[Vitor Goncalves]

Quite a while ago I went thru a fair number of different power supplies in regard to network switches (after reading an article somewhere on the topic) and for me "in most cases" I couldn't pick up any major differences unless they were towards the negative, so I sort of ended my journey thinking that in regards to switches, it seemed that end result would have been just buying an "Audiophile" type switch, LHY or the likes.

Then someone suggested in another thread I change my switches (always used Netgear) and when I did I perceived a more cohesive sound with better detail.

Here is the switch they suggested...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086384H7C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Very inexpensive, but very good (IMO, l

Quite a while ago I went thru a fair number of different power supplies in regard to network switches (after reading an article somewhere on the topic) and for me "in most cases" I couldn't pick up any major differences unless they were towards the negative, so I sort of ended my journey thinking that in regards to switches, it seemed that end result would have been just buying an "Audiophile" type switch, LHY or the likes.

Then someone suggested in another thread I change my switches (always used Netgear) and when I did I perceived a more cohesive sound with better detail.

Here is the switch they suggested...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086384H7C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Very inexpensive, but very good (IMO, lol)

Is this the one you have?

Cheers!!

I did it the other way round, from TP-LInk to Netgear. No difference in sound, not to my hears (lol). The netgear switch looks better, is heavier, seems reliable, but this is unlikely to be of any relevance (lol). Cheers

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

I did it the other way round, from TP-LInk to Netgear. No difference in sound, not to my hears (lol). The netgear switch looks better, is heavier, seems reliable, but this is unlikely to be of any relevance (lol). Cheers

Round N' Round the audio merry-go-round we all go!

Cheers!!

 

[shoaibexpert]

Quite a while ago I went thru a fair number of different power supplies in regard to network switches (after reading an article somewhere on the topic) and for me "in most cases" I couldn't pick up any major differences unless they were towards the negative, so I sort of ended my journey thinking that in regards to switches, it seemed that end result would have been just buying an "Audiophile" type switch, LHY or the likes.

Then someone suggested in another thread I change my switches (always used Netgear) and when I did I perceived a more cohesive sound with better detail.

Here is the switch they suggested...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086384H7C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Very inexpensive, but very good (IMO, lol)

Is this the one you have?

Cheers!!

Interesting. I am currently using a Linksys Switch and am reading this article where Alpha-audio has measured switches. I have just ordered the Netgear GS108E...as it's the cleanest one in there and as per them sounded close to best. Did you have this Netgear switch?

Link to article:
https://alpha-audio.net/review/a-very-deep-dive-into-network-switches-listening-and-measuring/8/

 

[Vitor Goncalves]

Interesting. I am currently using a Linksys Switch and am reading this article where Alpha-audio has measured switches. I have just ordered the Netgear GS108E...as it's the cleanest one in there and as per them sounded close to best. Did you have this Netgear switch?

Link to article:
https://alpha-audio.net/review/a-very-deep-dive-into-network-switches-listening-and-measuring/8/

Thanks for sharing this interesting link. I Use the Netgear GS108GE ProSAFE, so a different model, but take their evaluation as a good sign.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Interesting. I am currently using a Linksys Switch and am reading this article where Alpha-audio has measured switches. I have just ordered the Netgear GS108E...as it's the cleanest one in there and as per them sounded close to best. Did you have this Netgear switch?

Link to article:
https://alpha-audio.net/review/a-very-deep-dive-into-network-switches-listening-and-measuring/8/

Thank you for the link to the article! I always like to try and keep these things saved somewhere for future reference.

No, my Netgear was probably 8 years old, and nothing like that one, when I read about the TP it was around 17 dollars on sale, so I actually grabbed two because of the age of all my switches around the house, . So at that price, I figured it was worth the long-overdue upgrade!

Cheers!!

 

[Vitor Goncalves]

Round N' Round the audio merry-go-round we all go!

Cheers!!

Indeed. btw, sometime ago you said that you leave the Zen Stream switched on all the time. Doesn't it get fairly warm? how much does this practice contribute to reduce the life span of the device? Cheers

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Indeed. btw, sometime ago you said that you leave the Zen Stream switched on all the time. Doesn't it get fairly warm? how much does this practice contribute to reduce the life span of the device? Cheers

Never got too warm for my liking, I remember measuring the temp at a time when we were talking about it (probably in power supply terms) and if I remember correctly I never measured anything over 92 F. Life span, who knows to be honest, lol (not that it's not a consideration).

If you listen to Z Reviews you are supposed to leave things like this on all the time, of course, he doesn't pay my electric bill either,

The best advice I could give is if you are one of those having issues with reset modes then leaving it on is a viable option, as noted mine never got warm enough for concern from me. Also, I always try to have space around my gear as much as feasible.

Also, a friend of mine has one hard-wired (ethernet) inside his audio cabinet so he never shuts his off either, going on a year or two and no issues.

Cheers!!

 

[Vitor Goncalves]

Never got too warm for my liking, I remember measuring the temp at a time when we were talking about it (probably in power supply terms) and if I remember correctly I never measured anything over 92 F. Life span, who knows to be honest, lol (not that it's not a consideration).

If you listen to Z Reviews you are supposed to leave things like this on all the time, of course, he doesn't pay my electric bill either,

The best advice I could give is if you are one of those having issues with reset modes then leaving it on is a viable option, as noted mine never got warm enough for concern from me. Also, I always try to have space around my gear as much as feasible.

Also, a friend of mine has one hard-wired (ethernet) inside his audio cabinet so he never shuts his off either, going on a year or two and no issues.

Cheers!!

Thanks. That’s good to know

 

[sabloke]

Indeed. btw, sometime ago you said that you leave the Zen Stream switched on all the time. Doesn't it get fairly warm? how much does this practice contribute to reduce the life span of the device? Cheers

Mine is 21 months old and has been on since day one. The only time is off is when restarting after an update or when I rearrange my cabling. Heat not an issue since I stuck some 1" rubber bumpers that raises it above the Matrix Audio X_SPDIF 3 it is sitting on.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Mine is 21 months old and has been on since day one. The only time is off is when restarting after an update or when I rearrange my cabling. Heat not an issue since I stuck some 1" rubber bumpers that raises it above the Matrix Audio X_SPDIF 3 it is sitting on.

The world of aftermarket "feet" or "bumpers" is vast and varied!

I know because I have a box in the back room with plenty of them, one of my favorite "rubber bumpers" is Hudson HiFi check them out very good quality!

Cheers!!

 

[shoaibexpert]

The world of aftermarket "feet" or "bumpers" is vast and varied!

I know because I have a box in the back room with plenty of them, one of my favorite "rubber bumpers" is Hudson HiFi check them out very good quality!

Cheers!!

Maybe good for electronics, but not speakers. Isolation can be had for cheap using washing machine sound dampeners for electronics as well... Which I shamelessly use for my DAC and PreAmp. Zen stream already comes with soft rubber feet which are great for isolation....but not good enough for heat dissipation...

For speakers, nothing but ISOacoustics Gaias...

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Maybe good for electronics, but not speakers. Isolation can be had for cheap using washing machine sound dampeners for electronics as well... Which I shamelessly use for my DAC and PreAmp. Zen stream already comes with soft rubber feet which are great for isolation....but not good enough for heat dissipation...

For speakers, nothing but ISOacoustics Gaias...

100% agree with you there, ISO Acoustics are used here in my home studio for monitors, love them!

I understand the design philosophy for the ZEN series but also agree a little more "height/space" is really needed!

Cheers!!

 

[Flm09]

Hey guys,

I just signed up for Qobuz and if someone can tell me how to add iFi Zen stream to the device list so I can stream off the Samsung phone? Now it only shows my phone.

Thanks!

 

[Vitor Goncalves]

Hey guys,

I just signed up for Qobuz and if someone can tell me how to add iFi Zen stream to the device list so I can stream off the Samsung phone? Now it only shows my phone.

Thanks!

Hi, you need a third party software because Quobuz doesn't have a Connect feature (like Tidal or Spotify Connect), at least not yet. I'm an iOS user but being an android user I guess you can use BubbleUPNP. There's an excellent App called JPlay, which costs 50 USD/year, but I'm not sure it runs on Android now. Another option is to use Roon that works really well with the Zen Stream. This is the route I've taken but it entails additional subscription costs and the use of a Roon Core.

 

[Flm09]

Hi, you need a third party software because Quobuz doesn't have a Connect feature (like Tidal or Spotify Connect), at least not yet. I'm an iOS user but being an android user I guess you can use BubbleUPNP. There's an excellent App called JPlay, which costs 50 USD/year, but I'm not sure it runs on Android now. Another option is to use Roon that works really well with the Zen Stream. This is the route I've taken but it entails additional subscription costs and the use of a Roon Core.

Thank you! I downloaded Bubble Upnp and signed into Qobuz but when I press button to
cast it shows only Bubble Renderer and nothing else. What am I doing wrong. Everything on iFi end is activated.