@nigeltheflash Thanks for explaining the idea of inserting a switch there. I’m an engineer, software developer, system architect, audiophile, woodworker, etc... In each of those areas of endeavor -- I skew towards the most simple, unencumbered and elegant design that meets the need. Thats why I asked about using an expensive switch instead of an effective FMC or even low-noise wifi digital break/moat/filter etc. I have noticed in many videos on these topics that the people making the videos seem to have no idea of the EM fields that networking gear generates -- I say that because several notable ones place the gear either on or in close proximity to low-voltage signal gear, like phono or other preamps. Even co-bundling any kinds of cables gives me the willies. I arrived at my decisions by thinking about these things and then trying them out in practice. I started with the power cables, then interconnects, and lately networking gear. When I2S as an interconnect and SPF fiber became options in audio, I switched from coax and/or Toslink. I can see the results on instrumentation (including an em detector) as well as the noise floor. I compare what the speakers output by measuring what a microphone lets me. I’m 70, I’ve been on this journey, more-or-less, since 12. It’s a great and rewarding hobby, and many who are in it seem to take equipment detours that make me wonder what they are thinking. I get that for some, the hobby is more about accumulating wealth symbols -- I’m after the enjoyment, music and sonics. A good looking device is nice but not the point for me. (...but I do have some very nice boxes that read Ayon, Raven, Parasound, PS Audio, Rose, Cambridge Audio, Emotiva,... so yeah, I get "nice". I especially like my silver litz interconnects, which pair nicely with my tube components)
As to your statement that testing noise generated by audio grade switches do not measure the sound... think about what you are advocating, namely using a switch to reduce noise ! Huh? This (less induced noise on the wires) is exactly the point of a low-noise switch -- as we know, the data is the data and it doesn’t;t care about that noise -- we are assuming that the reason we care about the noise is what it MIGHT do to the audio device by impacting the processing inside that audio device. This is what confuses me about audiophiles chasing a clean digital input, they do not seem to understand that the digital content is unaffected by the vagaries of the transmission (as long as it arrives there timely) --and-- that the real concern is with t he POTENTIAL for co-transmitted analog noise. enough already
