Update on good Ethernet switch

The most robust and best sounding setup will be hard wire ethernet cable from router to music streamer.  A wireless link is a compromise.  However, when I did some experimenting streaming television programming, I had the wireless mesh router near the TV connected by ethernet cable back to my audio grade network bridge.  The picture was just slightly less clear using wireless to the Apple TV box vs the ethernet cable plugged directly into the Apple TV box.  So based on my experience, a wifi link may be just fine or you may hear a difference depending on your system and all other factors- like RFI levels in your home.  You will have to try it both ways- put the audio grade network switch before the wireless link and then try it close to your music streamer.  The latter is likely to give the best results for streaming music.  The best ethernet cable should be at the music server.

I know all this because I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last week.  Yes, I really did and it was crazy expensive.  My first hotel stay since Covid.  Wow!  Prices have gone up a lot.

I’ve worked in Enterprise networks for 30+ years. Fairly confident I have a better understanding of this than most members here. The base product this item is created from is a $40 limited function Ethernet switch.

@rjmcinnis Enterprise networks have nothing to do with sound quality and give you exactly zero credibility here.  In addition to the aluminum case this unit has an upgraded clock and dumps the crap SMPS for a LPS.  These are not small upgrades, and if you don’t understand this you’re completely out of your depth here.  Look up Jay’s Audio for transports — they know a lot more than you do when it comes to audio.  Period.  Stick to enterprise networks where you’re clearly more qualified but has little to do with high-end audio.  Or are we gonna just get into the “bits are bits” BS conversation here?

@txp1 Until you run an actual wire to your system, don't bother with upgrades such as this.  Jerry

@rjmcinnis I've found that IT professionals can be the last ones to understand digital audio because it is so different that the stuff they have done their entire career and they contribute a lot to the slowness of adiophiles to figure it out.  I recommend keeping an open mind.  

Jerry

Big +1 @carlsbad2 They let dogma prevent their ears from hearing.  Their loss.