HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

If this current exercise is teaching me anything it is that digital (and especially streaming) audio is very much dependent upon 2 factors:
1) Power supplies to components
2) Data-stream synchronisation

Although components, mainly processing chips, are not expensive - they do need plenty of clean power to run optimally. So the idea of a cheapy Chifi DAC with a huge Linear PSU is actually not so strange. Or a pocket-money Raspberry Pi credit-card-sized computer running your streaming system and kicking out megabuck SQ.

But the integrity of the generated data-stream is where the pitfalls are to be found. Jitter is the sound-killer. During transit from the internet, CD, Hard-disk, NAS - the signal can be scrambled slightly by cables, plugs, devices along the way, RF interference, you name it. This causes the bits and bytes to lose, ever-so-slightly, their coordination with each other and the timing/synchronisation of the signal.

So when, finally, the data gets converted into sound-waves there is a sense of 'blurring' as the music isn't quite being reproduced with the precision that was originally intended. Those running revealing digital audio setups will have experienced this feeling of 'a curtain being removed' or 'increased sharpness and detail' as components/cables are implemented that reduce jitter effects.

So in this light, yesterday I saw something that is interesting me enormously. the 'Silent Angel Bonn N8'

BONN N8 PRODUCT INTRODUCTION



Looks like a Network Switch? It is a network switch.
But then one with a precision reclocking circuit and ultra-low noise power systems. Designed to get your precious audio (and/or video) data to wherever it needs to go with the utmost care and lack of degradation.

Yes there are already other audiophile Network switches on the market costing seriously big money, this unit is coming at the relatively affordable price of 395 euro. I'm thinking very hard about getting one.

To be continued ...

Fretless wrote: ↑Thu Jan 09, 2020 10:14 am Those running revealing digital audio setups will have experienced this feeling of 'a curtain being removed' or 'increased sharpness and detail' as components/cables are implemented that reduce jitter effects.

This is very true and what is happening cannot be measured and has objecivists scoffing.

My first move would be (in fact "will" be is closer, I'm just not sure when yet) to upgrade your ethernet cabling. Needless to say, given my current proclivities, it will probably end up being some flavour or other of AudioQuest, although I've been pointed at MeiCord Opal as a good audiophile option. I've also recently read reports that suggest that uprating to Cat8 (I'm currently using Cat7) can be a worthwhile change, which might be a less expensive first step for me to try.

Funnily enough, I also replaced my hub yesterday, but not with anything as exotic as the above, just a bog-standard TP-Link LS108G 8-Port Gigabit Hub.

Currently have a Netgear switch running my NAS and 3 streaming installations. It works fine and I have no complaints about it.
But you don't know until you try ....



Might be able to loan a Silent Angel unit for a demo next week.

This is around 5 years old, but interesting... https://www.asa.org.uk/rulings/the-chord-company-ltd-a14-274211.html#.VN2WRPldV8H Perhaps I'll hold off on upgrading to Cat8 pending further investigation.

Have not given much thought to ethernet cables and routers. The ethernet cable I use for audio is of decent quality but the four way router, supplied by Sky, might have limitations.

Apologies if I'm totally misunderstanding the comments regarding cabling but unless you live in a relatively new property, isn't the broadband signal using very old telephone standard cabling before it reaches the router ? My Pi is hardwired into the router.

I should probably have mentioned, I'm using a linear psu to power my router/hub, which seems to make a positive difference. YMMV, as they say.

Ethernet cables.

Well I cannot say that I have paid much attention to them up to now - so I have had a look at the audio system links and, to my horror, most of them are CAT 5 or 5e. The only CAT 6 leads are the one feeding the Netgear switch from the router and one CAT 6 cable that runs to the Tinkerboard in the main system.

Looks like if I upgrade the switch then I will certainly have to put a higher-grade LAN cable in between that and the NAS.

Problems, problems.

I am confused by the Cat specification. Are higher quality routers required to accomodate higher Cat numbers?