The Ethernet cables, Switches and Network related sound thread. Share your listening experience only.

[bpcans]

@Jake2, where did you put the iFi Lan Silencer in your listening chain? https://ifi-audio.com/products/lan-isilencer/. I don’t think that I need one, but do you think it’s worth a try?

 

[bpcans]

I’ve watched several YouTube tutorials where folks have 3 to 4 network switches in cascade with basic ethernet cables between their routers and their music servers. When do you know that the internet signal has been reclocked enough to make a substantive difference? Is it all about what how resolving one’s system is?

 

[kingoftown1]

Aurally, it probably falls into the realm of "it varies person to person/system to system, try it and find out." You could always run the experiment and just keep adding switches until you can no longer hear a change.

...and now that the subject's brought up....I do have an open 12v rail on the lps powering one of two switches...hmm....

@OCC7N I'm still adjusting to some pc hardware changes, so I can't isolate the impact of those network tweaks on their own. That said, I'm not complaining about the sound right now. The other thing I've been looking into more heavily is reducing the # of processes and threads. This thread has some good info if you haven't seen it already

 

[Jake2]

I’ve watched several YouTube tutorials where folks have 3 to 4 network switches in cascade with basic ethernet cables between their routers and their music servers. When do you know that the internet signal has been reclocked enough to make a substantive difference? Is it all about what how resolving one’s system is?

I'd frame the question another way - how do you know the ethernet signal/chain has been cleaned up (incl reclocking) to the extent that no further audible differences are possible without spending unreasonable money?

To which the answer is simply - trial and error, keep trying stuff - within the constraints of your budget - until it improves it no more. So far each of these made an additive difference: router (incl toggling wifi OFF - v audible even after all the other steps in the chain) > Netgear GS108E > Ifi lAN iPurifier > LHY SW-8 > R26 streaming DAC. As did adding a second iFi LAN purifier between the LHY switch and my Mac Mini M1 server. I use the two iFi's plugged into the LHY.

 

[bpcans]

Thnx @Jake2. The only upgrade in the near future for my setup is that I’m purchasing a better ethernet cable to go from my router to my first network switch, an AQ Cinnamon because it’s not too expensive, and I wanted to hear if it made any difference before leaping into something like a Moon Audio Silver Dragon. https://www.moon-audio.com/silver-d...x_ieMQPGyz5VhMOEUl6ApSECRurLc9TIaAhvYEALw_wcB

 

[OCC7N]

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/54748-optimising-network-adaptor-settings/

Wonder if anybody also try this and get the same result. More softer treble, airy, not as forced....

Burnin in the AfterDark Constellation Gieseman X1 Ethernet Adapter. Music is very upfront, literally feels like it should burnin for 2000hours. I cant say if it also the new LHY LPSU80VA which powers the card and the jcat. The whole setup is almost new, alot of burnin is awaiting, but those changes did make some difference, can´t decide if its better.

Thanks to @sajunky observation Im gonna link this here: https://audiophilestyle.com/applica...d=106927&key=0dd72ee9e223f9d9b79888b804073ad6

Interestingly the configurations in this pdf is opposite on the buffer settings....I can tell that it certainly did some improvements.

Been running the pink faun isolator directly on the streamer for 2 days, this was a very positive uplift in the performance. Feels like I have no cables connected and just straight from the source.

 

[bluenight]

I sold my Cambridge CXNv2 audio streamer and have ordered the EverSolo DMP-A6 MASTER EDITON streamer/dac.

I hope i will hear an improvement in the network streaming . It gets great reviews on YouTube.

 

[OCC7N]

I sold my Cambridge CXNv2 audio streamer and have ordered the EverSolo DMP-A6 MASTER EDITON streamer/dac.

I hope i will hear an improvement in the network streaming . It gets great reviews on YouTube.

I stopped believing anybody before first hand try. It looks like a great streamer and it is probably a upgrade, however your ears will decide. Its sounds simple but it is really hard to understand until a lot of money has been wasted because of other peoples thoughts and opinion.

Look on the bright side if you don´t like it you can send it back

 

[Mark6088]

I sold my Cambridge CXNv2 audio streamer and have ordered the EverSolo DMP-A6 MASTER EDITON streamer/dac.

I hope i will hear an improvement in the network streaming . It gets great reviews on YouTube.

Do you think the upgraded clock and op amps will make a significant difference in the digital streaming SQ vs the original edition? I am considering the Master edition as well, but already stream to very high quality clocks (Denafrips Hermes DDC and Venus II DAC). Do the upgraded op amp chips in the unit affect only the analog output abilities of the unit (that is what my primitive understanding is leading me to believe)?

 

[bluenight]

Do you think the upgraded clock and op amps will make a significant difference in the digital streaming SQ vs the original edition? I am considering the Master edition as well, but already stream to very high quality clocks (Denafrips Hermes DDC and Venus II DAC). Do the upgraded op amp chips in the unit affect only the analog output abilities of the unit (that is what my primitive understanding is leading me to believe)?

I asked the store i ordered it from about this and they thought it only affects the analogue output abilities.

And recommended me to get the cheaper version if you have an better external dac then inside master edition.

I dident want to have any regrets and thought it is nice to have the best parts inside for the internal dac. And also the gold design looks nicer, some times that can be importent to imo.

Maybe some of the diy tweakers in this thread could answer it better if you find some internal pics of unit which i dident find last time i googled.

 

[Mark6088]

I asked the store i ordered it from about this and they thought it only affects the analogue output abilities.

And recommended me to get the cheaper version if you have an better external dac then inside master edition.

I dident want to have any regrets and thought it is nice to have the best parts inside for the internal dac. And also the gold design looks nicer, some times that can be importent to imo.

Maybe some of the diy tweakers in this thread could answer it better if you find some internal pics of unit which i dident find last time i googled.

That's pretty much what I figured...that the Master Edition upgrades mainly affect the analog output part of the equation. Even though I have an external DAC that is perfect my system, I do not know what the future may hold as I head into retirement. Having an optimized internal DAC in the DMP-A6 may come in handy in the future and be worth the extra $400 now. Thanks for the information!

 

[bluenight]

That's pretty much what I figured...that the Master Edition upgrades mainly affect the analog output part of the equation. Even though I have an external DAC that is perfect my system, I do not know what the future may hold as I head into retirement. Having an optimized internal DAC in the DMP-A6 may come in handy in the future and be worth the extra $400 now. Thanks for the information!

Sometimes it can also be nice with different flavours. And the shortest signal path might be a thing also in favour of the internal dac.

 

[Currawong]

I’ve watched several YouTube tutorials where folks have 3 to 4 network switches in cascade with basic ethernet cables between their routers and their music servers. When do you know that the internet signal has been reclocked enough to make a substantive difference? Is it all about what how resolving one’s system is?

The most sensible thing to do would just be to use optical isolation, ie: a couple of fibre converters, with the one on the music server end using a low-noise PSU.

 

[sajunky]

The most sensible thing to do would just be to use optical isolation, ie: a couple of fibre converters, with the one on the music server end using a low-noise PSU.

@bpcans is right asking, as network transfers are asynchronous, clocking is not an issue. The way network devices can affect quality are ground loops and a burst character of a load on the receiver power supply. It create a noise on the end of the fiber link. It is why advanced systems offer special network protocols for audio transfers.

A highlighted part is critical, unfortunately fiber converters generate a lot of noise on the power connections. WiFi extenders give an alternative method for ground loop rejection and are less demanding on the power supply. This thread is not focusing on WiFi extenders, but extenders should not be neglected. In both cases it is important to use a separate LAN segment free of third-party communication, truncated or advertising frames, so receivers do not have to process all foreign traffic and network frames arrive in more regular intervals. This include configuration of the network adapter, removing all unnecessary protocols, leaving only TCP/IP on a dedicated link and tuning up buffers and other network parameters.

 

[OCC7N]

Aurally, it probably falls into the realm of "it varies person to person/system to system, try it and find out." You could always run the experiment and just keep adding switches until you can no longer hear a change.

...and now that the subject's brought up....I do have an open 12v rail on the lps powering one of two switches...hmm....

@OCC7N I'm still adjusting to some pc hardware changes, so I can't isolate the impact of those network tweaks on their own. That said, I'm not complaining about the sound right now. The other thing I've been looking into more heavily is reducing the # of processes and threads. This thread has some good info if you haven't seen it already

If you really want to play with Windows 10 try the NTLITE. It could be interesting...or take the short path = Windows Server 2022. Its a galaxy in speed difference. Just better!.

@bpcans Start of just by trying to put a switch close to your endpoint/streamer. I would highly recommend a Pink Faun Isolator directly on the streamer ethernet port.

Your first attemp of the chain could be:

ISP router -> Switch -> PF Isolator -> Streamer.

If you are in search for an audiophile switch I would probably recommend LHY SW-8....just from my google experience. Im awaiting better funds and I will get one for sure!

The second attemp for better sound:

ISP router -> Switch(Cisco Meraki or CBS220) - >Switch(LHY SW-8) -> PF Isolator -> Streamer.

CBS220 is a good cheap way to try optical if you want it in the future. So if your ISP router supports it you could run in all the way over to the Cisco CBS.

In my future scenario(1-2months) I have a bridged setup from my ISP fiber box. Which means I actually place the netgate2100 router and LHY SW at the endpoint/source/streamer also. I will be running a 10 meter optical fiber cable from my setup to the ISP/fiberbox