Snake oil of the year?

$800 for an unmanged 8-port switch?  I'm in the wrong business.  That's borderline criminal.

Do you know what's in it?

@akg_ca

With respect. I went back and clicked on the links you provided. You selected (cherry picked) only one side supporting your beliefs that audiophile switches are hokum. Have you ever tried one? If so what? The repose below seems very even and way above my pay grade too.

Is there conformation bias when one gets their latest doodad? Sure.. However, there are far more positive comments from actual switch users than not. I'm not dousing my system with Flagyl to combat parasitic capacitance but I'm using an audiophile switch. Doctor's orders.

"almarg

9,670 posts

10-29-2019 at 06:14am

As someone having extensive experience in digital (and analog) design, although not for audio, it is very conceivable to me that a network switch can make a difference sonically. Not because it affects the accuracy with which 1s and 0s are received; not because it affects the timing with which those bits are received; and probably not because of most of the reasons that are likely to be offered in the marketing literature of makers of audiophile-oriented switches.

The likely reason relates to differences in waveform characteristics such as signal risetimes and falltimes (i.e., the amount of time it takes for the signal to transition from its lower voltage state to its higher voltage state and vice versa); differences in noise that may be riding on the signal; and differences in distortion of the waveform that may be present. In other words, things that affect the spectral composition of the waveform.

Those differences in waveform characteristics in turn may, IMO, affect the degree to which some of the RF energy present in the signal may bypass, i.e., may find its way around, the ethernet interface circuitry in the receiving component and affect circuitry that is further downstream. Perhaps affecting timing jitter at the point of D/A conversion, and perhaps affecting analog circuitry further downstream via effects such as intermodulation or AM demodulation.

One thing that became abundantly clear to me in my experience as an electrical engineer is that signals and noise don’t necessarily just affect or entirely follow only their intended pathway. And the waveform and noise characteristics of the signal that enters a circuit can affect the degree to which RF energy present in that signal may find its way via unintended pathways to unintended circuit points "downstream" of the intended circuit. "Unintended pathways" may include things like grounds within the receiving device, parasitic capacitances, power supply circuitry, or even radiation through the air within the component.

For example, in the following thread ...

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/bricasti-m1-dac-vs-ps-audio-direct-stream-dac?page=9

... two members reported that inserting an inexpensive Netgear switch between their router and the ethernet interface in their audio system resulted in significant sonic improvement. One of those members, whose system is of exceptionally high calibre, was extremely skeptical initially, but ended up saying "I can’t believe it."

None of this is to say, though, that a given switch will provide benefits that are consistent from system to system, or that there will necessarily be much if any correlation between the cost of a switch and the benefits it may provide.

Regards,
-- Al"

@wsrrsw

yep … tried one in my $50k system.

my take : bupkus….nada…. zippo…. = SFA difference in my digital audio performance compared to the simple quality build “vanilla” unit recommended and supplied by my pro IT tech. Pass on it.

NOW OPTION 2: …in stark contrast to the esoteric network switch swap-in / swap-out step above with its marketing techno+bafflegab hyperbole that makes non-IT tech types eyes glaze over…, ….yes … NOW there is a distinct audio digital audio performance improvement with a simple step up in the digital build quality in the new upgraded streamer and DAC ( e.g. my BRYSTON stablemates with discrete linear power supplies etc) …..

yep …. It’s all there now … no quarrel.

I read a lot of reviews and posts in the major audio forums, but I don’t necessarily blindly support their stated opinions , pro and con. I’ll still use my ears in MY system ( emphasis added ) as the ultimate litmus test . Others may have different experiences, no worries …. ,carry on!

it’s the overly aggressive types that cling to a notion of “IT  HAS to be the best” option that I tune out. There is no “best” in this hobby.

There are three sides to every story: your side, my side, and the truth. And no one is lying. Memories shared serve each differently.”

― Robert Evans