are NET Switches worth considering?

According to Antipodes, in documentation related to their latest product release, a high quality switching cannot be done within the high end streamer: It makes sense to me. With digital streaming less is more. 

Streaming to a DAC over Ethernet

Some DACs accept audio over Ethernet, and some users wish to use this approach.
Antipodes DAS have facilitated this in the past giving the server two Ethernet ports: one for the network, and one for the DAC, with the DAC effectively reaching the network through the server.

The Oladra Platform approaches this differently. Instead of the server performing that switching role, the Oladra platform is designed to use a dedicated three-port switch, with the Oladra and the DAC each connected to the switch, and the third port connected to the network.

The reasoning is simple: if Ethernet distribution is required, it is better handled by a high-quality low-noise switch than by the server itself. That keeps the roles clearer, and the solution more purposeful. The switch serves the additional purpose of improving audio performance with streaming services.

Oladra will release an ideal switch for this use. Until then, the same principle applies with a well-designed audiophile switch.

https://camerata.app/outputs

@mclinnguy Thanks for posting that, I have not seen that comment from Antipodes. I am using one of their older CX servers with dual Ethernet ports connected directly to my Bricasti DAC. Maybe I will try a switch in between. 

@fire_water investigate Melco S100 version 2. The  Melco switch is very well engineered from a long lineage of networking experience (Buffalo). Melco approach balances core networking principles with very low noise power supplies, great clocks, and low noise port capped at 100M for streamers. IIRC the Melco filters IP packets not intended for the NIC in the streamer further reducing processing and noise at the NIC level. Melco also has deep packet buffers which can smooth out network transmission. SFP cage for modern streamers with SFP ports as well. Definitely do some of your own research. I think you will find Melco is hard to beat at the price point. 

@fire_water @grannyring 

I caved in and ordered Matrix Audio SI-1 Network Isolator, expected to arrive on Thursday. I’m genuinely curious to hear if SI-1 equals or outperforms my reference Telegartner Optical Bridge 1000M. 

There is also a review by Hans Beekhuyzen, incase anyone interested. 

https://youtu.be/w8tV1a55BBw?si=MJATOnyahQI5ZVyi

@lalitk do let us know how it works out. I'm in the process of researching on how to build a curated playlist of local files without spending $25,000 on an Innuos Zenith NG. There's a few interesting options. And for me this is more important than a network switch right now. My internet was down the other night and because streaming is my only source of music I obviously had no music. My Innuos Pulsar is fantastic so why would I sell it in order to buy the Nexr Generation of Innuos products when I can store the digital files I purchase on line on an external SSD or on a WD Red SN700 2TB with a Sabrent EC-SNVE for under a $1000? This might be my next thread lol. And we also talked about the importance of my box clouds and a quadratic diffuser.