iFi Audio Omni Ethernet Switch – A Surprising Audiophile Upgrade
In recent years, we've seen a growing number of products aimed at delivering a better audio streaming experience.
Services like Spotify, TIDAL, Qobuz, and Apple Music continue to push for higher-quality audio delivery. But for us audio enthusiasts, things often get complicated, confusing—and sometimes even controversial.
After all, digital is just 1s and 0s, right? Once you have the data delivered, that’s it... isn’t it?
Not so fast.
Nothing in audio is ever that simple. After spending time with the iFi Audio Omni Ethernet switch, I dove into researching why something like a network switch could have an impact on sound quality. And a proof is in the pudding as they say.
First Impressions: Not Just Another Boring Box
The Omni doesn’t look like a typical network switch. In fact, it resembles the iFi Neo iDSD more than any switch I’ve seen—which I appreciate.
It’s a refreshing departure from the usual black or silver boxes, and I personally love its unconventional appearance
.
What It Offers: Key Benefits for Audiophiles
Triple-stage isolation for ultra-clean signal paths
4 Ultra-Pure Ethernet ports optimized for DACs and streamers
Femto-precision GMT internal clocking
10MHz BNC master clock in/out for system-wide timing sync
Support for audiophile-grade external power supplies
SC, SFP, and M12 X connections for flexible setups
That’s a lot packed into one device.
Real-World Testing: Did It Make a Difference?
I’ll be honest—I didn’t expect much when I added the Omni into my system. I already had the iFi LAN iSilencer Pro (optical) feeding my ultraRendu streamer, so I was just curious to see what would happen.
But yes, it made a noticeable difference—and not in a subtle, “maybe if you listen hard enough” kind of way.
With the Omni in place, my Wadia 121 DAC presented music with a noticeably enhanced soundstage, better depth, improved width, and clearer instrument separation.
The effect reminded me of inserting a high-quality tube preamp—everything just sounded a bit more relaxed, natural, and spacious.
I also tested the Omni with two other DACs, and while the sonic character of each DAC remained consistent, they all seemed to perform very well within it's limitations.
The Omni didn’t color or "augment" the sound—it simply allowed everything downstream to operate at its full potential.
System Optimization Matters
To be clear, the Omni isn’t a magic bullet. It works best when the rest of your system is already dialed in.
For example, I’ve upgraded the power supply on my Wadia 121 to a dedicated audiophile-grade PSU (it’s bigger than the DAC itself!)—and that change helped it perform on a whole new level.
I kept the iFi LAN Pro in my chain after my Telmex router, but I can confidently say the Omni provides excellent isolation and noise rejection on its own. You don’t need the LAN Pro, though they can complement each other nicely.
It’s Not Just Hype—It’s Electrical Science
Jitter, phase noise, and clock stability all matter. Many people underestimate how these factors can affect digital audio playback—but at the end of the day, it’s all electricity, and your components are all connected.
I won’t bore you with too much technical detail (though I’ve got plenty of it!), rest.assure you can hear impact of Omni lan.
Final Thoughts
The Omni LAN Hub improves sound in a meaningful and musical way—and it does it with style.
With flexible connections for streamers, Roon Cores, NAS drives, and more, it’s a versatile centerpiece for any streaming-based system.
Whether you're using Cat 8, SFP, or SC fiber connections, the sound quality is consistently excellent.
If your router supports SFP or SC, and you want to avoid long Ethernet runs, the Omni gives you great options to keep things clean and optimized.
You can always upgrade with a linear power supply down the line (and I probably will
). But even as-is, I enjoy better performance from my system every day, whether I’m streaming TIDAL or using Audirvana on my Mac Mini.
So—enjoy your tunes, and let’s see what iFi Audio is cooking up next.
Enjoy the music,Tom
