Best audiophile switch

[jasond]

Hello,
No , not something I have thought about really, have you implemented a filter into HQPlayer !, and if so, how would you rate and describe the results !, thus far I have relied on acoustic treatment in my listening room, though I suspect there is room for improvement..

Don‘t want to mess up this threads topic. But in short: convolution filters are very powerful. And the processing in Roon works fine or even better in HQPlayer with many options. So definitely give it a try (as room treatments are absolutely great though no one is able to address all problems). If you decide for https://accuratesound.ca/product/digital-room-correction-drc-calibration-service/ you will get one of the best results in the world and this will considerably improve your setup.
Maybe also have a read here https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/bits...oom-correction-a-follow-up-opportunity-r1312/

 

[rgmd11]

Don‘t want to mess up this threads topic. But in short: convolution filters are very powerful. And the processing in Roon works fine or even better in HQPlayer with many options. So definitely give it a try (as room treatments are absolutely great though no one is able to address all problems). If you decide for https://accuratesound.ca/product/digital-room-correction-drc-calibration-service/ you will get one of the best results in the world and this will considerably improve your setup.
Maybe also have a read here https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/bits...oom-correction-a-follow-up-opportunity-r1312/

Thank you jasond, will investigate further....

 

[Di-fi]

Di-fi said:
Based on the praise from high-end review sites, this could be your last audiophile switch. And no more obsessing over the “final best Ethernet cable” before the streamer/DAC.

While the LinQ looks promising, I’m dubious about the claim above as, in this crazy hobby, the better a component performs the more everything else around it matters.

Fair point, Kenny — I should have said “last switch in the chain” rather than “last you’d ever buy.” The LinQ’s got its own final-stage switch inside, so you don’t need another downstream audiophile switch or a “holy grail” last Ethernet cable before the DAC (unless @rgmd11 did use one of course). Upstream, sure — this hobby being what it is, cleaner in usually means cleaner out.

 

[NigelB]

Fair point, Kenny — I should have said “last switch in the chain” rather than “last you’d ever buy.” The LinQ’s got its own final-stage switch inside, so you don’t need another downstream audiophile switch or a “holy grail” last Ethernet cable before the DAC (unless @rgmd11 did use one of course). Upstream, sure — this hobby being what it is, cleaner in usually means cleaner out.

We'll only really know when people start reporting back for themselves. This wouldn't be the first time a streamer manufacturer has asserted that there are sufficient measures inside the device to render anything outside of it redundant, only for this to be proven incorrect in the real world.

Incorporating a switch is great in theory, but the reality is that instead of the "dirty" ethernet signal being stopped by an external switch from reaching the streamer, it has a direct path all the way into the streamer's case! Its effectiveness therefore depends not only on the circuitry doing its magic but on how the switch-containing part of the case is physically separated from the rest of the streamer's case.

I look forward to hearing reports when folk who have heard the LinQ for themselves, with and without an external switch.

 

[rgmd11]

Don‘t want to mess up this threads topic. But in short: convolution filters are very powerful. And the processing in Roon works fine or even better in HQPlayer with many options. So definitely give it a try (as room treatments are absolutely great though no one is able to address all problems). If you decide for https://accuratesound.ca/product/digital-room-correction-drc-calibration-service/ you will get one of the best results in the world and this will considerably improve your setup.
Maybe also have a read here https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/bits...oom-correction-a-follow-up-opportunity-r1312/

Thats very interesting, are you talking about FIR filters !, do you know if this can this be implemented into HQPlayer on the LINQ !, I have looked into a few hardware components that also do this, the Trinnov Amethyst looks to be the best and is visually appealing (and I like the fact that it has analog inputs and outputs), they also have a cheaper model that is used in studios but is rack mountable called the Nova which is considerably cheaper but less appealing.

I am going to research this some more as I think this will be on all accounts a worthwhile mission, thank you for bringing this more to my attention

 

[rgmd11]

Fair point, Kenny — I should have said “last switch in the chain” rather than “last you’d ever buy.” The LinQ’s got its own final-stage switch inside, so you don’t need another downstream audiophile switch or a “holy grail” last Ethernet cable before the DAC (unless @rgmd11 did use one of course). Upstream, sure — this hobby being what it is, cleaner in usually means cleaner out.

My APL switch is directly upstream of the LINQ though I may just experiment placing it between the LINQ and the La Scala Dac,may make a difference, may not, worth trying either way...

 

[Di-fi]

I look forward to hearing reports when folk who have heard the LinQ for themselves, with and without an external switch.

I get the skepticism—real-world listening always wins over claims. But the LinQ is really interesting. It’s basically a high-end network switch with a streaming module built in (Squeezelite or HQ player - Roon ), and this review shows that even without the Bonn NX Plus switch /GX stand-alone word clock combo (again a TCXO clock, actually 2 x 25MHz + 2 x 10 MHz clocks in one device, please ignore , that's not the point here ;-), it delivers exceptional transparency and fidelity.

Pair it with a top-tier server like the Oladra, Grimm MU1, or Xact, and he calls it the best-ever sound from both Roon and Squeezelite. Sure, external switches might still add improvement, besides the fact you need one for multiple network connections, but the LinQ seems to handle a lot of the “dirty ethernet” issues internally. Definitely worth keeping an eye and an ear on.

 

[Di-fi]

My APL switch is directly upstream of the LINQ though I may just experiment placing it between the LINQ and the La Scala Dac,may make a difference, may not, worth trying either way...

I would assume you’re already using the AQlink I²S cable for optimal results with your DAC?
I’m not sure a switch can actually sit between the LinQ and DAC — the direct link is what makes the design work so well it seems?

I can see the APL ANS-MR switch with Ultra-low phase noise femto clock also comes with an integrated LPS and a nearly 14,000uF oversized capacitor bank with very low impedance for better performance.
Did you try, or do you prefer any specific Ethernet cables for this connection? No other filters/optical break in your network?

 

[kennyb123]

I get the skepticism—real-world listening always wins over claims.

The skepticism has more to do with how judging merits based on theory seems to so rarely pan out in this hobby. Especially with switch as so many have been finding benefits from using multiple switches.

But the LinQ is really interesting. It’s basically a high-end network switch with a streaming module built in

The most Innuos Statment NextGen does something similar in that it includes a “re-clocked dedicated Ethernet Streamer Port”. Maybe other models do to. In theory this would reduce or even eliminate the need to use their PhoenixNET switch. I wonder if that is actually the case though.

I suspect we will see more servers adopting this capability.

 

[NigelB]

I get the skepticism—real-world listening always wins over claims. But the LinQ is really interesting. It’s basically a high-end network switch with a streaming module built in (Squeezelite or HQ player - Roon ), and this review shows that even without the Bonn NX Plus switch /GX stand-alone word clock combo (again a TCXO clock, actually 2 x 25MHz + 2 x 10 MHz clocks in one device, please ignore , that's not the point here ;-), it delivers exceptional transparency and fidelity.

Pair it with a top-tier server like the Oladra, Grimm MU1, or Xact, and he calls it the best-ever sound from both Roon and Squeezelite. Sure, external switches might still add improvement, besides the fact you need one for multiple network connections, but the LinQ seems to handle a lot of the “dirty ethernet” issues internally. Definitely worth keeping an eye and an ear on.

I didn't mean to be skeptical, I just know how theory doesn't always translate into practice. I agree the LinQ is interesting. My point is that part of the sonic advantage of using a separate high-end switch is because it is physically separated. If the LinQ cracks this challenge and delivers the sonic goodies in a single case, what's not to like? I'm merely suggesting that I or any prospective purchasers would want more than the manufacturer's claims to encourage them to purchase.

As you say, "definitely worth keeping an eye and an ear on."

 

[NigelB]

The skepticism has more to do with how judging merits based on theory seems to so rarely pan out in this hobby. Especially with switch as so many have been finding benefits from using multiple switches.

Absolutely.

The most Innuos Statment NextGen does something similar in that it includes a “re-clocked dedicated Ethernet Streamer Port”. Maybe other models do to. In theory this would reduce or even eliminate the need to use their PhoenixNET switch. I wonder if that is actually the case though.

Similarly, I now enjoy an Innuos Pulsar which incorporates their PhoenixUSB Lite output module which basically regenerates the USB signal before spitting it out. It's very good indeed, and one day I hope to be able to demo to myself that adding an actual PhoenixUSB device after the Pulsar makes either no or a marginal difference to sound quality so I can save myself the expense and the FOMO angst...

I suspect we will see more servers adopting this capability.

So do I. The impact of high quality switches on audio quality is something that most of us have now experienced for ourselves, so it is perfectly rational and understandable that streamer/server manufacturers should seek to incorporate the same into their products.

 

[kennyb123]

Anyone have any experience with the Mk2 version of the Synergistic UEF switch? I got to hear the original UEF switch in my system and while it wasn’t as good as the Termpus, it beat out my tricked out EtherRegen. I don’t have the budget for the Tempus and also prefer a switch that only requires one box so the UEF switches checks both the right boxes.

 

[jasond]

Anyone have any experience with the Mk2 version of the Synergistic UEF switch? I got to hear the original UEF switch in my system and while it wasn’t as good as the Termpus, it beat out my tricked out EtherRegen. I don’t have the budget for the Tempus and also prefer a switch that only requires one box so the UEF switches checks both the right boxes.

Have you tried talking to Network Acoustics about a price reduced Tempus that got returned etc? It’s still the best switch out there so maybe you can your hands on one via this way.

 

[kennyb123]

Have you tried talking to Network Acoustics about a price reduced Tempus that got returned etc? It’s still the best switch out there so maybe you can your hands on one via this way.

Good suggestion. I will see what they say.

 

[tedwoods]

The most Innuos Statment NextGen does something similar in that it includes a “re-clocked dedicated Ethernet Streamer Port”. Maybe other models do to. In theory this would reduce or even eliminate the need to use their PhoenixNET switch. I wonder if that is actually the case though.

I suspect we will see more servers adopting this capability.

The Ethernet input board in the Statement, unlike the LinQ, is in essence more of a dedicated ( internally separated) "network adapter" of sorts. That's why the use of the Phoenix NET still proves beneficial.
SOtM do more or less the same thing in their top-tier server by using different boards for Ethernet input, mobo and USB out.
In line with their Statement philosophy, but taken a few notches up, in their current flagship, the Nazare, Innuos are also physically (by means of dedicated boxes) separate input, mobo and output.
This semi-physical or entirely physical separation probably has to do, at least as far as I can tell, with mainly two things: being able to improve upon the typical input and output circuitry beyond what is found on mobos, and being able to improve upon powering all these elements separately, but of course the actual physical aspect (by means of individual shielding and non-proximity effects) is also satisfied.
Whether that separation is a rule of thumb however, remains to be seen, but I also suspect that the need for integration will, as you correctly point out, expand the number of server/streamers with integrated Ethernet switches or at least some sort of Ethernet input conditioning.
The LinQ and Pulsar, both mentioned here, are also both examples of this integration path, albeit at different ends: the LinQ integrates the switch at the "input", while the Pulsar, a USB re-clocker (or dedicated I²S and other interfaces for that matter) at the "output", but as technology progresses, solutions that would offer both "integrations", where now these remain "separated", would, in all probability, proliferate.
​

 

[Di-fi]

The Ethernet input board in the Statement, unlike the LinQ, is in essence more of a dedicated ( internally separated) "network adapter" of sorts. That's why the use of the Phoenix NET still proves beneficial.
SOtM do more or less the same thing in their top-tier server by using different boards for Ethernet input, mobo and USB out.

Thanks. I would say LinQ is more ambitious with the internal LAN switch module, developed by Aqua. It combines internal switching, galvanic isolation, and clocking, while Innous/SOtM adopt a modular/separated Ethernet adapter approach, but both aim at isolating the digital network from the audio processing.image: hifinews.com

 

[NigelB]

Have you tried talking to Network Acoustics about a price reduced Tempus that got returned etc? It’s still the best switch out there so maybe you can your hands on one via this way.

 

[jasond]

Well, I am sure you tend to a Reiki ;-)

 

[kennyb123]

Well, I am sure you tend to a Reiki ;-)

Probably silly on my part, but I am aspiring towards a switch that is a single box. Reiki not on my list for that reason. Tempus would be excluded to if I hadn’t heard how good it was in my own system.

The multiple box thing can work fine for me if the chassis is small as in the case of the EtherRegen. I wouldn’t be asking about other switches now if their Gen 2 switch was shipping now. It’s just that I’ve arrived at the point that I am willing to spend a few grand to finally be done with the hassle of slow file copy over a 100 mb pipe.

 

[NigelB]

Well, I am sure you tend to a Reiki ;-)

I should have said <this message deliberately left blank!>