Why do I need a switch?

Hi Jim (fellow Ref 5 owner)

This Pre-Streaming madness blows my mind!

I have a DCS Bartok, when connected to my router with a cheap ethernet cable it sounded good. I swapped the cheap cable for an affordable 10m AudioQuest Cinnamon, this gave a slight improvement. I was sceptical about buying a switch so my audiophile mate bought me a cheap Netgear switch to try. It made quite a difference, I was not expecting that. I then bought a English Electric 8 switch which gave an even bigger improvement, (this came with a short cable by Chord). My mate then demonstrated to me that a 'high end' ethernet cable from switch to streamer was necessary. He used a David Laboga Ruby, top of the range and bloody expensive. This did show another level of improvement though. Following this demo, I bought a Sablon Cable (rest of my loom is from Sablon Audio) and although not as good as the Ruby I was happy with it.

This is the Crazy part for me and I just don't understand what is happening - someone please explain ....

If I add back into my system the cheap Netgear switch as well as the EE8 switch it sounds better!?

to summarise this is now my set up ....

ROUTER -Chord cable - NETGEAR SWITCH - Audioquest cable - EE8 SWITCH - Sablon cable - STREAMER

If I remove any part of this signal path it has a detrimental effect on sound.

My mate btw, has a very expensive Innuos Phoenix Net switch connected via his Laboga Ruby cable into a DCS Rossini .... AND, he also has a cheap Netgear switch daisy chained as well - NUTS!

Like @panzrwagn posted, an Ethernet switch doesn’t make a bit of difference. People and companies who claim otherwise are being disingenuous or perhaps ignorant at best.

@markprice here is the reality, these products are snake oil, through and through. If actually measure what comes out of your speakers, there would be 0 difference. 
 

that said, you are subject to your biases, and your brain interpret things differently.

@fredrik222

oh dear, oh dear, oh dear,

my ears are my measurements, that's what I go on. I don't buy anything until proven so. You obviously interpret your biases by listening to your measurements 😂 good luck with that!

@curiousjim I you put in fiber you won’t need a switch.