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.
