[dougms3]

@bpcans

Hans does some comparisons between various network switches.

Theres the pro version of the n8 which costs alot more but has a clock output

 

[bpcans]

@dougms3, it was Rob Osbourn at Network Acoustics who helped me put together everything between my router and my Roon Nucleus music streamer. He first suggested that I demo his ENO Streaming System Ag. https://www.networkacoustics.com/shop/eno-streaming-system/. His handmade choke filter really made me understand how reducing RFI and EMI in my system would be crucial when streaming music over the internet.

Next he suggested that I should try putting a relatively inexpensive network switch between my router and the ENO. I remember asking him then about using a more expensive switch. And he said that I first needed to hear if adding a switch made any positive difference at all. Well it did. Unbelievable to me the little 5-port D-Link switch with a 5v iFi iPower SMPS gave a marked improvement in sound quality. Man I was happy all spring and summer until I started asking him about the practicality of adding a 2nd switch in sequence after reading more about network music streaming.

So again I brought up the idea of using something like the EE8 as the next improvement in my setup. And Rob said that he had been experimenting with one in his shop to test how well it worked, but that he thought that for my purposes using a Cisco GS250 8-port switch with an iFi iPower Elite power supply should get me where I needed to be. Again he was absolutely spot on.

In all of the months that we’ve been communicating by email, Rob has never given me the hard sell as in “you need this” or “you have to get that”. He’s always encouraged me to try things and determine for myself if his suggestions were applicable to my systems needs. Which is really cool in todays sometimes contentious hifi environment.

 

[dougms3]

@dougms3, it was Rob Osbourn at Network Acoustics who helped me put together everything between my router and my Roon Nucleus music streamer. He first suggested that I demo his ENO Streaming System Ag. https://www.networkacoustics.com/shop/eno-streaming-system/. His handmade choke filter really made me understand how reducing RFI and EMI in my system would be crucial when streaming music over the internet.

Next he suggested that I should try putting a relatively inexpensive network switch between my router and the ENO. I remember asking him then about using a more expensive switch. And he said that I first needed to hear if adding a switch made any positive difference at all. Well it did. Unbelievable to me the little 5-port D-Link switch with a 5v iFi iPower SMPS gave a marked improvement in sound quality. Man I was happy all spring and summer until I started asking him about the practicality of adding a 2nd switch in sequence after reading more about network music streaming.

So again I brought up the idea of using something like the EE8 as the next improvement in my setup. And Rob said that he had been experimenting with one in his shop to test how well it worked, but that he thought that for my purposes using a Cisco GS250 8-port switch with an iFi iPower Elite power supply should get me where I needed to be. Again he was absolutely spot on.

In all of the months that we’ve been communicating by email, Rob has never given me the hard sell as in “you need this” or “you have to get that”. He’s always encouraged me try things and determine for myself if his suggestions were applicable to my systems needs. Which is really cool in todays sometimes contentious hifi environment.

Well you have alot more expertise than I with this type of equipment.

I thought you might be looking for a switch.

 

[IanB52]

FWIW, I used to own an Innuos Zenith MkII and an Etheregen which both helped the sound, esp going into DCS Bartok. But now that I have a nice streamer with an optical connection to my DAC, and attached an USB SSD, I actually stopped hearing any benefit from both network devices on stored files, and for streamed files the difference is very slight.

Strangely, I can improve the sound from the SSD by using a couple USB filters inline (iGalvanic 3.0 and iPurifier 3.0). My theory is that these filters are reducing any noise that could be getting into the mains through the USB 5v power wire, because the noise is definitely not getting to the DAC input, and the streamer is doing all the clocking.

It's a weird world of trial and error.

 

[iFi audio]

a couple USB filters inline (iGalvanic 3.0 and iPurifier 3.0).

If I may, technically these are not filters iGalvanic3.0 is a galvanic isolator for a USB and iPurifier3.0 is a USB reclocker/regenerator. Both are active devices.

 

[iFi audio]

Innuos Zenith MkII

That's a very nice server/streamer platform and its InnuOS is awesome too

Edit: oops, double post, sorry!

 

[bpcans]

Well you have alot more expertise than I with this type of equipment.

I thought you might be looking for a switch.

@dougms3, well I thought I was looking for another network switch, but I guess I’ve found what I need for now. My brain is still acclimating to how different the music sounds with two iFi powered switches in sequence in my system. The most noticeable element being that the background to the music is absolutely pitch black. Which is probably why the music sounds so much more detailed and spacious.

I’m not sure that I have any more practical experience than you do sir. I started putting this hp system together at the beginning of the pandemic when all any of us could do was go to work, shop for groceries, buy gasoline, and stay at home. It was done one piece at a time as I was able to slowly upgrade, and when I had the money.

 

[iFi audio]

The most noticeable element being that the background to the music is absolutely pitch black. Which is probably why the music sounds so much more detailed and spacious.

That's true and spot on observation. The quieter a PSU is, the more and more black the backdrop behind instruments and voices gets, so they stand out more and resolution increases along with that blackness.

 

[dougms3]

@dougms3, well I thought I was looking for another network switch, but I guess I’ve found what I need for now. My brain is still acclimating to how different the music sounds with two iFi powered switches in sequence in my system. The most noticeable element being that the background to the music is absolutely pitch black. Which is probably why the music sounds so much more detailed and spacious.

I’m not sure that I have any more practical experience than you do sir. I started putting this hp system together at the beginning of the pandemic when all any of us could do was go to work, shop for groceries, buy gasoline, and stay at home. It was done one piece at a time as I was able to slowly upgrade, and when I had the money.

I've noticed that's the effect of noise reduction. Increased soundstage height width and depth, better separation and imaging, more microdetails.

You have more experience than i with network audio devices. I have only tested cables and routers.

Glad to hear it worked out well for you, your chain is quite complicated, might need to draw a map to understand it better lol.

 

[bpcans]

@dougms3, just go to my profile and touch “about”.

 

[cpurdy]

@dougms3, just go to my profile and touch “about”.

Wow.

A man after my own heart, or however that saying goes. Grados (including a PS1000 customized by Moon) and Focals. Woo Audio (WA5-LE). PRS custom 24 (in that gorgeous blue). Power conditioning. Jazz.

Fender Eric Clapton Tremolux tweed guitar amp.

A classic Orange here.

Can I please make one little suggestion? I think you will love this, if you don't already have it: Lenny Breau, The Hallmark Sessions.

 

[bpcans]

@cpurdy, Do you mean this album? It’s not too bad at all.

 

[cpurdy]

@cpurdy, Do you mean this album? It’s not too bad at all.

The story behind it is amazing. His first album. One take. i.e. The first take. Played half the album without stopping, took a quick pee break and came back and recorded the other half. Just him and his soon-to-be manager, and a tape recorder and a microphone.

He's considered by many guitarists whom I respect to be the greatest guitarist of all time. Taken too soon by his battle with narcotics.

Edit: I should add, it's a great album for picking up tiny little details that a good pair of headphones will allow you to experience ...

 

[bpcans]

Thanks @cpurdy. Yes Lenny Breau was quite the artist. Simply unbelievable talent.

 

[OCC7N]

I have decided to try optical fiber at the endpoint(from switch to streamer/pc)

This is pretty cheap compared to other solutions that has a "hifi" name:
https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/ethe...-to-optical-fiber-converter-pair-p-13758.html

So my "network" chain is this:

line in to house: Fiber to converter(FMC) -> ISP router -> Network isolator(Baaske mi1005) - > switch(NAS streamer goes into this) ->[ Ethernet/fiber -> fiber cable -> Fiber/ethernet ->] PC - > JCAT USB XE -> Chord TT2......

I will be using 5V ifi power supplies for the FMC boxes.

Any recommendations is appreciated.