Darrel
Member
My most important ethernet cable in the digital end as far as audio impact. Is the Shunyata Alpha ethernet cable that runs from my silent computer to the Rose.
Ethernet switch test
- Thread starter Michaels HiFi
- Start date
Michaels HiFi
Well-known member
- Thread Author
- #62
That is a NICE cable.
Puma Cat
Well-known member
That's consistent with my findings that the most important Ethernet cable is the last one in the "chain". Also the Alpha has the C-mode filter which is important as it reduces common-mode noise; that's a great Ethernet cable.
Puma Cat
Well-known member
Yeah, they're a nice cable for the price. They're a bit on the lively side, so on some content they can be a bit "assertive" or forward, but for the most part, they were one of my faves, especially for the price. I liked them a lot more than the Belden Cat 6A, which drove me out of the room.
Swisstrips
Member
Right, the "resolution" is pretty meaningless in and of itself. Hi-res, redbook, dsd etc..It's always about the masters and where it comes from full stop.
Swisstrips
Member
That is interesting. I've recently switched to an Aqua stack (La Scala mkII optologic + Linq with HQP modules) using Aqua's I2s connection (which is a must IMHO) from a opticalrendu and USB DAC's (Lampi / Holo). So it's been USB for the last couple yrs.
Since I run fiber to my listening room i did (had to) purchase the latest optical module deluxe and a short eth cable (blue jeans 6a) to the LinQ (using revelation audiolabs I2s). I thought "I'm done with USB for awhile". Now I have introduced eth and I2s cables, :lol:
MPW
Member
I made the exact same transition on the hardware side and couldn’t be more pleased. My ethernet cable is a Wireworld Starlight 8 and I2S is Ghent. Haven’t taken the time to compare to anything else. I’m very satisfied with what I’m hearing.
Puma Cat
Well-known member
Yup! IME, the finest digital recordings I own and have heard are the Audio Wave Blue Note XRCD24s re-mastered by Alan Yoshida. All 16/44.1 "Redbook". It's all about the mastering.
Swisstrips
Member
ADCO
New member
I’m not sure if I responded to this thread or the similar one on “what’s best” but as always threads like this are interesting indeed.
I went down several rabbit holes with switches , cables and optical isolation
For me the road ended with a small Hong Kong company called Ediscreation. The make a really excellent bespoke switch with a high quality clock and equally high quality linear power supply on board. The switch comes in three configurations . Basic , extreme ( better components in power supply) and naked extreme with an unbelievable out board LPS
I ordered the basic and was really quite gobsmacked at the improvement .
Also, as far as optical isolation Ediscreation makes a device called a Fibre Box II. It sits between devices and is basically the same as a fibre media converter setup that also has a very good clocking scheme and a LPS on board. You can get this device amped up similarly to the switch.
My current setup is as follows:
-service provider modem>
-30’ WireWorld Starlight e-cable>
-Ediscreation Fibre box II >
-AudioQuest Diamond e-cable >
-Ediscreation basic switch ( switches to hifi /tv/Lyngdorf processor etc etc>
-AudioQuest Diamond e-cable >
-Innuos Zenith MKII server>
- AudioQuest Diamond e-cable >
-Ediscreation Fibre Box II >
-Shunyata Sigma e-cable >
-Auralic Aries G2.1/ Vega 2.1
Anyway, this setup has produced the most amazing sound from all things I stream. The only thing I would say is that if I knew how good this Ediscreation stuff was going to be I would have bought the extreme versions of all of it
In my books, the Fibre Box II is the device that pays the most dividends . The first one I used to isolate everything from the rest of the house. The second further isolates anything that “potentially” could be noisy from the many devices hooked into the switch.
This stuff is now on my must have list for easy, bulletproof “reasonable” cost ethernet solutions and I will be employing more of it on my office system as well.
Highly recommend this gear to anyone chasing that last degree of streaming upgrade.
My 2 Cents
I went down several rabbit holes with switches , cables and optical isolation
For me the road ended with a small Hong Kong company called Ediscreation. The make a really excellent bespoke switch with a high quality clock and equally high quality linear power supply on board. The switch comes in three configurations . Basic , extreme ( better components in power supply) and naked extreme with an unbelievable out board LPS
I ordered the basic and was really quite gobsmacked at the improvement .
Also, as far as optical isolation Ediscreation makes a device called a Fibre Box II. It sits between devices and is basically the same as a fibre media converter setup that also has a very good clocking scheme and a LPS on board. You can get this device amped up similarly to the switch.
My current setup is as follows:
-service provider modem>
-30’ WireWorld Starlight e-cable>
-Ediscreation Fibre box II >
-AudioQuest Diamond e-cable >
-Ediscreation basic switch ( switches to hifi /tv/Lyngdorf processor etc etc>
-AudioQuest Diamond e-cable >
-Innuos Zenith MKII server>
- AudioQuest Diamond e-cable >
-Ediscreation Fibre Box II >
-Shunyata Sigma e-cable >
-Auralic Aries G2.1/ Vega 2.1
Anyway, this setup has produced the most amazing sound from all things I stream. The only thing I would say is that if I knew how good this Ediscreation stuff was going to be I would have bought the extreme versions of all of it
In my books, the Fibre Box II is the device that pays the most dividends . The first one I used to isolate everything from the rest of the house. The second further isolates anything that “potentially” could be noisy from the many devices hooked into the switch.
This stuff is now on my must have list for easy, bulletproof “reasonable” cost ethernet solutions and I will be employing more of it on my office system as well.
Highly recommend this gear to anyone chasing that last degree of streaming upgrade.
My 2 Cents
Michaels HiFi
Well-known member
- Thread Author
- #71
I actually looked VERY closely at that one and was very close to ordering it. I ended up going with a PPA Quad and am anxious to see how it performs.
I've heard only good things about Edison and his gear.
ADCO
New member
Honestly, I took it on as a complete “flyer”. I didn’t know anyone personally who had tried their stuff but have personally gone the fibre media device path, ether regen path. Various cable swaps etc etc etc.
I kept reading about Edison’s stuff and decided , while not cheap…. Was a fraction of the cost of an equipment upgrade ( any component really) so I ordered.
I had no real idea what to expect or should I say that when all hooked up what the overall value proposition would be.
As stated, I wish I had gone to the top level now. What I think I’m going to do after the Xmas season is upgrade the switch and the second Fibre box to Ediscreation extreme units without a power supply and order his Firebird LPS to power the two new components
Then just take the switch and Fibre box I already have and insert it into the office system
Serious first world problems to be sure but cleaning up this ethernet stuffs is like a new frontier for me.
The most consequential improvement is from the Tidal feed I use. Sounds just amazing to be honest. Best I have been able to stream this far and equally as good as the same tracks that are stored on my Innuos .
I kept reading about Edison’s stuff and decided , while not cheap…. Was a fraction of the cost of an equipment upgrade ( any component really) so I ordered.
I had no real idea what to expect or should I say that when all hooked up what the overall value proposition would be.
As stated, I wish I had gone to the top level now. What I think I’m going to do after the Xmas season is upgrade the switch and the second Fibre box to Ediscreation extreme units without a power supply and order his Firebird LPS to power the two new components
Then just take the switch and Fibre box I already have and insert it into the office system
Serious first world problems to be sure but cleaning up this ethernet stuffs is like a new frontier for me.
The most consequential improvement is from the Tidal feed I use. Sounds just amazing to be honest. Best I have been able to stream this far and equally as good as the same tracks that are stored on my Innuos .
Michaels HiFi
Well-known member
- Thread Author
- #73
I can't remember the details, but I've read the update uses a wire or cap that some people didn't like so they are requesting him to do the update while leaving out some of the updates. My advice based on my testing is to have the Edison box by your streamer, and then put one or two mass market switches by your wall outlet. My upcoming video will have details on my testing results but it will 100% be a bigger improvement for you than if you had simply done the upgrade on the switch.
Stay tuned for more details.
Puma Cat
Well-known member
Did you order the switch directly? They don't appear to have a North American distributor/dealer.
Michaels HiFi
Well-known member
- Thread Author
- #75
Yes. You email them and they are very responsive and will ship directly.
The Hong Kong audiophile clubs have written about this switch and compared it to others such as SOtM, Telegartner, etc.
The Telegartner seems to be the best of the all, but in my mind the custom connectors requiring unique cables is a non-starter.
Michaels HiFi
Well-known member
- Thread Author
- #76
Tried a D-Link switch at 9 and then 50 hours burn in. WOW. Making a super strong showing. Noticeable difference at 0 then 50 hours. Might is as good with the factory power supply as the TP-Link and Netgear with upgraded power?
50 more hours on burn in left on the switch and then more testing to come....
50 more hours on burn in left on the switch and then more testing to come....
Puma Cat
Well-known member
Your comment about Telegartner is interesting from the perspective that all the really good "audio" Ethernet cables use Telegartner RJ45 connectors, and my understand the reason is they sound the best (i.e., the connector itself has an impact on audio quality).
Puma Cat
Well-known member
Don't necessarily discount the reason that the D-Link sounds better after 50 hours is due to the fact the clock(s) inside have had time to settle. The clocks are extremely sensitive to vibration, and in the case of my AfterDark clock, was told that it would take a full month for the AD Master Clock to fully settle once installed in the rack, and not to move it once it's in posiition.
Michaels HiFi
Well-known member
- Thread Author
- #79
Certainly would be.but it was jostled heavily during the testing at 50 hours as I switched cables and such between the boxes and power plugs. I would think (I certainly am no expert on the switches) that any settling would have been undone by the moving them around and such repeatedly.
In that regard they all get put on a pretty even footing as they all get moved around equally.
Also, the D-link with OEM power supply was almost equal to the others with upgraded power which really surprised me. I don't know if the D-link will be able to close the gap ultimately with the others, but I can't wait to find out.
Puma Cat
Well-known member
No worries, Michael, just wanted to mention not to overlook the impact of vibration on clocks for digital "audio" devices. Cheers.