The Lord of the Switch

gionaz

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May 3, 2018
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Freely taking inspiration from the advice of a friend of mine, who suggested the evocative title for this extreme test in digital audio. we talk about the results on the triple Daisy Chain of Ansuz PowerSwitch! I have a Power Switch A2, a D2 and a top of the range TC-D Supreme! In order not to miss anything, the last connection between TC-D Supreme and streamer dCS Bridge will be served by the top-of-the-range TC-D Supreme Ethernet network cable. From the dCS Bridge then towards the top of the range TOTALDAC Twelve mk3 via an aesebu Nordost Valhalla 2. Tobian sound system loudspeakers model 12FH - FULLRANGE HORN SPEAKERS are the loudspeakers . Dyrholm Audio Vision series, Ansuz and Nordost cables. Power Distributor Mainz8 D2. Tube Pre-amp and final electronics by Dissanayake Audio, an extreme level craftsman builder.



I start from the end, yes guys this is really amazing! the bass, the information contained in them that in 95 percent of digital systems is inevitably lost, here are restored in all their magnificence! yes, thanks to the fundamental contribution of the Ansuz switches and the extreme resolution of the TOTALDAC, we are assisting to an extraordinary performance. the texture and foundations of the low frequencies are returned with an incredible sense of reality and an infinity of both environmental and timbral details going to complete an organic reconstruction very close to what is recorded on digital media. A very important consideration, it is necessary to use high quality ethernet cables for audio use, as the improvements made by the three switches could be lost. Doing various tests I think the best compromise price performance is to keep the A2 with the TC-D Supreme as the last step towards the streamer. Even the top of the range TC-D Supreme ethernet cable makes a great contribution, an organic increase to the whole performance, remarkable!
 
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gionaz

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for what it can serve, at the house of a friend who had a double switch, Melco s100 and Sotm, we tried only one Ansusz D2, result: the Melco s100 and the sotm (with clock) were sold on the market.
an important consideration, always use excellent power cables for the switches, they are very sensitive to this type of fine tuning
 

Blackmorec

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Out of interest, who is Gionaz, who posted a similar story with the same photos on another forum?

 

gionaz

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Out of interest, who is Gionaz, who posted a similar story with the same photos on another forum?

Gionaz, is a lover of music and its accurate reproduction at home, it is interesting this consideration that affects the author of the post and NOT the subject of the post ... after all, the Forums were born to disseminate listening experiences. This is my experience, maybe it disturbs someone?!
 

gionaz

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probably the switches Melco and sotm enjoy some exclusive favor, I'll make a reason.

Blackmorec

Tell me about your Melco S100 switch and how it changed your life in your personal setup?
 

kennyb123

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Nov 30, 2012
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Gionaz, is a lover of music and its accurate reproduction at home, it is interesting this consideration that affects the author of the post and NOT the subject of the post ... after all, the Forums were born to disseminate listening experiences. This is my experience, maybe it disturbs someone?!
I believe he asked so that he could confirm that there isn’t something fishy going on. When the nearly the same post is repeated by different people it can lead people to wonder if someone in the industry is trying to hype a product by making it seem as though it’s just happy consumers who are posting. What makes it even more suspicious that it appears that you deflected from providing a response. Was that you posting as Gionaz on that other forum?
 

kennyb123

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Nov 30, 2012
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the same person
the world is taking a bad turn, always ready to suspect everything...

ps: what answer did I skip?
You just answered it. Thanks.

Yeah it is a shame that we have to be suspicious of motives on this forum. I wish that wasn’t the case.

Thanks for sharing your impressions of the switches.
 

gionaz

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May 3, 2018
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Thanks for sharing your impressions of the switches.
thanks to you,

it is usually very difficult to change your mind in the audiophile world. where world famous gurus always pontificate the right truths. indeed, it is precisely when there is a voice out of the chorus that one thinks badly and becomes suspicious.
it is called status quo it is Latin language and it comes from my land, it means equilibrium reached, that when you take a position of power (whatever it is, even the presumed knowledge is) it becomes disadvantageous to abandon it for another thesis, the balance is affected...
why all these considerations? because the attack happened on the person going to discredit also the content, which is obviously the final goal.

came back to the post, hope someone can benefit.
 

gionaz

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in the sense of the post, I can say that the use of at least one switch is essential for a liquid path that uses network protocols. many here use a PC server or stand alone to go via usb in the DAC, in my opinion it would be preferable to go first via ethernet then later with a second PC or streamer in the DAC. i tried both usb and aesebu, i preferred aesebu. I don't go after the spectacularization of the hires files, 192khz is already more than enough, what counts is the mastering phase where sound engineers tend to compress the dynamics too much in favor of commercial quality audio setups ...
 

Blackmorec

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Feb 1, 2019
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in the sense of the post, I can say that the use of at least one switch is essential for a liquid path that uses network protocols. many here use a PC server or stand alone to go via usb in the DAC, in my opinion it would be preferable to go first via ethernet then later with a second PC or streamer in the DAC. i tried both usb and aesebu, i preferred aesebu. I don't go after the spectacularization of the hires files, 192khz is already more than enough, what counts is the mastering phase where sound engineers tend to compress the dynamics too much in favor of commercial quality audio setups ...
Hi krellz,
I’m always delighted to read about different experiences related to network optimization. Unfortunately we do live in an age where all forms of communication such as phones, e-mail and internet are full of scams, including fraudulent reviews designed to falsely promote products , so when the same review appears on different forums from apparently different authors, its perfectly reasonable to check their authenticity. Only a fool swallows all they read on the internet. All my initial enquiry needed from you was a post saying you’d written both reviews under different user names.

As it happens, I have been building and optimising a streaming based hi-fi system for several years and I’ve learned that while a bitstream may be accurate (bit perfect), its the ‘fabric’ from which the bit stream is built that has the greatest influence on sound quality. By fabric, I mean the timing, noise level, bit quality (voltage rise time) and level of traffic that defines the intrinsic specification of the bitstream and its resulting SQ.
The biggest difference between analog and digital is that once analog is damaged, there’s nothing to be done, whereas in digital the data stream can be retimed and resynthesized to move it closer to the ’ideal spec’ of no noise, no timing errors and optimal polarity changes. My experience tells me that an audio network should ideally be designed to transport the data AND refine the bits to move them closer to this ideal. I use a series of switches, a carefully designed cable loom with star earthed screens, extensive anti-vibration measures and the highest quality power supplies and DC cabling available to achieve this. I have posted my results on several occasions, so no need to repeat here.
 

gionaz

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May 3, 2018
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I’m always delighted to read about different experiences related to network optimization. Unfortunately we do live in an age where all forms of communication such as phones, e-mail and internet are full of scams, including fraudulent reviews designed to falsely promote products , so when the same review appears on different forums from apparently different authors, its perfectly reasonable to check their authenticity
this is true and it is acceptable, but as I wrote above, if one wants to cheat, then he will try to create a gift package, well disguised and hardly recognizable! certainly he will not publish two identical posts, if the intentions are different from good faith, of course! honestly I also posted on the other forum because after seeing zero interactions on this one, I thought it was not meaningful or welcome here! I thought (wrongly) that somewhere else, a constructive debate could be started ... being in good faith I didn't notice that the two users were different in name (it's always me).

there remain two fundamental notes for me: use the switches in a liquid path and take care of their power supplies (if possible use high quality power cables) make the difference
 

kennyb123

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Nov 30, 2012
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if one wants to cheat, then he will try to create a gift package, well disguised and hardly recognizable! certainly he will not publish two identical posts,
Those who cheat are often lazy. I recently came across a post one a forum for parrot owners where a scammer was using one of the member’s photos in their ads. On multiple sites they posted her pictures offering parrots for sale and it was just a scam.
 

gionaz

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May 3, 2018
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Those who cheat are often lazy. I recently came across a post one a forum for parrot owners where a scammer was using one of the member’s photos in their ads. On multiple sites they posted her pictures offering parrots for sale and it was just a scam.

yours is a completely wrong example! you are talking about a direct sales post, here we are not in the market! ... remains for those who will be able to appreciate a story of a listening experience, certainly particular, unusual, an example of how switeches can help digital reproduction.
I add a marginal note, which goes beyond the focus of the post if we want:
in a deserted city (emptied for summer holidays) I turn on the stereo (it is still cold), and it plays an extraordinary performance, yet I have not heard music for many days and with the sound system cold, but in a desert city without many interference that damage our precious current, you can enjoy the positive effects! The incredible August plays
 

hicr49

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Jan 10, 2018
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Hi Krellz,

Thanks for sharing your findings. In the interest of getting back on topic. I'm quite curious to hear your thoughts (if you had experimented) on the sonic differences between each of the Ansuz models (A2 vs D2 vs Supureme) when using just one switch at a time in your system?
Reason is because unlike other manufacturers Ansuz is not likely a product my budget will allow a stack configuration.
Also wondering if the benefits of investing on an Ansuz switch will be significantly reduced if one doesn't use an Ansuz's LAN cable which utilize an additional (power/ground?) connection to the switch.
Much Thanks!
 

3125simon

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Apr 26, 2020
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Hi Krellz,

Thanks for sharing your findings. In the interest of getting back on topic. I'm quite curious to hear your thoughts (if you had experimented) on the sonic differences between each of the Ansuz models (A2 vs D2 vs Supureme) when using just one switch at a time in your system?
Reason is because unlike other manufacturers Ansuz is not likely a product my budget will allow a stack configuration.
Also wondering if the benefits of investing on an Ansuz switch will be significantly reduced if one doesn't use an Ansuz's LAN cable which utilize an additional (power/ground?) connection to the switch.
Much Thanks!
I bought a Ansuz D2 switch, rather against my better judgement, but honestly it’s transformed my listening with music streamed from the internet (Qubuz) where with the normal computer switches, even daisy chained with LPS, I couldn’t listen beyond finding new music, which I I liked it I would purchase and download to my Melco.
Pricing is still crazy with Ansuz, but like the power distributors and Mainz power cables, which I also have, their performance is also crazy good.
 

gionaz

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May 3, 2018
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Hi Krellz,

Thanks for sharing your findings. In the interest of getting back on topic. I'm quite curious to hear your thoughts (if you had experimented) on the sonic differences between each of the Ansuz models (A2 vs D2 vs Supureme) when using just one switch at a time in your system?
Reason is because unlike other manufacturers Ansuz is not likely a product my budget will allow a stack configuration.
Also wondering if the benefits of investing on an Ansuz switch will be significantly reduced if one doesn't use an Ansuz's LAN cable which utilize an additional (power/ground?) connection to the switch.
Much Thanks!

well then let's get started. I start from the end. the Ansuz cable is very important to improve system performance, but it would also be important on switches from other brands. Connecting an Ansuz switch (they have dedicated power supplies for their network cables) with its cable in an active way is certainly the best and most performing solution, the upgrade is global in this case it improves all the parameters, little or much will depend from too many factors, so I recommend trying on your sound system.
Speaking of Ansuz switches, the higher you go, the more you improve the musicality and increase the bass (I simplified as much as possible, but I don't want to pass a wrong definition), the bass becomes more present but also faster and less bulky. there is more information below! there is more definition that helps improve the tone of the bass, yes the bass is not just boom boom. These characteristics are taken to extremes in the Supreme. Returning to the A2 it is an excellent all-in-one switch (already optimized internal power supply and the possibility of powering future Ansuz network cables). I recommend a pair of cascaded A2s rather than a single D2. there is to consider the cost of the mains cables and that of the power cables which must not be underestimated!
 
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gionaz

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I bought a Ansuz D2 switch, rather against my better judgement, but honestly it’s transformed my listening with music streamed from the internet (Qubuz) where with the normal computer switches, even daisy chained with LPS, I couldn’t listen beyond finding new music, which I I liked it I would purchase and download to my Melco.
Pricing is still crazy with Ansuz, but like the power distributors and Mainz power cables, which I also have, their performance is also crazy good.

yes, I must say that their products have a lot of substance to offer! for example, I also bought the Darkz T2S feet for my Mainz8 D2 POWER DISTRIBUTION, and they increased the performance by a double level! We would have to open another tread on the Mainz8 D2, its contribution in my Audio setup was controversial, at least at the beginning! I did not understand what was happening, or if the sound had improved and by how much or if something totally radical had happened but hardly understandable to me!
 

gionaz

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paraphrasing an old Coppola film, lost in translation, I would not like to circulate a wrong news. the Melco is an excellent switch, but above all at the level of international forums I wanted to add my personal considerations also on other brands, such as Ansuz. it was interesting to try and keep a triptych of Ansuz switches in my setup, as well as it was interesting to compare these with the Melco and the sotm. In my example the Ansuz were preferred, but that doesn't mean that in other environments and setups it can happen differently! one thing for sure is that Ansuz require excellent power cables and at least good network cables.
 
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kaka

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Dec 31, 2014
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I'm bemused by the Ansuz switches. Not whether or not they deliver gains, but what the optimal spot in their lineup is.

Reviews
There are a number of reviews by credible reviewers. But they cover the three lower units in the range (X-TC3, A3, D3) in isolation.
What would be far more useful would be their view on what the gains are using an X-TC3, an A3 compared with a X-TC3, and a D3 compared with an A3. I haven't seen that anywhere. Does anyone have a link?

Features
There is a table on the Ansuz site showing the noise reduction tech in each model.
The D3 has the same number of active tesla coils, dither circuits, zirconium tesla, and active tesla coils as the A3.
The only difference is the addition of 2 anti aerial resonance circuits.

But the D3 costs a lot more. So are the extra circuits very expensive, or are the clocks a lot better, or the power supply or ....
A very partial story.

On the face of it two stacked A3 offer more than a D3.
 
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