I am setting up a new streamer, wired only, WiiM Pro Plus though I am using an outboard DAC and bought the great Cysco switch forgetting I still need to get from the cable coming in to the Ethernet input on the switch.
I need a very clean, used is preferred in most all I do, simple single output router or a decent easy DIY solution even better so any recommendation will be greatly appreciated.
Cables, CAT6 for now, will look into high grade cables as well if they actually do anything to make them worthwhile but no "audiophile" over priced hyped up stuff, I like real improvements for the least cost and effort🙂
Thanks,
Rick
I need a very clean, used is preferred in most all I do, simple single output router or a decent easy DIY solution even better so any recommendation will be greatly appreciated.
Cables, CAT6 for now, will look into high grade cables as well if they actually do anything to make them worthwhile but no "audiophile" over priced hyped up stuff, I like real improvements for the least cost and effort🙂
Thanks,
Rick
For now I am using a decent Motorola router that is supposed to be pretty clean but only has 4 Ethernet ports and I need a few more, I leave the WiFi turned off. I know I could hood the switch up to one of the ports, well, pretty sure, never tried it before, but I want to go with something simpler and hopefully cleaner.
Well, a router in a home environment forwards data from your internet provider to your internal network. Any other traffic from your streamer to the endpoints is never passing through the router, that type of traffic goes only between the switch ports, as if the router wasn't there. That Cisco model is pretty old but reliable. Audiophiles have their special preferences, if you believe in the "sound" of Ethernet switches. Same for Ethernet cables. If you are curious, I recommend you borrow stuff and listen in your home environment, before spending a fortune on them.
Any linux box can act as a router if it has 2 ethernets. You can get super inexpensive ones that are basic easy to setup. Checkout newegg, they have many brands. I think I am using a trendnet at the moment.
Thanks, much appreciated, really am🙂 BUT(t), maybe just being one, not sure sometimes.....I am not well versed in all things as in not a well experienced engineer but I have a very open mind, within reason. That reasoning leads me to do quite a bit of research when I have the time into everything I do which is many things. One of those jack of all trades types but master of none nor want to be, too many fun things in life to experience.
I have had very in depth experience in the realm of very high end military and what I consider high end audio but not insanely overpriced gear, always looking for the best low cost way to maximize each step even to the point I will spend a bit of time and funds on marginal things but not a ton of time or funds.
I would never buy expensive cables, will make my own or buy reasonable priced known good ones, very reasonable priced that is. The switch I bought has been shown to be very reliable and clean, there is more than just ones and zeros as some seem to believe, I know better and have as mentioned real world experience in it at the time the highest level there was in the world, many years ago now but I do not forget somethings so easily.
All that stuff just said, I just want to see if there is a simple, low cost, possibly better way to improve one more step in the chain of good music listening capabilities.
Since I need more ports I guess I will hook up the switch to my current router and see how well it works. I run the WiiM right off one of the 4 ports on it since it is basically a pass through as mentioned, I very glad to receive that info🙂
Time to clean up, just came down off the roof, almost done with it, finally!
Rick
I have had very in depth experience in the realm of very high end military and what I consider high end audio but not insanely overpriced gear, always looking for the best low cost way to maximize each step even to the point I will spend a bit of time and funds on marginal things but not a ton of time or funds.
I would never buy expensive cables, will make my own or buy reasonable priced known good ones, very reasonable priced that is. The switch I bought has been shown to be very reliable and clean, there is more than just ones and zeros as some seem to believe, I know better and have as mentioned real world experience in it at the time the highest level there was in the world, many years ago now but I do not forget somethings so easily.
All that stuff just said, I just want to see if there is a simple, low cost, possibly better way to improve one more step in the chain of good music listening capabilities.
Since I need more ports I guess I will hook up the switch to my current router and see how well it works. I run the WiiM right off one of the 4 ports on it since it is basically a pass through as mentioned, I very glad to receive that info🙂
Time to clean up, just came down off the roof, almost done with it, finally!
Rick
You just need more switch ports. All hosts connected to these switch ports will be residing on a single subnet. So, get an additional switch (Layer 2 device).
In realms of pure networking, a router (Layer 3 device) will route traffic between 2 different subnets (two different IP networks), that would otherwise not be able to exchange packets (without a router).
When it comes to Internet home setups, the "router" means many things... it can be a media converter, even a protocol converter... as your Motorola router is. It is, in fact, an interface device between your ISP and your home Etehtrent copper network... which sometimes could even be a home Ethernet fibre network.
The only improvement you can make is to avoid powering the switches with little SMPS wall-warts... use liner power supplies. This has more to do with preventing the rubbish (from these SMPS/wall-warts) going back into mains power outlets, which are also used for audio systems.
All my SMPS-powered devices reside (and all I have left is the TV and one power injector for my WiFi access point) on a separate mains feed, coming from a separate C/B. Given, the ground (earth) is the same.... but I do what I can with what I have at hand, which is the standard home mains power installation.
If you ever visit a high-ender household with a money-no-object approach, you'll find separate ground feeds for the audio mains outlets, which helps a lot with providing a very clean mains power ground point... to which everything is referenced.
In realms of pure networking, a router (Layer 3 device) will route traffic between 2 different subnets (two different IP networks), that would otherwise not be able to exchange packets (without a router).
When it comes to Internet home setups, the "router" means many things... it can be a media converter, even a protocol converter... as your Motorola router is. It is, in fact, an interface device between your ISP and your home Etehtrent copper network... which sometimes could even be a home Ethernet fibre network.
The only improvement you can make is to avoid powering the switches with little SMPS wall-warts... use liner power supplies. This has more to do with preventing the rubbish (from these SMPS/wall-warts) going back into mains power outlets, which are also used for audio systems.
All my SMPS-powered devices reside (and all I have left is the TV and one power injector for my WiFi access point) on a separate mains feed, coming from a separate C/B. Given, the ground (earth) is the same.... but I do what I can with what I have at hand, which is the standard home mains power installation.
If you ever visit a high-ender household with a money-no-object approach, you'll find separate ground feeds for the audio mains outlets, which helps a lot with providing a very clean mains power ground point... to which everything is referenced.
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Thank you very much, makes a lot of sense and I have some of this already set up.
1) two dedicated 20 amp circuits( with 10 gauge wire so actually 30 amp capable wire, 25ft run each) for my audio system, one of which I might use for the internet and computer system and the other for the audio system. They are on different legs of the panel from all the noisiest things in the RV and double shielded as in metal conduit, and twisted wire.
2) testing different PS for the WiiM, thought SMPS the iFi Ipowerx is a very clean PS at least on the output side and a big improvement over the wall wart. I also have a 5v volt Ipad supply known to be quite clean I will be testing just looking for a cheap option to recommend, only $6.50 used on Ebay.
3) LPS, still looking into them, willing to use one, two, three, as needed but not super expensive "audiophile" labeled ones, any recommendations?
4) Can I use the Cisco switch out of the Motorola MG7550 I am using? I just need a couple of more ports than it has at just 4. If you have a recommendation, affordable, for something better to use please let me know.
Thanks🙂
Rick
1) two dedicated 20 amp circuits( with 10 gauge wire so actually 30 amp capable wire, 25ft run each) for my audio system, one of which I might use for the internet and computer system and the other for the audio system. They are on different legs of the panel from all the noisiest things in the RV and double shielded as in metal conduit, and twisted wire.
2) testing different PS for the WiiM, thought SMPS the iFi Ipowerx is a very clean PS at least on the output side and a big improvement over the wall wart. I also have a 5v volt Ipad supply known to be quite clean I will be testing just looking for a cheap option to recommend, only $6.50 used on Ebay.
3) LPS, still looking into them, willing to use one, two, three, as needed but not super expensive "audiophile" labeled ones, any recommendations?
4) Can I use the Cisco switch out of the Motorola MG7550 I am using? I just need a couple of more ports than it has at just 4. If you have a recommendation, affordable, for something better to use please let me know.
Thanks🙂
Rick
Althogh I am not a believer, neither do I have any streamer or serious digital audio gear, this might be interesting for you:
https://longkft.hu/audioblog/switch-teszt-meghallgattunk-10-darab-filleres-switch-et/
(Select English language at the top left)
https://longkft.hu/audioblog/switch-teszt-meghallgattunk-10-darab-filleres-switch-et/
(Select English language at the top left)
My setup is the telco/ISP interface/router connected to 4 port switch that then feeds several switches with anywhere from 4-24 ports. Switches are pretty generic devices. Mainly different ones offer different speeds. From the very low end of 10MB to very common 100M, pretty common 1GB and rare 10G. If I remember right, once you get to 1G speeds, then all 4 pairs are used. Below that, only 2 pair are needed, 1xmit, 1recv. I have quite a few devices on my local lan. The 4 port feeds the wiring to the rooms and then each room has its own switch with enough ports for the room. Another thing I learned recently is ethernet is ground isolated by design, and I think offers 1500V of isolation between devices. So ground loops should not be a problem between different devices from ethernet connections. If you open up a box, there is an isolation transformer on each port. Amazing to me how they can build them for the prices they do. I think one 4 port I bought was 20 dollars. Amazing amount of tech for 20.
Thanks very much, again!
We are in an RV and all but my wife's desk and the bedroom are right at my desk so I just need to run an Ethernet cable to her desk and the bedroom where she can plug her tablet into the cable with an adapter.
I only need 6 ports, maybe I will find a new all in one router with that many or 8 ports and then look into a good PS for it. Less stuff, less cable, less mess, we are packing a lot into this 430 sq ft of space.
I have CAT6 cables now, need to get a long one and another 15 ft one or so, I do not mind spending a bit more than basic cables if there is a need, improvement, etc but again will not buy into the high end hype, even if a tiny bit better, I have more important things to spend my money and time on.
Do you recommend any specific cables? I can always buy generic or Beldon, etc....
(later on, another 1000 hours or so into the RV remodel, building audio system, etc then I would have fun playing around with a bit of "upgraded" gear for the internet, Qobuz, etc but as said, never going crazy in this.)
Rick
We are in an RV and all but my wife's desk and the bedroom are right at my desk so I just need to run an Ethernet cable to her desk and the bedroom where she can plug her tablet into the cable with an adapter.
I only need 6 ports, maybe I will find a new all in one router with that many or 8 ports and then look into a good PS for it. Less stuff, less cable, less mess, we are packing a lot into this 430 sq ft of space.
I have CAT6 cables now, need to get a long one and another 15 ft one or so, I do not mind spending a bit more than basic cables if there is a need, improvement, etc but again will not buy into the high end hype, even if a tiny bit better, I have more important things to spend my money and time on.
Do you recommend any specific cables? I can always buy generic or Beldon, etc....
(later on, another 1000 hours or so into the RV remodel, building audio system, etc then I would have fun playing around with a bit of "upgraded" gear for the internet, Qobuz, etc but as said, never going crazy in this.)
Rick
Ok, just did a bit of looking, I was searching using the wrong term, I will not look for a cable modem I can plug the Cisco switch into and try that but also looking into good modem/router with at least 6 ports.
I buy pretty much whatever, but I am running mainly 100M, so 4 wire cables are ok. Many of my cables are leftovers from stuff out of service. Old wifi boxes always came with a cable. As to 6 ports, could be pricey. The sweet spot is 4 and they are cheap. Check newegg for a good selection.
I will test the Cisco switch plugged into the Motorola cable modem/router first. I recall when I bought the Motorola it was due to great reviews and decent price. I only need one really great port, to the WiiM Pro Plus streamer, TV is not used much and it works fine for our needs. Our speed tops out around 300 though right now it is at 74, rated for either 600 or 800, I forget what they quoted....like they are all that honest.....
My best investment in home networking was a crimper tool for RJ-45 (and RJ-11 too). Apart from this, be careful when buying raw Ethernet cable. There is the CCA variant (copper coated aluminium), avoid it by any means. Go for real copper.
WiFi works pretty well, too.
WiFi works pretty well, too.
Since the topic "Audiophile Ethernet Switch" is locked, I think we can continue the discussion about switches here.
Nothing has been commented on for 4 years, and I think a lot has happened on this stage. To begin with, let's clarify that I am a member of a club that admits that everything is heard. Even 1m cables in different CAT ranges (I think we reached 8), and even within the same CAT range, different manufacturers can be heard. Does it affect the sound, the switches? . I think there is. It has a nice text about measurements and listening to them:
https://www.alpha-audio.net/review/...rk-switches-listening-and-measuring/#comments
What interests me is whether anyone has played (DIY) with them?
Of course, except for the external regulated power supply, which would be mandatory, has anyone played with it?
Nothing has been commented on for 4 years, and I think a lot has happened on this stage. To begin with, let's clarify that I am a member of a club that admits that everything is heard. Even 1m cables in different CAT ranges (I think we reached 8), and even within the same CAT range, different manufacturers can be heard. Does it affect the sound, the switches? . I think there is. It has a nice text about measurements and listening to them:
https://www.alpha-audio.net/review/...rk-switches-listening-and-measuring/#comments
What interests me is whether anyone has played (DIY) with them?
Of course, except for the external regulated power supply, which would be mandatory, has anyone played with it?
I believe, and I do have considerable experience in many things after 75 or so years of modding stuff....20 years tech in US Navy, etc........
That higher grade components can be better but up to a certain point then the tiny bit of improvement possible causes the price to go up in a very non linear fashion.
Every person on earth perceives things a big differently so the "improvement" one hears is highly likely to be a preference to how it sounds, difference is just that, a difference, not necessarily better.
Then we run into confirmation bias, ego driven status symbol.....and those easily fooled by the snake oil salesmen that are quite prevalent in high quality audio.
DIY great cables can be had for very low cost, what this forum is about, DIY, having fun, sharing the fun....
Rick
That higher grade components can be better but up to a certain point then the tiny bit of improvement possible causes the price to go up in a very non linear fashion.
Every person on earth perceives things a big differently so the "improvement" one hears is highly likely to be a preference to how it sounds, difference is just that, a difference, not necessarily better.
Then we run into confirmation bias, ego driven status symbol.....and those easily fooled by the snake oil salesmen that are quite prevalent in high quality audio.
DIY great cables can be had for very low cost, what this forum is about, DIY, having fun, sharing the fun....
Rick
I have a netgear orbi RBR860 that is only a year old for dirt cheap and shipped as I switched to a TP link Omada setup. Message me, I can pack it up tonight
I have been doing this stuff for quite some time as well but I have yet to find something that works simply because I believe in it.