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Read at your own risk, you may die laughing

kemmler3D said:
Is the network noise in the room with us now? :facepalm:
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LOL! If I could like this comment 10 times I would!

I hope purchasers are using static IP addresses with that thing or they're wasting their time!
 
aagstn said:
Only 7500 pounds to make my music sound ethereal? Sign me up for two.
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Invert the output of one and put both in the same cable, symmetric transmission for extra interference rejection! You've never heard a background that raven black before!
 
"...short time ago, was considered by many to be the best network switch for streamed audio on the market..."

And considered by others to be pointless and irrelevant snake oil.
 
And the last thing I need in my minimalist audio system is a big switch. I have a perfectly workable 8x2.5G switch taking care of all my wired home stuff (and purposedly hidden out of sight). All these unmanaged Ethernet switches basically exploit semi-identical internal components at the end of the day.

But oh well, some of us may still have magic green paint on the edge of our old favorite CDs. If the cost seems insignificant, hey why not play the odds. :-D

PS: I would never with this kind of stuff, of course.
 
firedog said:
There are optical Ethernet switches and streamers made for audio. Not saying you can hear the difference (and I haven’t heard one), but if you want to eliminate any possibility of noise being conducted into your system, that would do it. I’d say it’s for people who want take things to the nth degree, just to be sure they have the best setup possible.
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Yes, there are switches with optical interfaces. No useful all-optical Ethernet switch exists. Even to do basic L2 Ethernet you need electronics.

Plus - do you get real fiber strands all the way to your home? Otherwise why bother. What's next all fiber connections all the way from the Tidal data center to a DAC with a QSFP56 network interface? :-)

BTW even optical signals deteriorate, and -depending onthe nature of the optics- over a much shorter distance than people assume.
 
Hypothetically, the slowest connection speed at which you can maintain an uninterrupted stream should offer the best performance
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Hypothetically? Must be a Freudian slip ;)
 
firedog said:
Not saying you can hear the difference (and I haven’t heard one), but if you want to eliminate any possibility of noise being conducted into your system, that would do it. I’d say it’s for people who want take things to the nth degree, just to be sure they have the best setup possible.
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I don't know why this argument is being made. The conversion from optical back to copper itself requires circuits which generate noise. Unless the target device consumes optical signals, and stays in that domain forever, there is nothing to be gained from optical link. Heck, it may actually generate more noise than less!
 
voodooless said:
Hypothetically? Must be a Freudian slip ;)
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A common "hypothesis" - scare quotes because they're never going to test the hypothesis, so calling it a hypothesis is like calling a small rock "ammunition" because someone could theoretically, someday put it in a slingshot... but won't.

AFAIK It dates back to the early days of PC audio and is more of an assertion that all computation generates EMI that is audible in the analog output, regardless of which devices are involved, whether they are digital or analog, and where the computation appears in the signal chain.

Combine this "hypothesis" with the belief that human ears can hear noise levels (or, for the even more ignorant, types of noise) that aren't detectable with modern measurements, the further belief that noise impacts subjective audio quality in ways that it actually doesn't, and you have a market for all sorts of digital gear that doesn't make a lick of sense.

I'm not saying computer hardware never generated audible noise or interference, but typically the problem is either obvious or nonexistent, and of course EMI from or in your network switch has nothing to do with audio.
 
amirm said:
I don't know why this argument is being made. The conversion from optical back to copper itself requires circuits which generate noise. Unless the target device consumes optical signals, and stays in that domain forever, there is nothing to be gained from optical link. Heck, it may actually generate more noise than less!
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Trying to understand what you are saying: There are boxes/switches that convert copper to optical and then a user can feed that outgoing optical signal to a streamer with an optical ethernet input. In theory, wouldn't this be less noise than a conventional all copper ethernet signal if that signal is noisy? Again, I'm not claiming there's an audible difference; just trying to understand that if theory the idea has any merit at all.
 
I believe I have only ever used Phil Ward at SoundonSound for reviews because he is honest, has integrity and includes measurements.
We sent him KIi Three, Dutch&Dutch 8C, AsciLab A6B ( waiting for that to be published ) coming up he has agree to review GGNTKT’s M-1, all of those for their first UK review.
We also sent the active C-1 Mangers, but that didn’t go so well.
Keith
 
amirm said:
I don't know why this argument is being made. The conversion from optical back to copper itself requires circuits which generate noise. Unless the target device consumes optical signals, and stays in that domain forever, there is nothing to be gained from optical link. Heck, it may actually generate more noise than less!
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This has always bugged me (re: Use of opto or coax output?):
Fiber-fans say controlled EMI.
RF-fans say controlled impedance.
I opted to use the SMSL DP5SE's Coax output, only because snap-fit opto interface ... :mad:
 
If optical is what floats your boat, then the BOM is:

2 x tp link mc200cm
1 x optical cable
1 x 9v LPS (don't need an LPS on the upstream mc200)

Total outlay < $US 300

Stick this in front of the ethernet port of your streamer, job done.


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If you can't run ethernet to your streamer from your ISP router so must use wifi, buy a tplink TL-WA801N Access Point, stick it in your room connected via a long ethernet cable (to avoid wifi signal proximity to your hifi gear) and configure the AP to connect into your ISP router over wifi. Adds $US 50 to the BOM. job done.

Peter
 
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Do these audiophiles also believe that the word documents they send over those dirty noise-inducing switches change letters or formatting? Would their netflix streams look brighter through these switches?

And worst of all... multimode fiber vs single mode, what? Single mode can handle 100KM runs, but sure, a bend in your cable will probably kill your music quality if you use multimode, because that one is only good for 550m(!!)

I get it though... heavy boxes with 10mm alu look cool and "feel good."
 
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