Importance of clocking

@mikhailark On your point about local file playback, Roy Gregory was surprised to find a similar improvement with his Wadax server/streamer (see page 5 herehttps://gy8.eu/review/magnificently-minimalist/5/. I agree with his hypothesis that if there is less RFI going into a server/streamer via the ethernet connection then that will logically affect even local file playback.

Re RFI, I mean both. Yes a switch generates its own RFI but steps can be taken to minimise that generation and the massive reduction a good switch makes to reducing incoming and therefore "net" RFI is clearly audible.

Disclosure: as per my profile, I design and build switches for audio purposes so I have spent loads of time working out what can/does and can’t/doesn’t make a difference to sound quality.

My key point in contributing to this thread is not to argue the merits of various RFI-mitigating approaches (that has been and can be discussed elsewhere). Here I simply wanted to point out the clear difference between clocking in the asynchronous ethernet domain and clocking in the synchronous bitstream domain.

@nigeltheflash 

This is why InnuOS has a standalone feature in Sense 2.6.3

Thanks @antigrunge2. I had missed this update and am in process of installing.

However, I'm not sure I understand the "standalone" point you mention or what this has to do with clocking. Could you expand? Thanks and apologies

Nigel

@nigeltheflash 

Apologies I was meaning to refer to the offline mode under system advanced settings

Thanks @antigrunge2. Unfortunately changing to this mode still leaves the physical network connection in place if you stream AND play local files so the challenges and the possible solutions remain pertinent.