Streamer selection

Not at it's price point of only $680. As for the generic networking-industry Ethernet switches, e.g. TP-link, etc., they all have junk RJ45 connectors, cr*p word clocks and PHY chips in them, and generally don't support optical connectivity. They're also powered by really nasty switch-mode power supplies, which is another major source of audible noise components.

Moreover, other Ethernet switches do not have or use the proprietary moat (the ADIM™, the Active Differential Isolation Moat) that was designed by John Swenson specifically for EtherREGEN, nor the same quality PHY chips.

Here are some other key features that EtherREGEN uses that are not available from other brands or generic Ethernet swtiches:
  • EtherREGEN has two isolated data/power/clock domains. Each isolated domain is re-clocked using 10GHz-capable ultra-low-jitter (less than 0.8 picoseconds) differential flip-flops.
  • The clocking system runs from an advanced, programmable, jitter-attenuating clock synthesizer with four differential outputs. It is referenced to an ultra-low-jitter/phase-noise Crystek CCHD-575 oscillator. Importantly, the clock distribution system (for the switch chip, the special Ethernet format conversion chips, and the high-speed flip-flops) is run differentially throughout. Special conversion buffers are positioned just millimeters from chips that require single-ended clocks.
  • The magnetics of the four Gigabit ‘A’-side ports are a special design. UpTone chose an RJ45 module that utilizes 12 transformer cores in each port (most Ethernet ports have 2~6 cores), and ground their center-taps through capacitors in a way that blocks port-to-port AC leakage currents.
  • To support its performance, the power networks of the EtherREGEN are as sophisticated and costly as the rest of the design. UpTone uses 12 of the world’s lowest-noise, lowest-impedance integrated voltage regulators—the famous Linear Technology LT3045 and LT3042. Supporting both the voltage regulators and the data chips are 195 low-inductance, X7R and X5R capacitors sized and selected by their derating curves.
There are reasons why EtheREGEN has won the awards it has and has sold over...3200 units.

Also, most other Ethernet switches do not support connectivity via fiber which really is best type of connection for longer connection runs, nor do they have a proper chassis-ground terminal, which can be connected to a Shunyata Altaira or Gemini ground-plane noise reduction hub for another notable increase in audio quality.

There are other high-end audio grade Ethernet switches available, e.g. the Silent Angel Bonn N8, which I've had in-house and wrote a review for. It's an excellent Ethernet switch for high-end audio use, but the Bonn N8 sells for 1600 bucks, and it still doesn't have a fiber SFP optical port.

Cheers.
Think I have to take my words back. I don't see any other alternatives for the etherregen. The other ones I was thinking about are all ethernet filters that are unclocked. An improvement, but without clock it is not as good as the uptone etherregen. Beside of that, the grounding plug is also missing. So my next improvement for the setup will be the etherregen.

But not tomorrow, at the moment I am collecting money for an upgrade of my house.
 
The information about the various elements in the digital chain is informative and valuable for those who are into streaming. If Tidal and Qobuz are your music source than anything affecting the signal is important and anything to fight the degradation that has happened prior to your home is good.

If, like myself, all of your digital music is provided from your server and connected directly to your DAC than these switches will not help in any way shape or form. All of my digital music is from my closed system and is not affected by my computer network. The only thing my computer network does in my setup is provide connectivity for remote desktop to the server (for server maintenance and/or loading new digital albums when purchased) and for Roon control device to the Roon server software. These do not affect sound quality only Meta data access and determining which digital album is being played.
 
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.....

If, like myself, all of your digital music is provided from your server and connected directly to your DAC than these switches will not help in any way shape or form. All of my digital music is from my closed system and is not affected by my computer network. The only thing my computer network does in my setup is provide connectivity for remote desktop to the server (for server maintenance and/or loading new digital albums when purchased) and for Roon control device to the Roon server software. These do not affect sound quality only Meta data access and determining which digital album is being played.
You will be amazed the number of audiophiles who claim to hear "better" sound after adding an "audiophile" switch in a system like yours. :)
 
You will be amazed the number of audiophiles who claim to hear "better" sound after adding an "audiophile" switch in a system like yours. :)
The switch would not be in the audio chain in any way. The digital audio is processed within my server and sent to the DAC which is attach directly to the server and sent via balanced cables to the preamp. I understand that digital is not simply 1's and 0's however the signal does indeed have to travel through network wiring, weather it be ethernet or fiber optic for a piece of network equipment to affect the sound.

Anyone who claims to hear "better sound" in a system such as mine, where the only digital music being played is stored locally on M.2 and SSD drives, by adding a network switch (no matter how good it is) is a wackadoodle who understands virtually nothing about computers and network setups.
 
While I take a lot of what is posted on Audiogon with a grain of salt, here's an interesting discussion on streamers .......

 
While I take a lot of what is posted on Audiogon with a grain of salt, here's an interesting discussion on streamers .......


How is your streaming experience going so far? Has it changed the way you listen to music yet?
 
nicoff, now that I've got the connectivity issued resolved, all is good. I suppose I'm still in the 'honeymoon' phase since I'm still jumping around and learning more of the Qobuz possibilities. One thing is nice, when I select an album, after it is done if I don't do anything it selects for me another album of similar content, genre, etc. A nice touch when background music is the order of the day !

Regardless, last night after I saw which direction the football game was headed I settled in with a couple drams of my favorite and enjoyed Ahmad Jamal's 'Heat Wave' and Jackie McLean's 'Demon's Dance', both on good ole 'black pizza' ;)
 
Very happy you are enjoying your setup now. I thought you would after getting the connection issues resolved. We all have our preferences as to how we enjoy our systems. Lately I seem to listen to digital more than vinyl. Not because I think it is better. I do for convivence or more so because Marleigh runs in and jumps up on the recliner with me many times when I put some music on.

Marleigh (102).jpg
 
Beautiful cat. Is Marleigh a boy or girl.

I have two cats, Ringo and Aga, both of which are adoptees from my local SPCA.

Ringo, the Black Leopard...
Ringo%20Hunting%20Fence.jpg


My girl, Aga, named after female Polish tennis player, Agnieska "Aga" Radwanska
Little%20Aga%20X100F%208-20-18.jpg
 
Beautiful cat. Is Marleigh a boy or girl.

I have two cats, Ringo and Aga, both of which are adoptees from my local SPCA.

Ringo, the Black Leopard...
Ringo%20Hunting%20Fence.jpg


My girl, Aga, named after female Polish tennis player, Agnieska "Aga" Radwanska
Little%20Aga%20X100F%208-20-18.jpg
Ringo and Asa are beautiful!

Marleigh is our little girl... our little boy's is name is Loki...
Marleigh was just a name that came to us when we first picked her out. Loki is after the God of Mischief. We could not have picked a more appropriate name. Our son (the dog lover) calls him our little terrorist :).

They are our Leopard and Snow Leopard. Bengals actually are about 80% Leopard.
 

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I give them their fuel in the kitchen... then let the craziness begin :). It's like one of those wind-up toys...
 
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In my country we don't have many Leopard and Bengal cats. They may seek their partner themself. When they got a nest most people will give the kittens away for free, for a nice new home.
 
In my country we don't have many Leopard and Bengal cats. They may seek their partner themself. When they got a nest most people will give the kittens away for free, for a nice new home.
Hmmmm... Bengals are a fairly newer hybrid breed that was originally to try and help with stopping the slaughter of the wild Asian Leopards, which are a tree dwelling smaller Leopard with this amazing coat. They were being hunted for their fur.

I have never heard of Bengals running wild. I know the breeders are very very careful in how they are handled and who can get one. They are popular, to a degree, but are still considered quite rare. You would be shocked at the contracts we had to sign to get our two.

Because of how the breeding goes and having to be four generations in (F4) before Bengal to Bengal breeding was successful. Therefore pure breed Bengals are actually about 80% Leopard. In most places F4 or F5 are minimal to be legal. Some places, such as Denver and Hawaii do not allow Bengals (no idea why; they are some of the most wonderful cats).
 
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