'audiophile' switches

Hello FR
I have several of these. Just make sure you specify the ground not be connected if that works for your setup. I chose that myself. Its a pretty nice cable.

I asked them the floating option, as others have already recommended that.
I costed me 40 euros, so not a big risk.

I think that was the same as the PT having capability to be powered itself by PoE but did not pass PoE out to devices.

The 8PT can send and receive POE, the 8TT can only receive POE.

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Perhaps It was not a 8tt, but 8pd. It had an external ps.
Anyway all these models in Cisco 2960 are confusing. Too many models, 8tc, 8tt, Pd, s, x…Poe, non Poe…
I am glad to have my 4 little ports Etheregen, with nothing to configure. Just enjoy the better sound.

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I don’t think there’s a 8PD and I’ve been enjoying the music since I plugged in my cables, no configuring required. So I’m not sure what you mean about confusing. And of course I have more money left over so there’s that. :wink:

The model numbers are kind of logical, and tell you what the switch spec is. As I said, TT means that regular RJ45 ports for copper Ethernet cables, as opposed to SFPs. This article gives a reasonably clear explanation of what all the codes mean:

First I want to say that I enjoyed a lot my past Cisco, a white model 2960 8tc, and a blue 2013 2960 8tt with external ps (48v).
As I follow this forum since some years now, a lot of members ask for which Cisco model to buy. There is so many models that I find it can be confusing ( tc, tt, Pd, s, x, Poe, non Poe…).
The ebay seller don’t explain it clearly and the Cisco site is not so easy to understand for non tekies.
However it’s not a big problem. The Cisco remains highly recommended for its price.

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And as I’ve pointed out in other threads, some like to understand things, while trying to avoid pre-judging and trying to minimise risk of psychological bias effects. Understanding is generally a better route to improvement than random chance!

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You can’t predict how it will sound by understanding before. The same for amps. You can read all the specs of Devialet amps per example, which are measuring very well. But it will never give you an idea on how it will sound.
Some amps like Devialet measure very well, but personally I don’t like their sound.
Other measure bad but sound very nice.

So even if you can understand all the mystery in a new audiophile switch, it will finally tell you nothing as a certitude for its sound.

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and …
… neither will your description of how a switch/amp/etc sounds in your system and whether you like it or do not like that sound, tell me anything as a certainty as to whether I shall like it in my system.

You will agree that the only way to know, is to try it.

But what is also important, is how do you choose what to try ?

Otherwise, you simply have to try everything - which isn’t practical.

As i’ve said before, I select what to try in my system based on advice from trusted sources such as my retailer, and a few friends.

However, I appreciate your dilema. As you said recently, you don’t have any trusted friends and you have tried 30 retailers without success.

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I detect some consensus here….

We seem to have some agreement over the ultimate ‘test’ of a bit of kit, which is to listen to it (at home if at all possible). So it is down to how we draw up a shortlist…rely on the actual experiences of trusted sources, many ‘suck it and see’ home demos or technical investigations……or a blend of these.

Sorry for the diversion and can I please ask for friendly, constructive responses here.

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My Cisco 2960 WS-C2960CG-8TC-L has arrived, as too has my CATSNAKE Cat6a Ethernet Network Cable (in fact 2 * 2 metres to connect Audiostore server to Cisco and Cisco to ISP router and 1 * 20 metres to connect Cisco to 272).

I’ve also have my old hard disc noisy fan cooled NAS and a very long run of bog standard Cat5e with my own terminations that I used previously.

I should be able to test my old NAS/ Cat5e plugged directly into my ISP router vs quiet server into switch all with “proper” cable. I’m intrigued firstly to see if there is any difference at all, and if so what and then if I like it.

However I don’t trust myself, so I wouldn’t say I could be a trusted source!

I think i have been pushed over the edge to trying a ether regen and-a Plixir power supply from my dealer under the auspices of an impending birthday in August. Wish me luck😁

Here’s wishing you all the luck and indeed patience in the world :slight_smile:

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You can to some extent - if an amplifier has raised treble in its published measurements then no surprise when listening reveals high frequency bias.

We often hear advice not to use silver plated speaker cables because theoretically they sound bright. Few advisers have heard those silver plated speaker cables in the system in question.

Some folk dislike Space Optimisation or digital phono stages, but haven’t heard the improvement they make to my system in my lounge.

And how many advise against using a power conditioner, they have never tried - all kinds of theories there.

So folk often predict sound quality through theory: they may right, they may be wrong, but nothing has been proved. That said, it’s not a Scandal.

Understanding is a virtue, hard to come by - Jorma Kaukonen from The Last Wall of the Castle

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Yes - that’s how I do it

I agree with you… The white 2960 8TC works very nicely alone, but when you can have another one and cascading themselves, the results are very impressive, when using good cables… In my case.
Very happy at the moment, but I know if I want to jump another time in SQ, I 'll have to go a dedicated audio switch like ER, Bonn, etc…

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Knew you’d crack first…

Just out of interest, does your dealer have experience of both the EtherRegen and the EE 8Switch?

Not first hand though @Darkebear has the ether regen and has borrowed a Melco early on to try, so not sure what they have exchanged in terms of info. I will probably buy the etherregen online snd try, then get a Plixir power supply demo at Signals…peace of mind.

Yes, i cracked first…but i did say birthday, you still have a few weeks to get in there bruv…August😉