What makes One Music Server Sound Better than Another?

I have not tried converting to fiber.  I trust many members who report a a negative impact  I also strive to avoid additional power supplies associated with the fiber conversion. I feel a good switch resolves the noise.

@fastfreight, there are also many members who report a significant improvement by adding fiber, myself included.  Depending on your network components and your streamer/dac, you may end up not adding any additional (or just one) extra power supply to use fiber for instance.   e.g. your primary switch already supports fiber and you use an an EtherREGEN or something similar at your streamer (best case streamer supports fiber...) to convert back just before your DAC.   That is how I initially added fiber for the last run into my equipment rack and differences were not subtle for my system/environment.

Since so many folks report different things making differences with digital audio (or not), and so many of them being system specific, I wouldn't personally rule out fiber just because it didn't improve the sonics for everyone.   I think you have to try it for yourself to decide if it makes a difference...

@mitch2 , unfortunately I think this thread is going to cost me $ and work.   I've been running a Roon ROCK server in my office two stories away from my listening room connected via a MoCA 2.0 connection with the assumption it is first of all quieter than powerline, and secondly that my last run of fiber and audiophile gadgets would remove any noise from that type of connection.  I'm not worried about the reliability of the data path.    After reading this thread, just for fun I moved it down into my listening room with the switch that runs fiber to my streamer/dac and I think it sounds better, more fleshed out, less thin, etc.   Now I think I'm going to need to keep my server in my room but it currently uses a fan, so I'll likely build a passively cooled NUC based system to use Roon and keep it in my listening room.  Not what I was expecting, but like I mentioned above, it just isn't clear to me what changes make what difference (if any) when playing with digital audio (and why).

@fastfreight 

So to summarize:

TP-Link - $20 (rounded up)

LHY SW-8 - $600

Ether Regen - $680

English Electric - $700

GTT Switch X - $3,500

Network Acoustics Tempus - $4,130

JCAT M12 Gold - $4,800

And our conclusion is that it’s a waste of money to spend $700 cuz there’s no sound difference; the only way to hear any improvement is to spend at least $3,500?  Is that an accurate summary of your post?

Hello @mdalton!  I am merely stating that I, like many others, walked into streaming and slowly upgraded many things.  FOR ME, the Ether Regen was hot and did some but not a lot to improve the sound.  The Bonn 8 made me feel more 'audiophile', but again made little change.  The M12 switch from JCAT was an easily heard improvement, especially with the JCAT power supply.  When I tried the Switch X, (switch and clean network)  I felt it was even better.  Since I already own the M12, I tried the Switch X with and without the M12 directly in front of it.  And guess what?  It sounds even better with both switches.  Many report this stacking of switches beneficial.  I understand for most this is excessive, but I already own the M12 so it is essentially half price for me to keep it vs sell it.  Who knows, maybe they each do slightly different things and so the benefit is additive. My summary would be if you really want great digital, buy a really good audio switch to place as close as feasible to your streamer.  (I save so much not having a turntable!).  I have invested heavily in great sound, so I find the cost of these devices worth it.  I would never say anything is a waste of another's money.  And I had no problem selling both my EtherRegen (with heat sinks) or the Bonn 8.

@fastfreight 

Hey, I get it, and I’m not trying to tell you how to spend your money.  I just feel compelled to give an alternative perspective for those other members who might use this thread to help inform their purchase decisions.  And I offer that alternative perspective based on my own research into these issues, which draws heavily on the technical perspective of alot of engineers, designers and others who know infinitely more about computers, networks and digital audio than I do.  Finally, whether I’m right or wrong, I’m very happy to plow the money not spent on servers and network switches into my analog front ends, speakers, and of course, my vinyl collection!