mutual linguistic assistance: It’s prodigious, not prodiguous.

At issue here is the fact that some people just can’t wrap their heads around the fact that digital is not analog, and keep trying to impart analog characteristics to the digital realm. It’s the equivalent of someone in 1910 throwing a blanket across the engine of an automobile on a cold winter night.

1910 automobile owner: And why do you reckon they call’em horsepower, eh? They’re horses all right, they’re just very small. They still need warmth. 

 

@roadcykler  In your system that is...

No, they make no objective difference in the sound from a stereo.

@devinplombier 

While analogue and digital issues are distinct in this case they are comingled: EMI/RMI noise on cables affects the D/A conversin since your bit perfect bits are arriving with messed up syncronicity and bent shape which both lead to increased jitter: in other words: analogue is messing up digital. hence your horsepower analogy is fallacious

 

I didn't realize you were in Dubai. Surely that complicates things.

Of the DRC systems I've used (many), I think ARC is one of the better ones.

When I tried a DAC3B in an all-Benchmark system (DAC3B - LA4 - AHB2s), the result was excellent. That might be a reasonable path to consider.

Enjoy!