Do I really need an " Audio Grade Network Switch "?

So much controversy over streaming devices and sound quality. I hear reasoned arguments involving technical issues from both sides.

So, I go to the one tried and true method  that always provides me with a final judgment when it comes to audio, and that is called LISTENING. This is audio people!

In my experience the most important upgrades in streaming chain were, dedicated server, separate streamer, modifying server for two ethernet ports, FMC, and  quality LPS on all equipment in streaming chain,  Next step down was quality usb cable, below that ethernet cables. This all assumes one's dedicated audio AC and grounding is taken care of.

I did purchase an audiophile switch, the only network or streaming device I've ever tried that resulted in diminished sound quality. I presume this may be due to my two ethernet port setup with server, which means signal having to detour through an added ethernet cable and the switch to FMC vs. direct out of server to FMC.

I'd add the audiophile switch is likely the most controversial component in streaming chain based on my research from the more streaming oriented forums. At this point I'm thinking it's superfluous if one has done two ethernet port server thing and/or FMC. It may also be running LPS on my router has some bearing on this.

Audiogon Discussion Forum

The above post describes what I discovered last night with an EtherRegen + SOnore OpticalRendu streaming into a Musetec 005 DAC.

I am going to get a Sonore OpticalModule for my other system to stream with Sonore OpticalRendu that I also have on that system. The link above gets into the details of why I tried this.

@sns  okay, I have little understanding when it comes to some of this. When you say, "modifying server for two ethernet ports" and FMC; what exactly are you talking about? I have a 35-foot Bluejeans Cat6 that I drilled a hole to feed thru to basement and traverse length to front wall and back up directly into Node 2. 

To get two ports out of my server (exteme modded mac mini) I assigned/bridged thundebolt port as ethernet port, thunderbolt to ethernet conversion cable, instantly have two ethernet ports. On other servers you could do this with usb ports. Or off the shelf servers such as Antipodes and Sonicorbiter I9 which have two ethernet ports built in,  I9 also has advantage of being optical out.

Ethernet direct out of server beneficial if running separate streamer/end point, in this case it bypasses switch or router, also useful for direct out to the FMC's, Optical conversion is best way to isolate streamer/dacs from network noise. I can just about guarantee the future will be all optical network solutions.

FMC is fiber media converter, this converts ethernet to optical, you can do this on cheap with FMC like TP link MC220 or you can go higher end with Sonore opticalrendu products.

For those wanting to learn more about streaming, audiophilestyle.com forum is the place to go.https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/

I suspect the real answer to the question is like every other question in high end audio: it depends. It depends on the quality of your streamer, router, modem, interconnects and downstream equipment. For me the answer is no, I needed no special networking equipment. I have a flagship streamer that takes care of any upstream issues and completely isolates the bit stream it releases to my DAC. But, probably other folks with other streamers are more effected by the packets and physical connection, You can probably put a lot of money in the network side and get much better sound out of a less expensive streamer… or visa versa. The effect on cables will depend on the equipment on both side.

But one thing I have found for sure is streaming can perform as good or in many cases better than dedicated CD players and with the right equipment equal vinyl. How you get there will be different for everyone, but it is a very worthy pursuit.