Does ethernet switch quality matter when using fiber connection?


From my understanding noise should be eliminated once it reaches the fiber cable since glass will carry the pure signal

With this in mind, should one disregard a more expensive switch such as ETHERRegen when streaming with fiber in favor of a > $100 switch.

Is it still worth investing in an audiophile grade switch and if so why?

questforhifi

Is it still worth investing in an audiophile grade switch and if so why?

No ,There is never a reason to buy a so called "audiophile grade switch" . Learn what a switch does  instead, then you have at least furthered your knowledge. 

My recent experience with an audiophile switch disappointing. I have no filtering of any kind prior to router, Audioquest Vodka feeding router from modem and router to server. LPS on router. All my network optimization is post server. Over time I became convinced audiophile switch prior to server would improve sq. Quite the contrary, i much prefer no switch, seems my router with lps is providing everything I need.

 

My suspicion is the switch and its internal clock was one clock too many in my setup. My switch also had built in very nice quality lps. YMMV. I'll also second use of fiber conversion, that was a very nice additon!

I recently bought a CA streamer that after week stopped recognizing my NAS.  CA told me to change the switch and that solved it.  Not a sonic issue, but obviously an important one

I went from a Cat 4 and FO to Cat 6 alone. I didn't touch anything else, I re-ran all three hard lines in the house and shop. Cat 4 to Cat 6. 20, 50 and 100 foot runs.

 

It was like magic.. 15, 20, and 35.00 dollar cables. I had zero errors before and zero errors after but 10X increase in DL and 2 or 3 X in up load, bidirectional. 

100.00 upgrade, 5X increase in overall speed.. YES the sound improved..the shop more so, (the longest run and Cat 4 only before). I like the CAT 6 connections too..

Regards

@questforhifi The EitherRegen did nothing for my system that I could hear. I also use fibre near the last mile before my DAC. I do not have the X1 for direct fibre so I use the Sonore OpticalRendu (fiber-2-usb). This is was a massive improvement in sound over non-fiber (Sonore microRendu). The EtherRegen did not even improve my RJ45 streamer in my KRELL K-300i integrated. I still use it but I should sell it.

You raise a very big issue that most people are reluncant to talk about. Why does the quality of the digital stream matter before the fibre cable. In other words, why do you need a noise optimized music server ($$$), why use fancy Ethernet cable, switches. I asked this same question to Chris Connell (sp?) the big cheese on the AudiophileStyle web site. I think he will write an article about this.

For me ignorance is bliss (with great sound) using my fibre.

I use the following to get my fibre.

Amazon.com: Ubiquiti Networks Networks UniFi Switch 8-Port 150 Watts, White : Electronics