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

[Leporello]

Has anyone already purchased the new LHY devices: AS8 Pro, AS6, Networkfilter?

Edit:

The new AS8 Pro, LHY's flagship audio HIFI switch, with an optically isolated OCXO clock (2.5G 10G),
has been repeatedly refined and optimized for over a year. Tigerfish Audio's flagship AS8 Pro switch is finally officially released! 1. The AS8 Pro is divided into three main parts: 2.5G main switch + 1G audio quiet zone + precision clock with extremely low phase noise. An all-in-one design, all functions are integrated and independent of each other. 2. The 2.5G main switching section and the 1G audio idle section are connected via the integrated single-mode dual fiber and communicate with each other to achieve internal photoelectric isolation, providing the purest network environment for data transmission. 3. The clock section uses SC-cut OCXO with a near-phase noise of better than -110 dBc, combined with a high-performance PLL clock chip to provide the most precise and stable synchronous clock signal for the two switching sections. It is also equipped with BNC connectors for clock input and output to facilitate further upgrades for customers. 4. The power supply section includes two imported 50VA Porcupine Ring bulls and multiple uV-level fully linear DC regulated power supplies. AS8 Pro is a true fully linear power supply, and the entire device has no DC2DC circuit. 5. The chassis is constructed from a single piece of aviation aluminum and hollowed out using CNC precision machining. Compared with conventionally assembled aluminum alloy chassis, the resonance of the entire machine is significantly reduced and the chassis rigidity is improved. Circuits with different functions can be isolated from each other to prevent interference. 6. The independent ground terminal and ground switch are specially designed for audiophiles with extreme requirements, enabling star-shaped grounding between multiple devices in the entire audio system to prevent interference and noise caused by ground loops.

Components:.Nichicon,Rubycon,WIMA, Panasonic

Pure snake oil, extra virgin.

 

[audiobomber]

Pure snake oil, extra virgin.

An optical break is not snake oil, as it provides 100% galvanic isolation, something that ethernet cable cannot achieve.

 

[theveterans]

Pure snake oil, extra virgin.

You've posted this comment so many times already on multiple threads lol. Dunno if it's some inferiority complex where it's easy and fairly affordable to try out these tweaks for yourself

 

[neohb]

I have to bridge a distance of 5 meters anyway, so the isolation is already implemented with an FMC. But aside from the inconsistently implemented isolation, the AS8 is of high quality in terms of features, construction, and components. So it remains to be seen how the device performs in operation. I've now ordered the AS6 to compare it with the SW6. So far, the SW6 with the Ock2S and the SW10 haven't been able to replace the TeraDak T-S100 in terms of sound. I think the AS8 Pro or Matrix SS 1Pro would be worth a try.

 

[agisthos]

I have to bridge a distance of 5 meters anyway, so the isolation is already implemented with an FMC. But aside from the inconsistently implemented isolation, the AS8 is of high quality in terms of features, construction, and components. So it remains to be seen how the device performs in operation. I've now ordered the AS6 to compare it with the SW6. So far, the SW6 with the Ock2S and the SW10 haven't been able to replace the TeraDak T-S100 in terms of sound. I think the AS8 Pro or Matrix SS 1Pro would be worth a try.

That's really interesting I had no idea that Teradak even did an network switch. A sleeper?
You say it best SW6+Clock and the SW10? Is that with a SMPS or with the matching Teradak LPS?

 

[m-i-c-k-e-y]

https://kamaudio.com/T-S100-network-switch

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Just got this in house...

Discussion can be read here

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/silentpower-presents-the-omni-lan.976541/page-3#post-18675968

I will post any thoughts I can here as well

Cheers!!

 

[neohb]

That's really interesting I had no idea that Teradak even did an network switch. A sleeper?
You say it best SW6+Clock and the SW10? Is that with a SMPS or with the matching Teradak LPS?

Available on AliExpress including a TeraDak power supply. I have the version with the green Nichicon capacitors.
I liked the SW10 better than the SW6 with 0ck2s, but the TeraDak even a bit better. Now I'll see what the new LHY devices can do for my network.

 

[MattSPL]

I’ve had my AS6 just over a week now.

My previous setup was 2 x Cisco 2960 modified for Zerozone Supercap linear power supplies.

I still use one of the Ciscos after the router and feed the AS6 from the Cisco with a MikroTik DAC cable.
The AS6 then feeds the streamer from its isolated rj45 port.

The AS6 has been a nice upgrade from the Cisco. Bass potency and resolution have improved, along with speed and inner details of the music.

 

[musicinmymind]

Just upgraded my network audio! I managed to get a great local deal on a Taiko Audio Extreme Switch, which will be taking over from my LHY SW10 + LHY FMC. It's a blind purchase, but I'm hoping for big things!

Quick question: For optimal performance, should I stack the LHY components alongside the Taiko, or just run the Taiko directly between my basic router and Lumin U2?

Looking forward to your advice!

 

[theveterans]

Just upgraded my network audio! I managed to get a great local deal on a Taiko Audio Extreme Switch, which will be taking over from my LHY SW10 + LHY FMC. It's a blind purchase, but I'm hoping for big things!

Quick question: For optimal performance, should I stack the LHY components alongside the Taiko, or just run the Taiko directly between my basic router and Lumin U2?

Looking forward to your advice!

Congrats!

Experimenting is the key!

 

[Exocer]

Just upgraded my network audio! I managed to get a great local deal on a Taiko Audio Extreme Switch, which will be taking over from my LHY SW10 + LHY FMC. It's a blind purchase, but I'm hoping for big things!

Quick question: For optimal performance, should I stack the LHY components alongside the Taiko, or just run the Taiko directly between my basic router and Lumin U2?

Looking forward to your advice!

I would recommend you try both scenarios and pick the one that best suits your tastes.

Id imagine the Taiko direct would sound best but that decision is yours to make. Enjoy and congrats!

 

[musicinmymind]

Taiko arrived and is now plugged in via RJ45 to my Lumin U2.

I don’t have dedicated table space for it yet, so it’s temporarily sitting beneath the gear rack. Since the Taiko weighs around 15kg, swapping it back and forth with the LHY SW-10 for A/B comparisons won’t be easy—I’ll try that sometime later.

I’ve been using the LHY SW-10 for over a year and am very familiar with its sound signature. The moment I swapped in the Taiko, the differences were immediately noticeable.

With brief listening, what stood out the most:

• Darker background with more space between notes
• Improved transient cleanliness—attack and decay feel more natural and effortless
• Music has a more relaxed, fluid presentation that draws you in
• It feels like digital grain has been stripped away, music flows more organically and with greater realism

But I need to say, these improvement as still subtle compared to Lumin U2 upgrade from Holo Red.

It came bundled with an MCRU linear power supply and a Vertere Acoustics Pulse-HB RJ45 cable—a nice bonus.

So far, very impressed.

----------------------------

Edit 05/25 - as cannot double post.

I tried adding the SW-10 and FMC before the Taiko, but the result was a noticeable reduction in transparency.

It seems that introducing extra reclocking might actually blur timing rather than improve it, the added signal path complexity, more links, more connectors, and increased potential for ground noise loops or re-clocking artifacts.

I can’t say with certainty what the exact cause was, but in this case, adding another filter before the Taiko ended up dulling the microdetail and dynamics rather than enhancing them.

 

[TheR0v3r]

In another thread I wrote:

The thing is that I want to (re)turn my attention to the networking side of things. I’ve noticed very different results when switching between basic Ethernet cables (Cat5e and Cat6) running from an excellent network switch into the iMac. It makes zero sense to me that two basic Ethernet cables with the exact same specs (Cat6 U/UTP) sound totally different… It’s one thing to have confirmation bias when switching between an expensive ”audiophile” Ethernet cable vs a basic one, but this was me just switching between two black, basic Ethernet cables!

Now I’ve spent some time comparing Ethernet cables and, lo and behold, they sound different from each other. Or at least my system sounds different depending on which cable I use.

Does anyone know who is rumoured to have the highest quality manufacturing process in the business? What I’m looking for is manufacturing consistency with minimal variances from ANTI/TIA-568.C2 in day-to-day production.

 

[MattSPL]

In another thread I wrote:



Now I’ve spent some time comparing Ethernet cables and, low and behold, they sound different from each other. Or at least my system sounds different depending on which cable I use.

Does anyone know who is rumoured to have the highest quality manufacturing process in the business? What I’m looking for is manufacturing consistency with minimal variances from ANTI/TIA-568.C2 in day-to-day production.

The Linkup 22awg Cat8 is a very good cable and comes with a test certificate.