Why do I need a switch?


I just watched a few videos about audiophile switches and I don’t understand the need. Cable comes into my home and goes to a modem and then a NetGear Nighthawk router. I can run a CAT6 to my system or use the wireless. If you don’t need more ports, why add something else in the signal path?  On one  of the videos the guy was even talking about stacking several switches with jumpers and it made the sound even better. He supposedly bought bunch’s of switches at all ranges and really liked a NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Plus Switch (GS108Ev3) That costs $37 on Amaz.

Thanks in advance.

128x128curiousjim

First, know I have fully gone to the Dark Side of internet switches.  I started with a Etherregen with a quality LPS, added a SOtM with a quality LPS switch then the English Electric with a quality LPS.  I clock the Etherregen and SOtM with a Mutec Ref10.  I have the ENO Ethernet filter and several SOtM cables with filters.

My experience is more is better. 

If you want to start slowly I would suggest the Eno Ethernet filter, you should hear an improvement and if not send it back and stop.  From there a quality switch will bring another level of betterness.  The switch is a sum of its parts but key parts are the clock and power supply.  An off the shelf switch is not going to have a decent clock so don’t try it and its power supply will be noisy.  An external LPS is going to lower noise and you should hear it.

There is a level of diminishing returns depending on the resolution and noise of your system.  I am all in with streaming.  I used to believe streaming (Qobuz) could never sound close to a CD or ripped CD.  Now I know otherwise.

@curiousjim 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?

I used one of these from Solupeak on the streamer end, though my FMC's are 5V:

https://www.amazon.com/Audiophile-Regulated-Converter-Raspberry-Solupeak/dp/B08HDGCP3V/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=SOLUPEAK&qid=1680293203&sr=8-6&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.18ed3cb5-28d5-4975-8bc7-93deae8f9840

The price has gone up significantly since I bought mine in December, but still affordable. I can't say that adding the LPS was night and day, but overall the fiber has been a nice upgrade.

 

Forget the switch. If your sound is noisy, get a Ethernet-to-fiber then back to Ethernet setup going to your dac and you will clean up the signal.

As for getting multiple switches to clean up the signal, that’s nuts. But if you can tell the difference, whether it’s real or not, then do it.

@nd1der 

 

The reason I am trying to add a bit of fiber is to remove noise. If you have fiber coming into your home and modem, then you are good to go. You could try running fiber out of your modem to your router, but you probably won’t hear any difference.

 

OP:

The ifi iPower adaptors should work well and minimize AC noise generation. RELATIVELY affordable given the usual markup on anything that says "audiophile" on it.

I run my DAC on a Power X version, and then use the next level down for my streamer, and network switch in my HT. 

https://amzn.to/3zqmTUm