Audiophile Ethernet Switch

If you prefer digital streaming then audiophile quality ethernet switch should be on the top of your "must to have" list.

Ok I'm assuming that our priorities mainly concern on audiophile perspective rather than simplicity. Any network constructed with cables is clearly superior than wireles one. Everyone can check this. Just take a few meters "good quality" ethernet cable, make connection between streamer and router by disabling wireless option on both equipments and listen. Now it's time to try some other cables, if possible audiophile ones. Even if try to reverse them. Ethernet cables can be the most directional one on your whole cabling setup. I'm really serious..!

Technically speaking ethernet transmission is lossless and jitter free. Data is carried in the packages also we have buffer at the end. Packet is sent again if it is lost. Amount of resents depends on the connection quality you sure. If you use bad quality cables (also bad equipments) or very long cables then you will have large number of iteration. This situation also result in increased processor usage (that means stress) on both ends. Do not forget you're still dealing with real time business on the last chain (player, dac or both of them)  

"So called" galvanic isolation of ethernet is the another issue that we have to take into account. Transformers used for isolation purpose can not cope with high frequency range. It means that you're listening cheap, noisy switch mode power supplies of your equipments.

Step 1: Finding good quality switch and modifying it's internal section of power source.

Ok my victim is ZyXel 8 port gigabit switch. It's a good quality and a good value switch. I replaced all electrolytic capacitors with extremely low esr polymer capacitors Nichicon R7.  I also added Vishay 1837 mkp capacitors to MCU and crystal power inputs. 

  

   

Step 2 : Replacing cheap switch mode power supply with high quality clean and dynamic linear power supply.

I built crc filter based linar power supply named Ark. It's one of my custom designs. Check this out (Sorry for Turkish).

This psu consist of 

• silicon carbide "SIC" schottky diodes, 
• crc based smooting filter with Elna and Vishay BC (22.000uf ) capacitor
• high transient response regulator,
• extremely low esr polymer output capacitor bypassed with mkp
• over size 25VA good quality toroidal transformer from Triad.

  

   

How does it sound ?

Just two words; like a magic.

Low noise and low ripple figure of linear power supply are clearly heard. It yields increased definition, musicality yielding more relax and coherent sound.