Best audiophile switch

[tony22]

Interesting. They’ve chosen RJ45 as the preferred interface to the music server / streamer /DAC.

 

[Di-fi]

Interesting. They’ve chosen RJ45 as the preferred interface to the music server / streamer /DAC.

Interesting for sure, actually 1 RJ45 is isolated. The switch is managed , but becomes ’unmanaged’ after 15 seconds to lock in the presets. The Nl's main processor powers off 15 seconds after startup to minimize electrical noise. Some standard features - such as energy-saving protocols - have been disabled to optimize audio performance.
I found the following in the users manual :

(…) The isolated RJ45 port, as the name suggests, is galvanically isolated from the rest of the switch circuitry. It has a separate power supply and an independent ground connection. This port is specifically designed for connecting your audio renderer or DAC, preventing network noise from leaking into your audio system (…)

(…) The standard LAN RJ45 ports are the main network ports of the N1, also sharing a common ground. They are intended for connecting devices such as your router, NAS, Wi-Fi access point, or other network components (…)

(…) The SFP port is part of the main LAN circuitry and shares a common ground with the standard LAN ports. A typical use case for the Nl's SFP port is connecting it to an SFP-capable router via a fiber optic cable. In most routers, SFP ports are directly linked to the router's processor, allowing you to bypass the often low-quality and noisy Ethernet switch section. This can significantly improve your system's sound quality(…).

Edit:

I started a new topic for the discussions about the N1 switch, let's discuss over there: https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/why-we-built-the-xact-n1-–-a-no-compromise-network-switch-for-audiophiles.40739/

SFP module is not included. I am using Finisar FTLX1475D3BTL

Best regards,
Marcin

 

[treitz3]

How does one know which switch is best if it’s not optimized?

Very good point. Some folks like optical and think that this is the way to go. Until a switch is optimized, one doesn't know just how good it can be.

I personally am not a fan of LHY and optical. I prefer other methods, which have already been discussed, but yes. Optimizing something can yield vastly differing end results.

Tom

 

[Di-fi]

I personally am not a fan of LHY and optical.

Fair point—early impressions of LHY and optical setups were definitely mixed. But it seems like there’s been some evolution in their newer models. I believe Alvin Chee (Vinshine) has been involved with LHY for a while, but a notable shift happened when Vinshine officially ended its distribution of Denafrips in July 2024. That change may have allowed more focus on other partner brands like LHY Audio.

With increased attention and resources, it’s possible the newer LHY models have benefited in both development and exposure—leading to the more positive feedback I’ve seen outside this forum. I haven’t tried one myself yet, but it makes me curious if earlier impressions still hold with the latest gear.

 

[tony22]

The general online consensus from LHY'ers who've owned more than one is that the 6 and 10 are/were both better than the 8, with the 10 being the best of the three. Who knows now with this new one?

 

[PYP]

One way to improve your switch is to remove stuff that pollutes the electrical lines and the router. I just removed an extra TV & TV box and removed VOIP from the router. Immediate improvement. Reminder to self: don't make your switch do extra work - simplify.

 

[NigelB]

One way to improve your switch is to remove stuff that pollutes the electrical lines and the router. I just removed an extra TV & TV box and removed VOIP from the router. Immediate improvement. Reminder to self: don't make your switch do extra work - simplify.

Out of interest, where is this switch located (in terms of cable lengths) with respect your router and to your streamer? Are your TV and TV box in same room as your hifi?

Switches were of course originally designed as little more than port replicators and they would typically hang off your router by a metre/yard or so of network cable.

As the thread is about audiophile switches I had presumed that anyone who has invested in, or is considering investing in, an audio-optimised switch is going to (a) dedicate it to audio and (b) install it for maximum impact on sound quality ie. a metre/yard or so from the streamer.

 

[PYP]

Out of interest, where is this switch located (in terms of cable lengths) with respect your router and to your streamer? Are your TV and TV box in same room as your hifi?

Switches were of course originally designed as little more than port replicators and they would typically hang off your router by a metre/yard or so of network cable.

As the thread is about audiophile switches I had presumed that anyone who has invested in, or is considering investing in, an audio-optimised switch is going to (a) dedicate it to audio and (b) install it for maximum impact on sound quality ie. a metre/yard or so from the streamer.

The TV and router are not in the same room as the streamer/DAC. I'm not sure about the length of the in-wall ethernet cable from router to listening room (goes through attic).

The switch is connected to the streamer/DAC with a 1 meter cable. All of the audio equipment is on one dedicated outlet (via Shunyata power distributor), so I was a bit surprised by the positive change (wasn't expecting or listening for a change). Of course, all the electrical lines meet at the breaker panel and I assume there isn't a way to totally isolate any particular electrical line.

BTW, I first tried the switch just after the router and it sounded quite good. Moving it near the streamer/DAC had a further positive effect, but the HF didn't sound quite right. I assume this is a downside of proximity. Grounding the switch solved that issue (grounded via a separate dedicated outlet).

I'm still curious about adding an "audiophile" router after the ISP router to isolate the audio line. Will have to try that experiment in the future.

 

[NigelB]

I'm still curious about adding an "audiophile" router after the ISP router to isolate the audio line. Will have to try that experiment in the future.

Thanks for the further info.

Some people swear by it. My guess is the impact is highly system-dependent; if you have a lot of RFI/EMI in your local environment then early separation of the audio network from potentially noisy non-audio equipment is clearly going to make more of a difference than if your environment is relatively quiet (in RFI/EMI terms).

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...my (lay) thinking was whatever I could do to replace/reduce the devices polling, sniffing, whatever they do in whatever fabric-layer they do it, would reduce electronic noise in the device. Similarly, back in the "switch wars" era, I would turn-off any un-needed ports. Is there a related EMI/RF aspect? Probably that too. Cheers.

 

[PYP]

...my (lay) thinking was whatever I could do to replace/reduce the devices polling, sniffing, whatever they do in whatever fabric-layer they do it, would reduce electronic noise in the device. Similarly, back in the "switch wars" era, I would turn-off any un-needed ports. Is there a related EMI/RF aspect? Probably that too. Cheers.

and the sniffing can get quite loud.

 

[PYP]

Thanks for the further info.

Some people swear by it. My guess is the impact is highly system-dependent; if you have a lot of RFI/EMI in your local environment then early separation of the audio network from potentially noisy non-audio equipment is clearly going to make more of a difference than if your environment is relatively quiet (in RFI/EMI terms).

I assume mine is not a quiet environment in terms of RFI/EMI. After removing the items mentioned above, today I upgraded my ISP-provided router (free upgrades are great). Does it sound better? Maybe. Will need to listen to familiar songs. At this point the improvements are subtle and can be attributed to more focus while listening.

I always say that attaching your audio to a network will cause pain. But if you can get it right, you have a world of music at your fingertips.

 

[italia]

I'm still curious about adding an "audiophile" router after the ISP router to isolate the audio line. Will have to try that experiment in the future.

You'll want to make sure both routers do not have DHCP turned on, and that you can turn it off on the audiophile router

 

[Republicoftexas69]

You'll want to make sure both routers do not have DHCP turned on, and that you can turn it off on the audiophile router

So what is an audiophile router? Please give an example of one. Or is it just a separate router that you are dedicating to audio only on a separate network and paying double the ISP fees for?

 

[italia]

So what is an audiophile router? Please give an example of one. Or is it just a separate router that you are dedicating to audio only on a separate network and paying double the ISP fees for?

Yeah I don't know. Not sure I see the audio benefit from running a second router. I was just commenting that having two routers on the same LAN handing out IP addresses can (and probably will) cause conflicts in that the two routers can easily hand out the same IP address to two different devices if they are both running DHCP. A second router would not necessitate using two internet connections from your ISP

I suppose if you're streaming from WiFi rather than a wired connection, setting up a second router for streaming might afford improved isolation from your primary WiFi network. In attempting this, you would want to ensure the audiophile router has DHCP turned off and thus only supports devices that are assigned fixed IP addresses by it. Also, I would want the audiophile router to utilize 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels different to the ones your primary router is utilizing.

Given the inherent 'noise' that WiFi carries (regardless of the number of routers and/or switches), I wouldn't see a two-router environment exceeding the sound quality of a wired situation using one router

 

[audiobomber]

Yeah I don't know. Not sure I see the audio benefit from running a second router. I was just commenting that having two routers on the same LAN handing out IP addresses can (and probably will) cause conflicts in that the two routers can easily hand out the same IP address to two different devices if they are both running DHCP. A second router would not necessitate using two internet connections from your ISP

Agreed! A router with the routing function disabled is just a switch, and there are a bazillion audiophile switches available. A second router would only be useful with a second IP, and I suspect the benefits would be minor or even unnoticeable in a well-sorted audiophile network.

I suppose if you're streaming from WiFi rather than a wired connection, setting up a second router for streaming might afford improved isolation from your primary WiFi network. In attempting this, you would want to ensure the audiophile router has DHCP turned off and thus only supports devices that are assigned fixed IP addresses by it. Also, I would want the audiophile router to utilize 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels different to the ones your primary router is utilizing.

A router with routing turned off is a just wi-fi extender.

Given the inherent 'noise' that WiFi carries (regardless of the number of routers and/or switches), I wouldn't see a two-router environment exceeding the sound quality of a wired situation using one router

I totally agree, no wi-fi in an audiophile network, except where needed for control.

 

[Republicoftexas69]

Agreed! And a router with the routing function disabled is just a switch, and there are a bazillion audiophile switches available. A second router would only be useful with a second IP, and I suspect the benefits would be minor or even unnoticeable.

A router with routing turned off is a just wi-fi extender.

I totally agree, no wi-fi in an audiophile network, except where needed for control.

I have my network hard wired no wi-fi not even for control purposes. Still trying to figure out what a Audiophile Router is. Though this was a thread about switches, not routers...

 

[audiobomber]

I have my network hard wired no wi-fi not even for control purposes.

I only use wi-fi for control in my main system, which is in a separate room from my router. Disabling wi-fi has no effect on sound quality that I can detect.

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...the example I am familiar with, purpose-built as an "audiophile router" would be the Taiko Router.

Myself, I replaced a Netgear router with the Taiko version. I have the fiber ISP modem, a 35' copper run to the audio room and Taiko router. DAC cable to Taiko switch, DAC cable to Olympus server.

The router most certainly added an improvement to in-room SQ. This is a dedicated audio-only fiber service, so very little traffic on the network, and nothing that isn't audio, streaming and/or iPad commands for play.

Here is a link to the website FAQ page for the router, if interested.

https://taikoaudio.com/taiko-2020/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Extreme-Router-FAQ_v49.x80569.pdf

 

[Republicoftexas69]

...the example I am familiar with, purpose-built as an "audiophile router" would be the Taiko Router.

Myself, I replaced a Netgear router with the Taiko version. I have the fiber ISP modem, a 35' copper run to the audio room and Taiko router. DAC cable to Taiko switch, DAC cable to Olympus server.

The router most certainly added an improvement to in-room SQ. This is a dedicated audio-only fiber service, so very little traffic on the network, and nothing that isn't audio, streaming and/or iPad commands for play.

Here is a link to the website FAQ page for the router, if interested.

https://taikoaudio.com/taiko-2020/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Extreme-Router-FAQ_v49.x80569.pdf

Thanks no way I am spending $7k on a router. That's an entire seasons worth of race rubber for my motorcycle.