SOtM sNH-10G Network Switch Reviews

joeinid said:
I need to beef up my audio network. I came across this recently (I'm a little late to the game). Looks interesting and the reviews are really good. I definitely need some upgrades but unsure where to start.



SOtM sNH-10G Network Switch Review


SOtM sNH-10G Audiophile Ethernet Switch Review - Audio Bacon


Audio Ramblings And The SOtM sNH-10G Switch Worth the differences? For us, yes. Review By Dave Clark Of Positive Feedback
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Hi,

Last year I was getting curious about "Audiophile switches", as changing my ethernet cables from Cat 5E to cat 7 improved sound performance and quality (something i was sceptic can happen as ethernet moves packet wich, in the end, is just electricity pulse the create 0 and 1 after translated on the other side).

Anyway, the whole improved ethernet cables or audiophile switches was something opposite to my knowledge of the subject (I have some networking experience under my belt). never the less I got intrigued after what I have heard when switching ethernet cable and ordered SOtM sNH-10G with clock and Sbooster power supply, to make things short - the switch make a change (comparing to cisco\dlink\linksys switches I tried). sure we are not talking a "dramatic change" but the sound after connecting the SOtM sNH-10G become more focused, high and mid's more airy and detailed while keeping the lower end puch.

The difference is there you can't deny it especially if you try to go back to a regular network switch.
if i have to say by how much the thing improved my streaming experience i would say it's one of those things that can bust you 3%-4% performance from your setup. is it worth it, for me definitely.
since then i also upgraded the audio-related network ethernet to DH LABS REUNION CAT8 ETHERNET which yields some more SQ performance.

In my opinion, if you invested money in your digital audio streaming, you ought it to yourself to test such a switch no matter what you think you know about TCP\IP, Ethernet, Packets or networking
 
exupgh12 said:
Last year I was getting curious about "Audiophile switches", as changing my ethernet cables from Cat 5E to cat 7 improved sound performance and quality (something i was sceptic can happen as ethernet moves packet wich, in the end, is just electricity pulse the create 0 and 1 after translated on the other side).
Click to expand...

Being a telecoms guy, this is what I also thought. But investigating it, I discovered it’s unfortunately not the case. It’s correct, that data files move as packets. Audio streaming, however, is transmitted as an analog audio signal on top of the packet layer, also over Ethernet.

That’s the simple reason why cables, switches etc. make a difference for audio SQ. Similar to other audio applications.

However, if someone does not believe that cables make a difference in audio, then I would advise against buying the switch. In that case, for cables also, simple doorbell wire will do, as it has technically the lowest amplitude and should hence - based on engineering science - deliver the clearest signal [emoji3].


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Kuoppis said:
Being a telecoms guy, this is what I also thought. But investigating it, I discovered it’s unfortunately not the case. It’s correct, that data files move as packets. Audio streaming, however, is transmitted as an analog audio signal on top of the packet layer, also over Ethernet.

That’s the simple reason why cables, switches etc. make a difference for SQ. Similar to other audio applications.

However, if someone does not believe that cables make a difference in audio, then I would advise against buying the switch. Simple doorbell wire will do, as it has the lowest amplitude and should hence - based on engineering science - deliver the clearest signal [emoji3].


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

you definitely right on your description of ethernet\packes movement.
however, one thing to consider is the almost if not all streams play music from buffer\memory and not "live stream", try to disconnect your network streamer from the network, it should continue playing the music till the buffer ends.

Therefore I'm still not fully understand how the switch or ethernet cable make the change in sound, but they do so, I cant argue with that.
 
exupgh12 said:
you definitely right on your description of ethernet\packes movement.
however, one thing to consider is the almost if not all streams play music from buffer\memory and not "live stream", try to disconnect your network streamer from the network, it should continue playing the music till the buffer ends.

Therefore I'm still not fully understand how the switch or ethernet cable make the change in sound, but they do so, I cant argue with that.
Click to expand...

Your point on buffering for error correction is accurate. But even when buffered (what e.g. some CD players do as well), the signal remains an analog audio signal, and everything that applies to audio cables is the case for Ethernet cables as well.

As far as I understand the switches (I have the Audiovox, which is a modded D-Link box), it’s just that they are shielding the connections against each other, and improving galvanic isolation. Even closing off open ports has an effect. It’s all about reducing micro-level interferences.

Not much rocket science to it, it’s pretty basic. But as audio signals are quite sensitive to interference, every tiny bit helps. It’s similar to having your power and IC cables crossing behind your rack, and creating an interference. Can result in a nasty hum.
 
joeinid said:
I need to beef up my audio network. I came across this recently (I'm a little late to the game). Looks interesting and the reviews are really good. I definitely need some upgrades but unsure where to start.
Click to expand...
Try this Joe:
Netgear-GC510-P-100-EUS-30101191-02.jpg

kabel-ep7-netzwerk-cat6a-t6s-rj45-s.jpg


This is not the typical audiophile brand that you might usually looking for. It is a big Netgear switch with a good, built-in power supply. I have installed it in my mancave audio set up in the back the garden. The signal passes three normal switches and roughly 70meter of network cable before it hits this switch.
The switch is next to the streamer and very important: only the streamer is connected!
You will not believe what you hear (at least I didn't). The whole sound improves, it is cleaner and the consistency is so much better.
I have advised some friends to install it and they had the same experience. One friend told:now everything is falling into place.

The switch is around 110 Euro on Amazon and the ViaBlue cable around 70. It is no wonder this is quickly taking over the Dutch audiophile community where Aquvox, SOtM, Melco and most of all Bonn are big brands for years already.

You can't go wrong with this.
 
I have a Melco S100 on trial, replacing a non SE AQVox, it works well in my system, the upgrade is worth the extra money in my opinion
 
Glareskin said:
Try this Joe:
Netgear-GC510-P-100-EUS-30101191-02.jpg

kabel-ep7-netzwerk-cat6a-t6s-rj45-s.jpg


This is not the typical audiophile brand that you might usually looking for. It is a big Netgear switch with a good, built-in power supply. I have installed it in my mancave audio set up in the back the garden. The signal passes three normal switches and roughly 70meter of network cable before it hits this switch.
The switch is next to the streamer and very important: only the streamer is connected!
You will not believe what you hear (at least I didn't). The whole sound improves, it is cleaner and the consistency is so much better.
I have advised some friends to install it and they had the same experience. One friend told:now everything is falling into place.

The switch is around 110 Euro on Amazon and the ViaBlue cable around 70. It is no wonder this is quickly taking over the Dutch audiophile community where Aquvox, SOtM, Melco and most of all Bonn are big brands for years already.

You can't go wrong with this.
Click to expand...

Model number?
 
thyname said:
Model number?
Click to expand...
It is the Netgear GC510p. And the cable is the ViaBlue EP-7 LAN. The effect is amazing. But again, don't connect other stuff. Just the switch close to your renderer.Connect the switch with any standard networkable. And use the ViaBlue (50cm) between the switch and the renderer. The effect is amazing!
Just try it.It won't break the bank.
:D
 
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