Best audiophile switch

[MarkusBarkus]

...I understand. The comment was: "Still trying to figure out what a Audiophile Router is."

I provided an answer/example that fit the context. Price is a different cup of fur.

One might say: 7K for rubber?! I could get a Taiko router for that much money. All relative.

 

[Republicoftexas69]

...I understand. The comment was: "Still trying to figure out what a Audiophile Router is."

I provided an answer/example that fit the context. Price is a different cup of fur.

One might say: 7K for rubber?! I could get a Taiko router for that much money. All relative.

Oh yes I am sure.

 

[italia]

New thread: Best motorcycle track tires. LOL

 

[italia]

...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

I can definitely see audio improvement by replacing a consumer router with a Taiko or perhaps another router with higher grade components. Some previous comments were addressing "adding a second router" which is different to replacing a generic data router.

I achieved a gain in sound quality by running my prosumer hardware firewall/router on a linear power supply, so it's easy for me to see where sound improvements can be made at the router level, but not necessarily by leaving a cheap consumer router in place and adding a second router

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...most Taiko users are using two routers, if I am not mistaken. I think that set-up auto-negotiates, and doesn't require port forwarding, but I did not do so myself.

 

[italia]

...most Taiko users are using two routers, if I am not mistaken. I think that set-up auto-negotiates, and doesn't require port forwarding, but I did not do so myself.

the network engineer in me just don't get doing that, but whatev floats it

 

[Republicoftexas69]

New thread: Best motorcycle track tires. LOL

Pirelli

 

[italia]

Pirelli

I'm not on top of this anymore. My 15 years on the track ended a few years ago when I sold my track bike

 

[PYP]

I achieved a gain in sound quality by running my prosumer hardware firewall/router on a linear power supply, so it's easy for me to see where sound improvements can be made at the router level, but not necessarily by leaving a cheap consumer router in place and adding a second router

the network engineer in me just don't get doing that, but whatev floats it

For those of us who don't have your skillset and prefer to keep an ISP router that cannot be powered by an LPS (perhaps by a skilled DIYer; not sure), a second router specifically designed to exclude wifi and to "clean" the incoming signal and separate that traffic from all the stuff being done by ISP router (DHCP, etc.) is attractive. They seem to range in price from about $3k to $7+k. Is that a frivolous expense? A frivolous expense in the world of hifi, you say. Gadzooks! Just have to have fun with this stuff. Have cabbage, will travel.

 

[audiobomber]

For those of us who don't have your skillset and prefer to keep an ISP router that cannot be powered by an LPS (perhaps by a skilled DIYer; not sure), a second router specifically designed to exclude wifi and to "clean" the incoming signal and separate that traffic from all the stuff being done by ISP router (DHCP, etc.) is attractive. They seem to range in price from about $3k to $7+k. Is that a frivolous expense? A frivolous expense in the world of hifi, you say. Gadzooks! Just have to have fun with this stuff. Have cabbage, will travel.

Once again, if you disable the routing function on a router, you have turned the second router into a switch. Or a wi-fi extender if the second router is not on ethernet. However, do not use wi-fi to the second router or extender if at all possible.

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...the research from Taiko folks states the deleterious "noise" is electronic (from devices), and not from WiFi itself. Although their "radio" is low-powered, they did include WiFi in the design.

 

[audiobomber]

...the research from Taiko folks states the deleterious "noise" is electronic (from devices), and not from WiFi itself. Although their "radio" is low-powered, they did include WiFi in the design.

Yes, wi-fi radio(s) should be disabled where possible, and I am not surprised at their conclusion, however, I was told that having wi-fi broadcast near (within five feet?) of an audio system may also affect sound quality via RFI entering cables and electronics through airborne transmission.

 

[PYP]

A very recent upgrade of my ISP router shows me that everything upstream of the streamer counts. The sound was a little rough for a few days but has settled down. Listening to Erkan Ogur on his album Sakla there is just so much luscious detail of his fretless guitar (see Qobuz). And the emotive voices...wonderful.

 

[Elliot G.]

 

[mxk116]

A very recent upgrade of my ISP router shows me that everything upstream of the streamer counts. The sound was a little rough for a few days but has settled down. Listening to Erkan Ogur on his album Sakla there is just so much luscious detail of his fretless guitar (see Qobuz). And the emotive voices...wonderful.

Wonderful music you referenced. I would not have discovered Erkan Ogur without your suggestion. Thanks.

 

[treitz3]

Yes, wi-fi radio(s) should be disabled where possible, and I am not surprised at their conclusion, however, I was told that having wi-fi broadcast near (within five feet?) of an audio system may also affect sound quality via RFI entering cables and electronics through airborne transmission.

I have heard this as well. This may be true with certain systems, but I personally believe this to be system dependent. The satellite unit for my mesh network resides literally inches away from the PS of my pre-amplifier, and the Master clock is no further than a foot away, on the other side. Every electronic component I have resides within 5 feet of that unit. I do have shielded cables and other items that help to thwart EMI/RFI, so that may be one of the differences, but the system is so silent between the images, and the signal is so pure, I cannot fathom any audible interference from its location.

Tom

 

[Superdad]

Good point of emphasis. The new UpTone Audio JS-4 is designed to combat this problem. I would not try this with their existing JS-2 as the output rails are not 100% isolated from each other as they are in the JS-4.

Coming soon at long last! New info, price, and pics just posted here.

 

[agisthos]

@Superdad you ditching the choke regulator thing for the new model?

 

[Superdad]

@Superdad you ditching the choke regulator thing for the new model?

The topology of the JS-4 is more sophisticated than the JS-2 (though JS-2 has higher current capability); JS-4 is kind of a “virtual choke” hybrid in that we still do a number of things to eliminate transformer ringing and also filter broadband so that each of the 3 regulation stages are not having to work hard and so that capacitance can be optimized for speed—with ultra-low output impedance both at high frequency and especially low frequency (the latter being where a lot of supplies don’t do well).
Hearing will bring understanding of what we mean.
[We also hope to publish some measurements, of both output impedance and impulse response under an active load—but need to build some specialized test amps to do so. Regular scopes and spectrum analyzers are terrible at that. Might be a while since most attention is being given to finishing EtherREGEN Gen2 right now.]

 

[agisthos]

I really like the JS-2 so have high hopes for the JS-4. The internal PCB design looks radically different. Lots of little caps instead of one-two big ones.