Ethernet - Analog/Digital Signal Clean Up

If a switch is not needed in your system for switching duties then what good is having one in the chain (as discussed in recent posts in this thread)? In my network, the only hardwired device is my music server, since everything else is connected by Wi-Fi. I can run the Ethernet cable directly from the router to my server, which makes me wonder whether the supposed benefits of clocking and noise isolation provided by “audiophile” switches is of any value, or just another myth coming from the marketing department to sell us more stuff.

Hans Beekhuyzen would have you believe there are benefits in clocking and isolation provided by having a switch as he shows in his “simulated” jitter graph, while Paul at PS Audio and Amir at Audio Science Review both indicate there should be no benefit resulting from the switch, which Amir shows through his measurements saying, “jitter and noise are extremely easy to measure.” Of course, as audiophiles like to say, “everything can’t be measured” and “if you hear the difference but can’t measure it, you are probably measuring the wrong things.” All I know is that in my system the identifiable sonic results of digital add-ons like switches is usually so subtle that I cannot reliably say they improve anything.

@mitch2

As with anything else in Audio, the quality of switch and implementation matters, not to mention the upstream components (like streamer, DAC and so on). I do not know what is your exact setup but I’m using a very high quality switch in my system and it has made a profound improvement in the SQ of my digital front end.

Before buying my current switch, I have tested other Ethernet switches under $1K and they had a minimal or next to nothing impact with ENO filter. Every system is different, so I encourage everyone to do trials and keep what works best in the context of your system.

"I have tested other Ethernet switches under $1K and they had a minimal or next to nothing impact with ENO filter."

@lalitk - I respect your experience and can see that you are currently using the $4K Telegärtner M12 Switch Gold in your system.  However, your comment about "minimal or next to nothing impact" resulting from switches "under $1K" would then rule out the claimed benefits from a number of under $1K switches that are advertised to dramatically lower noise and reduce jitter, such as:

• English Electric Network Switch 8
• Bonn N8 Silent Angel Switch
• UpTone Audio EtherREGEN
• AQVOX AQ-Switch SE
• Fidelizer EtherStream Network Switch
• SOtM sNH-10G Ethernet Switch
• NuPrime Omnia SW-8 Ethernet Network Switch

I noticed you qualified your observations "with ENO filter" so maybe some of the above switches have a larger impact when used without the ENO filter, particularly in systems where there is significant noise on the network cables for some reason.  I guess I keep coming back to -  if I can't hear it, if it can't be measured, and if I don't need a switch, then what benefit am I getting for the money?  Everybody's system and hearing are different but I struggle with the dichotomy between claims of technical superiority by manufacturers and reports of profound sonic improvements by listeners compared to the absence of any measurable differences (Audio Science), and comments by other industry professionals (Paul at PS Audio and networking specialists on these forums) who say these Ethernet switches cannot make a sonic difference wrt to reduced noise and jitter.  Of course the final straw is that if I cannot hear it in my system then it provides no value to me.

the debate or question about whether audiophile grade ethernet switches, high and low priced, provide any better sound is like anything else in considered in our hobby, no?

try it for yourself, then decide - what someone else says only goes so far, it is their system, their ears, their way of comparing, their brain/ego/psychology, not your own

some retailers and makers allow money back trials, or buy it used for a fair price, sell it off if tried and no meaningful improvement is obtained

Streaming can be very confusing, some report great sonic benefits from some particular device, others not. I too have not heard any benefit from the around $1k switch or fiber in front of my server. So now I've been considering Muon filter, but now I see this review,https://youtu.be/Elo6cQ1UW1I

This review gives me pause, seems my assumptions this filter may work in all setups may not be correct.

Per @lalitk, apparent we all need to try these devices for ourselves in the context of our unique setups to determine value. And per @mitch2 , if I cannot hear it in my system it provides no value to me.