Value of audiophile network switches

[Yuoriy_TM]

Hi guys! I want to share my project.
NeoZuxel project!
Compiled on the basis of Zyxel GS-108B v3.
Fitted details: clock Neutrino 2 Compact Audio Reference Clocks (NewClassD Neutrino 25.00)
and
Ultra Wide Bandwidth Mk 2 Voltage regulator (NewClassD UWB2 Regulator) NewClassD.
Power to the switch comes from a 12-volt LPS. It has a branch inside, so 12 volts go to the clock,
and 5 volts are supplied to the board through the regulator.
Everything fit into the switch case.
From additional materials for fastening and insulating the clock and the regulator, electrical tape was needed,
a strip of double-sided tape, a bolt and a sleeve. Tools: cutter pliers, soldering iron, soldering accessories and a pair of screwdrivers.
Upgrade G-Switch Zyxel GS-108B v3 Clock and Regulator NewClassD - YouTube

[QuinnT (BANNED)]

I find the following post on a “green” forum entertaining:

"Much like the quality of an analog signal affects the final sound, I have found that the quality of a digital stream has a major impact on the final presentation of the music. Issues like timing accuracy, power supply noise, transient response and impedance, resonance inducing vibration, cable and connector losses, noise, EMI ingress etc. will all change the quality of musical presentation of a bit perfect data stream. The cleaner, more precisely timed data stream, the better the music will sound.

Within a network, the data stream is constantly being transformed and converted, from light to voltage to maybe radio and back and from ethernet to the DAC interface of choice, say USB format. All those conversions have a sonic signature and all produce a data stream of varying quality. The better the power supply noise, stability and transient specs, the more precise and stable the timing of oscillators, the more complete the isolation from stray currents, the less noise vibration and EMI generated or picked up by the network components, the better the quality and presentation of the final music. These interferences don’t have a major effect on the digital content (pattern) of the data stream, which may, indeed should be bit perfect. Rather its the fabric and construction of the data stream itself where the major sonic impacts lie.

So your goal is to deliver the very highest quality data stream to your streamer or server and on to your DAC, for conversion to analog. Very clearly the structural and temporal quality of the DAC’s feed has a major impact on its output … the same music (controlling factor is bit pattern) will be presented differently (controlling factor is the quality of the bitstream’s fabric), according to how close to ‘perfect’ that bitstream is. The closer to perfect, the better the music … and in no small measure I might add."

[Graeme_Finlayson (The Mad Scientist)]

“Fabric and construction of the data stream” Another post by someone who fails to understand the fundamental nature of digital data transmission…

[QuinnT (BANNED)]

And the author claims to have 25+ years in network design & architecture. I am scratching my head and wondering if he belongs to some sort of asylum home?

[MamaTried (Paul)]

. . . speaking of asylums Sun Microsystems, later Oracle bought an old California sanitarium. Turned it into their R&D center. I think it explains a lot, they didn’t like my sense of humor.
https://www.nps.gov/places/agnews-insane-asylum.htm

I return you to your regular programming.

[QuinnT (BANNED)]

Ja, your ‘black’ sense of humor!!!

[Markus_Hubner (Banned)]

For all interested there has been done measurements and blind listening tests on a number of switches with some revealing findings: Alpha Audio NET - A (very!) deep dive into network switches- listening and measuring

[killdozer (Brutalise me with music)]

Genuinely interesting and they’ve gone to some effort, but you know that’s not a real blind test. While they don’t necessarily know which product they’re listening to they’ll know something has been changed. That said, I’d like to see more reviews that tried to put measurements and listening side by side. A little more rigour would be good though.

[Torben_Rick (Torben - A Dane living in Hamburg - Roon Lifer)]

@killdozer - But the good news:

"The basics are right. And that basis can be made even better with nice power supplies and better, internal shielding"

So now we just need to rush out and buy a “nice power supply”.

Torben

[Marin_Weigel (Bram Stoker's Cappuccino)]

@Markus_Hubner

… measurements and blind listening tests on a number of switches with some revealing findings …

They’ve missed the chance to close the loop by also measuring the DAC output with a capable audio analyser to look for comprehensible correlations - why did they stop prematurely after all this effort?
If it’s audible it’s surely measurable!

[Bernd_Kurte (Bernd)]

It will remain a mystery to me audio gear isn’t regarded as to what it is. Rather normal engineering tasks (amps, cables, TT, and, with some distance with regard to complexity also DACs) of which performance can easily be measured (on top of clean hearing tests) well beyond the limits of human perception (re total boundaries and resolution). Some rather seem to regard this as something mystical an audio goddess handed to a few shady guys at night on a lonely mountain top.

[Charles_Peterson]

@Torben_Rick

@killdozer - But the good news:

"The basics are right. And that basis can be made even better with nice power supplies and better, internal shielding"

So now we just need to rush out and buy a “nice power supply”.

Torben

Nobody ‘needs’ to do anything.