I know that switches are not supposed to make a difference, but it seems that they do…
I have read some glowing reports about the Network Acoustics tempus switch, which has sometimes been compared to the Innuos PhoenixNet.
Network Acoustics offer a 60 day money back guarantee.
I’m wondering if anyone with a dCS based system has either bought, or heard, the tempus switch in their system and, if so, what were their impressions.
I have not used this model but the new Synergistic Research UEF Mark II switch made a significant improvement to the sound of my Rossini Apex.
Interesting, thanks.
If I recall correctly, you had the Ansuz D3, so did you consider that the SR UEF Mark II was a significant upgrade?
@Bauer Hey Jonathan. Have you tried inserting a short run of fiber optic cable between your network and your dcs input. Im all for high quality switches but i feel and i think the general consensus is that placing a meter or so of fiber between your network and your dcs ( certified cat 5 or better to Fiber Media Converter to fiber optic cable to FMC to a meter or so of cat 5 certified unshielded cable) filters out all of the noise that could possibly be transmitted through the network or “electromechanically picked up” by the copper ethernet carrier during what ever route it travels through your home The other noise reducing precaution would be to add a Linear Power Supply (LPS) such as pixir to power this second or final FMC prior to hitting the dcs system to eliminate the possible reintroduction of noise to the system from your electrical wall connection. Sorry if youve already completed this solution. B
Thanks, Barry.
No, I haven’t, but I have been considering it…
As I understand it, depending on the quality, these can introduce noise into the system.
IIRC, @Anupc has posted previously on the subject.
Coincidentally, I have a PliXir Elite BDC 12A 6V LPS (dual output) powering both my current (cheap Cisco) switch and router.
They are both excellent but I have a preference for the SR.
Im certainly not a world class expert on the subject but do have a pretty good understanding. Ive even separated my home traffic from my music traffic on the wire with individual switches with power cleaners on the switches but im pretty confident that no em noise can travel across the fiber. I am always open to improvement but i think the only ways for em noise to get to the dcs post fiber is through a noisy power supply on the fmc or by the short piece of unshielded cat5 being exposed to em disturbance between the fmc and right at its attachment to the system.
At risk of stating the obvious - which discussions on other forums would suggest is not obvious at all - switches installed for the purposes of improving sound quality need to be installed not just anywhere between the router and streamer but just (like 1m) before the streamer. This is because such a switch is not there on digital duties - where positioning is entirely irrelevant - it is there to minimise the amount of RFI noise reaching the streamer and more importantly going on to reach the analog(ue) side of the DAC which is where it may have an impact on sound quality.
Others can and will no doubt argue that this noise is a non-thing, that a well-designed streamer and/or a well-designed DAC won’t benefit from a switch etc etc; that’s a well worn path and would be a thread diversion here. The point is not to argue the toss about the principle but to clarify the practice: if you are one of those exploring network switches then you must ensure you install it in the right position or you simply won’t be giving it a fair crack of the whip (which I hope is an expression which translates to countries outside the UK!).
I disagree that placing a switch within 1m of router and streamer is the only viable location. In my instance my switch is located in a different room from by Vivaldi Upsampler. The switch is located close to my Small Green Computer i5 (and also my wireless router) in which Roon and my music reside. There is a long run of optical cable that connects that switch with my music room where just before my Upsampler it ends in an Optical Module. The last meter is a 1m run of Shunyata ethernet terminating into the Upsampler.
So defining where the right position might be is not a black and white as you describe.
You’re right, and it’s probably a terminology thing. If you’re using fibre/fiber then you are using the FMC functionality of the switch which is a different scenario from using an all-RJ45 switch.
I was talking about the scenario where the long run is of Cat something-or-other is copper cable not fibre/fiber. With the latter, positioning is irrelevant. As far as I know, the tempus switch under discussion does not have useable SFP ports; the manual describes these as “for use with future products”.