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In Reply to: RE: Network Switch. This can't work. But it does???? posted by creativepart on November 15, 2023 at 14:29:26
So I'm supposed to hook this up to my router and make an extra connection and it's supposed to be better? I already have 4 connections on my router.
Follow Ups:
It's so easy. You buy the switch for $20 or less, and connect it to your router. Then move your streamer's Ethernet cable to the switch. It's an unmanaged switch so it all works automatically and instantly. No special setup or cables needed.Make sure you use a SHIELDED Ethernet cable between the switch and your streamer. Which everyone should do anyway.
And, lastly, you need to replace the switch's very small, very lousy 12v SMPS with something better. How much you spend on this is up to you. One of the cheapest decent "audio quality" power supplies is the IFI PS. Just get the 12v model. Amazon has them for $69 but they are available cheaper elsewhere sometimes, too. They sell these in a number of voltages - make sure you get the 12v supply.
If you try this, all in you'll have spent less than $100. So, it's a very low cost experiment. If your system is like mine you will hear an fairly substantial improvement in streaming sound quality.
Edits: 11/16/23
"Make sure you use a SHIELDED Ethernet cable between the switch and your streamer. Which everyone should do anyway."Yes, that's a great idea. Use a shielded Ethernet cable to bond the chassis ground together between you gear.
Ethernet is inherently gavonically isolated as the IEEE implementation specifies transformer coupling of a balanced pair signal. If you are so concerned about your network cables coupling noise into your DAC, a shielded CAT cable is about the worst thing you can do. The voltage levels of Ethernet as well as the balanced topology make it highly immune to noise induced errors. Especially in a residential setting. Shielded CAT cables are for specialized applications like a network in a steel mill with electric arc furnaces. They have no benefit in your home network
Edits: 11/19/23
You do know that the switch is only 5 volts and you linked the ifi 12 volt power supply.
And I realized that my Zen Stream was 9V.
That makes no sense
I was thinking of using the wall wart of my iFi Zen Stream for the Netgear switch, but they require different voltages.
I'm using this right now.https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0716XT1QT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
Edits: 11/16/23
That's a good step for isolation. I haven't tried fiber yet, but I read mixed reviews. Some claim it can result in a drier sound. Have you found that?
I recently read that someone said to use a better power supply on the converters on both ends as well.
Alpha Audio's network guy said he uses the "Meraki Go" managed Switch by Cisco with a built in Fiber SPF module - but he puts a $500 linear power supply on the Cisco switch too. His combo totals nearly $800 and he says it sounds better than the Netgear switch I'm talking about but costs 8 times as much.
It was suggested by a friend with the external linear power supply. As is I didn't think it did anything to my sound, so I left it hooked up since I felt it didn't hurt the sound. I never added the suggested power supply only because I never got around to it. One day I will.
This is the suggested supply.
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