Network Switches

@david_ten 
Thanks for the help. I will try the switch close to the server.  To be clear on the PS issue, the HD Plex LPS was a spare I had around so I connected it to power my router rather than the wall wort that came with the router.
My server has a great internal PS so the choice is whether to use the Plex on the router (as it is now) or on the switch instead of the PS that comes with the N8.  However, if I were to put the switch close to the router, instead of close to the server, then I could use the HD Plex LPS to power both the router and the switch.  I will first try the switch close to the server using the PS that comes with the switch but plugged into my IsoClean 60A filter.  Maybe later I will try moving the LPS from the router to the switch.
Thanks again for the help.

Ok, so I optimized the Bonn N8 switch by positioning it very close to my Antipodes DX3 server, using the short Ethernet cable that came with the N8 to connect with the server, using my HD Plex LPS to power the N8, and plugging the LPS into my IsoClean A60 power filter.  Since I moved the LPS to power the N8 switch, I am back to using the stock PS to power the Orbi router.
There seems to be a sonic improvement but certainly not night and day.  I would say smoother and maybe a bit more tonal depth.

Hello everyone

I got my Uptone audio Etherregen on Friday and put it into the system late in the evening.

As someone else already said, this is a major system upgrade, I thought my system sounded good before but its so much better with the Etherregen in the chain, stunning performance. Like a major system upgrade. The music just sounds so natural and there are significant details that I can hear on tracks I’m very familiar with. My wife even said she never heard it sound so good. She described the sound as crisper (which is a good one word description). Textures on percussion WOW! bass so solid, top end shizzle and everything in between syrupy Mmmmm.

my system is only digital streaming spotify premium but the sound is now jaw droppingly good. The switch is about 6 % of my total system cost but its delivering about 10% better sound. If you have a DAC that takes ethernet and are serious about digital sound quality then an Etherregen or better switch is an absolute must.


My system is router> cat 6> powerline > cat6 > industrial cat5e transformer > Chord C stream ethernet > Etherregen > Chord C stream ethernet > Lyngdorf TDAI3400 > Elsdon Wonfor LS 25 > Proac tablette 10 sig  and AQ greyhound > REL Stentor III subwoofer (70Hz crossover). All music is super MP3 via Spotify. Total system cost me about £10500 (about £18000 of component parts new ) . I run an Isotek sigmas gen 2 power conditioner and about £2500 spent on tweaks and vibration controls (money well spent).

Everything matters in digital audio reproduction, I was sceptical but open minded with much of it but Ive tried stuff and listened. Its not just about the 1s and zeros. Its all joined together in a system and its about noise (electrical for the most part in the case of ethernet switches, but I also have vibrational isolation on the switch and its power supply).

If you want to get noticeable switch SQ improvements but have a low budget then try second hand Cisco 2960 series managed switches (this is what Ive just stepped up from). Cost me £40 on ebay.

I suspect (like many things audio) the relative benefit of things like switches may be dependent on the downstream connections and processing.  

@discopants   I'm surprised that your system is only Spotify premium at 320kbps.  Don't you feel you're leaving a ton of meat on the bone by not upgrading to a hi-res service?  Compared to the money you've put into the switch, gear, power conditioners etc....surely you will hear the biggest sonic sea change moving up to at least CD-quality streaming.