I tried an expensive “Audiophile” switch in my system, and couldn’t hear any difference at all. I was prepared to buy if I heard an improvement. Of course, other people have a different experience, I’m only reporting mine
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.
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- 78 posts total
Did you have the switch as close as possible to your streamer and connected with an unshielded cable to break any conductivity path for EMI/RFI to enter your system? It's this noise that finds its way to the analogue stage. Try keep length of cable to 2ft. or less. Even a cheap switch off Amazon can bring big gains. Costs very little to try: Netgear GS305 + cable for under $20 |
@gournard I am pretty sure looking at @kerrybh 's gear he for him to say "expensive" it definitely was a switch substantially better than anything from Amazon. Not sure if it was up to level of one of the best reported switches Network Acoustics Tempus, or what ancillary cables or other devices were connected to it causing a bottleneck somewhere. Was there any dealer advice with this switch? Or borrowed from a friend? @kerrybh appears to have the budget for a Tempus, If he desires his streaming to approach the sound quality of his vinyl I wonder if he is curious to try this along with a couple of their network cables? 60 day money back guarantee. |
@mclinnguy My dealer brought a couple of these to audition. Its been a couple of years-Nordhost and maybe Melco. So, I'm pretty sure the setup was good. I just didn't hear any improvement which disappointed me-I was prepared to buy. I respect that some have a different experience. That's only natural. Which gets to an issue that arises with a lot of forum advice. I can say for sure on the day I tried this gear that in my room, with my equipment, I didn't hear a difference. I don't extrapolate from that fact that switches can never make a difference. I think anytime someone makes a definitive, purportedly universally true statement. e.g., CDs are better than streaming, vinyl is better/worse than digital, tubes are better/worse than ss" its time to get a big grain of salt and be very skeptical. This is very subjective, we all hear differently and have different preferences. Otherwise, there would be a lot fewer brands. So, advice can point in interesting directions, but no one can definitively tell you what will sound "best" to you. So, in the end, you get a lot of honest advice that goes in opposite directions. It can be thought provoking and helpful, but rarely definitive. Listen for yourself, if at all possible is always good advice. |
@kerrybh Thanks for filling in more details.
Absolutely, beyond our ears and personal taste, my belief is we all have different qualities of power and internet entering our hifi, so if no benefit is perceivable spend the money somewhere else. |
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