FUN WITH NETWORK TWEAKS?
Loving the sound improvement and all things streaming again with the Eversolo T8, want to maximise it without going down a crazy Rabbit hole.
Reducing electrical noise is everything to get the best out your gear imo, so focussing in on that.
Did a couple of things already, all of which nudged sound quality in the right direction?
1. Now powering Modem/Router directly from Balanced mains, using custom Duelund DC cable.
2. Replaced any throwaway Ethernet cables used for audio with Neotech solid silver core 1008 cables.
Been reading up on networking tweaks on the Audiophile Style forum as that’s their thing, and now looking at Network Switches.
Theres a few Audio gear reviewers on YouTube who’s opinion I trust, and this video was what got me thinking… Hmnn, I wonder… :scratch:
He described really well his own journey from just using supplied Router from BB Provider, to adding a switch.. and finally going “full audiophile” with a switch with proper power filtering, improved clocks etc.
https://youtu.be/NTqmCfq8TP8?si=yuauUIETKpFs397Z
Want to just dip my toe in initially, so read about and a well thought of “non audiophile money” switch is the Netgear 308.
Measures really well apparently and is good for audio.
Picked one up, plumbing it in today.
https://images2.imgbox.com/92/f9/fGj...?download=true
The idea is to insert it between my Router and audio equipment.
Initially using the supplied 12V switchmode supply, but with a couple of added wrinkles? :)
I’ll be powering it directly from the Balanced Mains, so noise to the Switch should be much lower?
Also,
Typical SMPS bricks contain very high impedance components (i.e. cheap) and can throw out a lot of nasty leakage current, which is a no-no if trying to reduce electrical noise that can affect sound quality elsewhere in the system.
I’ll be shunting this noise to ground which should (hopefully!) zap a lot of the noise away and bring it closer to a good linear supply.
A ton of posts in various forums bearing out the benefit of a good psu with an audio switch.
Hopefully I’ll see a bit of that from this wee experiment.
John Atkinson wrote a great ‘how to’ post on it HERE:
https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/t...and-grounding/
Cost?
Under a tenner.:)
I’ve already heard the benefit of shunting noise to ground with various bits of kit already, connecting unused RCA sockets to ground earth connection on a 13 amp 3 pin plug, into the wall.
Noise dropped noticeably in some cases, others not so much.
just a function of how good or bad the equipment grounding is.
But at least if you know its being done, your getting the best possible outcome?
Fingers crossed for a good result, let’s see if there’s anything to this…
