Why do I need a switch?

Interesting discussion @curiousjim. I presently am running two network switches in sequence between my CAT6 router and my Network Acoustics Eno Ethernet filter on the way to my server. The first switch is an inexpensive 5-port D-Link that is connected to an 8-port $200 commercial grade Cisco network switch by a $70 Audioquest cinnamon ethernet cable. Both switches have iFi iPower Elite SMPS’s that are plugged into my AQ Niagara power conditioner. Ideally the cleaner the signal you send to your DAC the better the music will sound in your system. RFI and EMI are the real enemies of internet music streaming IMO.

The simple test that I tried and convinced me of the efficacy of using a network switch was to first use an inexpensive switch between my router and my server. The $50 D-Link switch and a $20 L-Com ethernet cable were enough for me to notice that the music sounded less digitally harsh and smoother. Of course the amount of money you can spend on anything in streaming audio can get pretty outrageous. But you don’t have to go crazy to get positive results. I think it’s definitely worth a try.

I just got the Network Acoustic Muon Pro series Ethernet cable and filter.  It is an expensive Ethernet cable.  I am considering three switches.  Paul Pang, Ediscreation, and the new one that is due out in June from Network Acoustics.  These switches range in price from $1.8k - 4.4k.  

In the meantime, I have the D-link switch that I am inserting into my 2-channel system.  If I can hear an audible difference with the $50 D-Link then I will proceed to consider one of my three options above.  At this point, all I am out is $50 to try and experiment with.  I have Fiber and Cat 6 and I am electing to go back to Cat 6. If I do not hear any difference in SQ then I go without a switch at my Lucas Audio Music Server.  This to me is a very cheap test to try before investing any real money.  I have absolutely nothing to lose except $50.

I also just ordered a Teddypardo LPS that I am going to plug into my Netgear modem to my Araknis 310 and 210 router and switch for the whole house network that is in a separate area that feeds my theater room and two-channel room which are at different ends of the house. 

@tonywinga So what I hear you saying, based on your description, is that you have Wi-Fi signal level issues that were remedied by hardwiring. I always recommend hardwiring backhauls from Mesh network nodes to avoid those exact issues. 

The differences between cable specs are all about supporting longer distances, higher speeds, and reducing RF noise pickup through known methods. Cat 5, 5e, 6 (tighter twist, shielded, 6a (higher spec Cat 6), and 7 (change to Gigagate 45 connectors). 

Luckily audio is a very low bandwidth network load, with few if any commercial offerings requiring more than 5Mbits/Sec (24-bit 192 KHz), well within the capability of even Cat 5'S 100Mbits/Sec @ 100M. If you were having issues it was likely RF interference related that the higher spec cable shielded from better than what was used before.

Perhaps.  Before I added the ethernet cables and running just wifi, a speed test on my TV would show >250mps.  I consider that a pretty good wifi signal.  Keep in mind that the main router is connected directly to the modem.  I am using a wifi 6e mesh system with the secondary router close enough to have a full strength signal.  

I ran the ethernet cable to the secondary router out of the audio grade network switch.  95% of the picture improvement was via wifi from the secondary router to the TV after adding the ethernet cable from the network switch.  The additional small improvement came by connecting an ethernet cable directly to the TV from the network switch.

After connecting the secondary router to the network switch, wifi speeds increased to 550 mps in the room with the TV.  

So I received and installed these,

TP-Link Gigabit SFP to RJ45 Fiber Media Converter, Fiber to Ethernet Converter 10/100/1000Mbps RJ45 Port to 1000Base-SX Multi-Mode Fiber (MC200CM) Black https://a.co/d/7JUU7Su

Easy peasy everything works and sounds good. There was no immediate difference and  It’s way to early decide anything, but without buying another $500 power supply, is there any decent LPS’s that have two or more 9 volt output connections that I can use on these network boxes? @erik_squires @jjss49 @zlone @mitch2 and all.