SOtM sNH-10G Network Switches x2 : The NEW KING of USB/Network Gadget Setup

Blackmorec

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Feb 1, 2019
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Thanks for your reply. Aside from quality, does the length of the ethernet cable between the two switches matter?
The quality of the cable seems to have a far greater impact than the length...as far as the tests I’ve done between 1m, 2m and 10M
 
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seeteeyou

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Apr 6, 2015
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I'd like to talk about specific USB extenders that are designed to work over LAN, and the keywords here are Gigabit Ethernet


LANRover
https://www.psaudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/LANRover.pdf#page=10

2304GE-LAN
http://www.icron.com/pdf/usb-2-0-ranger-2304ge-lan-manual.pdf#page=7

2301GE-LAN
http://www.icron.com/pdf/usb-2-0-ranger-2301ge-lan-manual.pdf#page=9

USB2G4LEXT2
https://sgcdn.startech.com/005329/m...Manual/USB2G4LEXT2_FullManual_Rev2.pdf#page=7

60-1471-12
60-1471-13
https://media.extron.com/public/download/files/brochure/usb_extender_plus_series_revA.pdf#page=3
https://media.extron.com/public/dow...extender_plus_series_68-2652-01_I.pdf#page=22

Quite a few choices are listed above and they should work with our switches, most of them should have at least 8 ports these days and we'll just dedicate 2 of them for USB extenders. Even our USB DACs could take advantage of the improvements, IMHO it's like killing two birds with one stone.

FYI - there were plenty of reviews as well as discussions posted online

https://forum.psaudio.com/t/lanrover/4745
https://www.psaudio.com/pauls-posts/the-lanrover/
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=143142.0
https://www.audioaficionado.org/showthread.php?t=36472
https://www.usaudiomart.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=1172
https://darko.audio/2016/07/all-terrain-usb-audio-with-the-ps-audio-lanrover/
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/usb...ernet-chain-beats-all-at-least-for-me.829639/
http://www.my-hiend.com/wp/????????-ps-audio-lanrover-usb-transporter/
https://positive-feedback.com/audio...ors-notebook-ps-audio-lanrover-usb-transport/
https://audiobacon.net/2016/12/01/ps-audio-lanrover-review-vs-microrendu-uptone-ultracap-lps-1/

For the 4-port ones from Icron and other OEM products, LEX on the "dirty" side is powered by the USB bus so that doesn't need a separate PSU

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/xmo...-gen-has-arrived.803111/page-68#post-12546400
BTW, the PS for the REX end does not have to be 24V. The spec sheet says 10-24V is fine. Just figure that a 12V supply with it ought to be capable of at about 2A.
It costs just under 400 bucks at the moment

https://www.conferenceroomav.com/p/icron-2304ge-lan
https://www.markertek.com/product/i...n-4-port-usb-2-0-ethernet-lan-extender-system
http://www.kvmswitchtech.com/00-003...b-2.0-ethernet-lan-extender-system-p51032.htm

Extron 60-1471-12 and 60-1471-13 could be found on eBay easily, though both sides require 12V DC separately while both connectors ain't the usual 5.5-mm barrel type.
 

IanG-UK

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2011
245
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123
Why are these things called 'Network Switches' or 'Audiophile Switches'?

There are two externally supplied 'fuels' (aside from the music itself) which we have to use to drive our audio systems and which some think are deficient.

One is power where it is generally accepted that the term 'Power Conditioners' is generic enough to accommodate all aspects which such devices might claim to address.

So why, in respect of internet, do we not call these things 'Internet Conditioners'? To me, the term 'Audiophile Switch' gives a picture of an on/off switch which is well enough engineered to provide no clicks and pops when turned on and off. But in reality these 'Audiophile Switches' or 'Network Switches' claim to be isolators and/or redistributors and/or reclockers and/or noise cleaners or signal reconditioners. But what they rarely are are simply switches.

And if they were then they could not possibly cost up to £4.000.
 

Kunter

Well-Known Member
May 1, 2014
7
0
51
Hi all... Very informative thread, thank you to all the contributors...

I have a question, I hope I have not missed the info if it is already covered.

I recently jumped to the SOTM switch vagon, after using PPA switch for a very long time. Now trying to setup properly with all those variables (Power supplies, DC and AC cords, Conditioners, etc...) and I want to be sure I am using the correct fiber cables.

I now have TP Link single mode SFP's and I have a nice single mode fiber cable connecting them. Also have a pair of Startech SFP's on order. Just realized there are 2 types of termination on Fiber cables, APC (Angled, Green Connector) and UPC (Ultra Polished, Blue Connector). Any experience with these? My current cable is blue on both sides. APC performs better? Anyone?

Cheers
 

ANDRESZ

Well-Known Member
Oct 14, 2018
15
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CKKeung (thanks) put me on to the ER>SOTM, or SOTM/SOTM switch concept and it is a significant upstep in dimensionality and that "magic" we elusively try and find.

One very interesting thing for ER users. I was a bit concerned, as many are here, with the heat that the unit puts out. It is considerable and it really heats up the metal shell of my Shunyata SIGMA Ethernet cables. One day I ran it for 5 hours and it was really unpleasant to touch. This is via an Sbooster 12 volt. By the way, the ER does significantly benefit from upgraded LPS in my system.

I became interested in the FARAD Super 3 and ordered a few from Mattijs.( By the way, an absolute pleasure dealing with him. Very knowledgeable and happy to help with any questions; you can tell he has built his expertise through passion and delving deep into audio. Highly recommended).
By the way, the FARAD is really nicely built. Uses the aviation style connector at the PS end. This actually isn't a review of the FARAD (still burning in) but something a bit left field.

I replaced the Sbooster to try the FARAD and got two bonuses. Firstly, the sound of natural instruments is heightened and more dynamic via the FARAD and bearing in mind this is with ten hours on the clock. Those Super caps take a while to burn in as well as the unit. Be sure to use proper isolation and good cabling to bring out what the FARAD can do.

The second bonus - and I cannot explain why, the FARAD runs the ER a LOT cooler. A LOT. The Shunyata cables are now "just" warmish on the B side and ever so slightly warm on the A side. I feel a lot more comfortable with the ER here. Before they were hot.

To illustrate, I used a temperature probe to test - a good 5 hours on each. Same ventilation etc...

B side at the Ethernet plug junction (this is hotter than the A) Sbooster - 38 deg FARAD 29.6 Deg
A side at the Ethernet plug junction Sbooster - 35.8 deg FARAD 27 Deg
Direct measure of the horizontal plate B side Sbooster - 43.6 deg FARAD 38.9 Deg
Direct measure of the horizontal plate A side Sbooster - 38.2 deg FARAD 35.6 Deg
ER top case - SBooster - 40.7 deg FARAD - 37.3 deg

*note that B side is quite a bit hotter than A as mentioned.

Appears somehow the ER is not working as hard. Will be interesting how things go with a 7.5 v supply.
 

CKKeung

Well-Known Member
Jun 17, 2011
3,053
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Hong Kong
CKKeung (thanks) put me on to the ER>SOTM, or SOTM/SOTM switch concept and it is a significant upstep in dimensionality and that "magic" we elusively try and find.

One very interesting thing for ER users. I was a bit concerned, as many are here, with the heat that the unit puts out. It is considerable and it really heats up the metal shell of my Shunyata SIGMA Ethernet cables. One day I ran it for 5 hours and it was really unpleasant to touch. This is via an Sbooster 12 volt. By the way, the ER does significantly benefit from upgraded LPS in my system.

I became interested in the FARAD Super 3 and ordered a few from Mattijs.( By the way, an absolute pleasure dealing with him. Very knowledgeable and happy to help with any questions; you can tell he has built his expertise through passion and delving deep into audio. Highly recommended).
By the way, the FARAD is really nicely built. Uses the aviation style connector at the PS end. This actually isn't a review of the FARAD (still burning in) but something a bit left field.

I replaced the Sbooster to try the FARAD and got two bonuses. Firstly, the sound of natural instruments is heightened and more dynamic via the FARAD and bearing in mind this is with ten hours on the clock. Those Super caps take a while to burn in as well as the unit. Be sure to use proper isolation and good cabling to bring out what the FARAD can do.

The second bonus - and I cannot explain why, the FARAD runs the ER a LOT cooler. A LOT. The Shunyata cables are now "just" warmish on the B side and ever so slightly warm on the A side. I feel a lot more comfortable with the ER here. Before they were hot.

To illustrate, I used a temperature probe to test - a good 5 hours on each. Same ventilation etc...

B side at the Ethernet plug junction (this is hotter than the A) Sbooster - 38 deg FARAD 29.6 Deg
A side at the Ethernet plug junction Sbooster - 35.8 deg FARAD 27 Deg
Direct measure of the horizontal plate B side Sbooster - 43.6 deg FARAD 38.9 Deg
Direct measure of the horizontal plate A side Sbooster - 38.2 deg FARAD 35.6 Deg
ER top case - SBooster - 40.7 deg FARAD - 37.3 deg

*note that B side is quite a bit hotter than A as mentioned.

Appears somehow the ER is not working as hard. Will be interesting how things go with a 7.5 v supply.

Thanks Andresz for sharing your experience with us!
Yes, several of the ER users in Hong Kong have the same concern about the high temp as well.

I am still waiting for QuadDiffusor's Farad report.
But it seems that the Farad LPS is a very good-buy. :)
 
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Kris

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Mar 4, 2019
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Appears somehow the ER is not working as hard. Will be interesting how things go with a 7.5 v supply.

It looks there might be much more heat generated with 7.5 v .
mine is very, very hot . You cannot put your hand on it for more than 3 seconds.
with 7,5 v there has to be much more current drown than with 12v .
As far as I remember it was around 4 A at 7,5 v and 1,2 A at 12 v with ER.
 

asindc

Well-Known Member
Sep 27, 2012
187
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923
CKKeung (thanks) put me on to the ER>SOTM, or SOTM/SOTM switch concept and it is a significant upstep in dimensionality and that "magic" we elusively try and find.

One very interesting thing for ER users. I was a bit concerned, as many are here, with the heat that the unit puts out. It is considerable and it really heats up the metal shell of my Shunyata SIGMA Ethernet cables. One day I ran it for 5 hours and it was really unpleasant to touch. This is via an Sbooster 12 volt. By the way, the ER does significantly benefit from upgraded LPS in my system.

I became interested in the FARAD Super 3 and ordered a few from Mattijs.( By the way, an absolute pleasure dealing with him. Very knowledgeable and happy to help with any questions; you can tell he has built his expertise through passion and delving deep into audio. Highly recommended).
By the way, the FARAD is really nicely built. Uses the aviation style connector at the PS end. This actually isn't a review of the FARAD (still burning in) but something a bit left field.

I replaced the Sbooster to try the FARAD and got two bonuses. Firstly, the sound of natural instruments is heightened and more dynamic via the FARAD and bearing in mind this is with ten hours on the clock. Those Super caps take a while to burn in as well as the unit. Be sure to use proper isolation and good cabling to bring out what the FARAD can do.

The second bonus - and I cannot explain why, the FARAD runs the ER a LOT cooler. A LOT. The Shunyata cables are now "just" warmish on the B side and ever so slightly warm on the A side. I feel a lot more comfortable with the ER here. Before they were hot.

To illustrate, I used a temperature probe to test - a good 5 hours on each. Same ventilation etc...

B side at the Ethernet plug junction (this is hotter than the A) Sbooster - 38 deg FARAD 29.6 Deg
A side at the Ethernet plug junction Sbooster - 35.8 deg FARAD 27 Deg
Direct measure of the horizontal plate B side Sbooster - 43.6 deg FARAD 38.9 Deg
Direct measure of the horizontal plate A side Sbooster - 38.2 deg FARAD 35.6 Deg
ER top case - SBooster - 40.7 deg FARAD - 37.3 deg

*note that B side is quite a bit hotter than A as mentioned.

Appears somehow the ER is not working as hard. Will be interesting how things go with a 7.5 v supply.

What is a "FARAD Super 3"?
 

CKKeung

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Jun 17, 2011
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asindc

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Unless I missed it (quite possible), I haven't read any listener reports that have compared a stock SOtM sNH-10G (no upgrades at all) to an Uptone Etherregen. I would be very interested in reading about such a comparison.
 

Kris

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Mar 4, 2019
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in order from best

2 x sotm best
er + sotm close to above
er + er very good
signle sotm
single ER
 

Kris

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Mar 4, 2019
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The very top is Sotm 2x with 10 Mhz ref clock
sotms connected with fibre wire .
both sotms with upgrades
 

Kris

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Mar 4, 2019
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2 x sotm full options with 10 mhz ref clock
2 x sotm full options
er + sotm full options close to above
er + er very good
signle sotm full option
single ER
single sotm no options
 
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Superdad

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Apr 22, 2015
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Appears somehow the ER is not working as hard. Will be interesting how things go with a 7.5 v supply.

It looks there might be much more heat generated with 7.5 v .
mine is very, very hot . You cannot put your hand on it for more than 3 seconds.
with 7,5 v there has to be much more current drown than with 12v .
As far as I remember it was around 4 A at 7,5 v and 1,2 A at 12 v with ER.

Alex from UpTone here.
There is a lot of incorrect information floating around with regards to EtherREGEN current draw and heat.
Permit me to clarify a few things:

--As indicated indicted the User Guide, it is normal for the case to be in the range of 48~52C. Yet at no time will any of the internal parts be running at more than half their thermal ratings.
--Case temperature varies more based on number of active connections (and their speed) than it does based on input voltage.
--In our extensive tests here, it overall temperature varies by not more than about 2 degrees C between input voltage (in the range of 7~12V).
--The EtherREGEN draws from whatever is the external PS approximately 1.3A at 7V, 1A at 9V, and 0.8A at 12V.

Please let me know if there are other questions I can answer. While I check into this thread infrequently (our main home is at AudiophileStyle), I will try to keep an eye here for questions or to correct information. Thanks!
 

ANDRESZ

Well-Known Member
Oct 14, 2018
15
12
83
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Thx Alex - I popped the Sbooster 12 v back in to double check and the ER definitely gets a lot hotter than with the FARAD 12 v. All other things being equal.

One other question - I think most metal ethernet cable plugs are rated to 80 degrees so no problems there. Not sure how the internal cabling at the ER/cable junction goes - I guess the ratings differ depending on what the cable is? Welcome your comments re any heat issues with the plastic around the wire. (the wire that interfaces with the head shell of the LAN cable.)
 

Superdad

Well-Known Member
Apr 22, 2015
92
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263
Thx Alex - I popped the Sbooster 12 v back in to double check and the ER definitely gets a lot hotter than with the FARAD 12 v. All other things being equal.

So you are saying that two different 12 volt power supplies result in different EtherREGEN temperatures? Color me very skeptical.
Though I do notice that the Sbooster is referred to as a 12-13V supply. Have you measured the output voltage of each?
 

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