Relationship between Ethernet Switch and SQ

audphile1

Cheaper streamers buffer. Higher end streamers cache. Some higher end streamers buffer but use a healthy buffer area and processing to ensure the data is clean.

What streamer are you using, @audphile1 ? What streaming service are you using that "isn’t fast enough for streaming so error checking goes out the window, replaced by ’error correction’ meaning that if a bit is dropped, some value between the 2 adjoining bits is chosen (interpolation) "?

You can fiddle with power supplies on your streamer all you want, but you’re likely to get much greater improvement by looking at your streaming service and cleaning up whatever network problems are contributing to your dropped bits.

Meanwhile, I think @mathiasmingus made a great choice in the Bryston BDP-3. I dumped an Aurender for the Bryston and have never been happier. Yes, the interface is crude and some people just can't get passed that. But it's a terrific streamer.

@mathiasmingus 

Congratulations on upgrading to BDP 3. At the end of the day, your comfortability and enjoyment is all that matters. 

Cleeds is correct, bits are bits if you have a decent switch. IMO, even a $600 reconfigured Netgear or Cisco “audio grade” switch is a waste of money - no meaningful value added. I’ve just listened to different switches and spoke with too many network engineers to convince me otherwise. If you are trying to increase the speed and reliability of your home network, you have a variety of options. However, with your current system, it is highly unlikely you will hear any improvements in SQ. I’m sure others may disagree. Happy listening and Merry Christmas 

@cleeds I have owned Auralic Aries G1 and Lumin U1 Mini. Currently I am using a network renderer in my DAC (Bricasti M3) as a Roon endpoint (Roon core duties are handled by Mac Mini) without an outboard dedicated streamer. I also occasionally use MConnect to bypass Roon and stream direct from streaming services (Qobuz and Tidal).

The M3 has two toroidal transformers running digital and analog sections of the unit. There’s nothing ti fiddle with and I don’t have any plans to do so. The point I was trying to make is it all depends on the design and implementation. There are excellent streamers that utilize buffering and equally good sounding units that leverage caching. 

Here’s the M3 with its hood popped (this isn’t my unit, pic from hifi news). 

Hello,my personal experience with a Bell router is…..Heimdall 2 Ethernet cable to Synergistic Research switch… to Muon Pro filter …. To Aqua LinQ streamer …. To Weiss 501 DAC. This combination is an amazingly level of no audible noise resulting in hours of no fatigue 🎶 .