I will try to summarize Jim.
First , the cascade Ciscos sounded better than Cisco alone.
Then I got my ER. Not burn in, so during maybe 100 hours, the sound was better with one Cisco in the chain, the ER on first leg.
Then I had the Farad lps. With the Farad on the ER, I had some brightness. Even after 200 hours burn in. The Cisco in the chain gave softer sound. So I kept the Cisco.
Then I returned the Farad, and found the ER sounding better alone, with its stock SMPS, so without the Cisco in the chain.
Then I received the Uptone lps 1.2, which didn’t need a long burn in.
It gave an uplift vs stock SMPS. But a minor step however.
I tried again the Cisco in the chain, on first leg then second leg: in both cases the ER/ lps 1.2 sounded better than ER/lps / Cisco.
And finally the MCRU pinnacle, which was a revelation. I tried 10 minutes the Cisco in the chain, which decreased the sound, being less lively and nuanced.
The difference for me between cascade Ciscos and ER/ MCRU is like between cdx2 alone and cdx2/ xps. It’s huge.
When you say putting ER on the ‘first leg’, do you mean attaching the ER to your ISP router via ethernet cable, then attaching the Cisco to that via another ethernet cable, then linking that to the NDS via a 3rd ethernet cable?
So your results explain why Uptone says that the stock psu of the ER is fine and that it doesn’t need a better psu.
What they mean is that they don’t sell a psu that makes the ER sound much better.
But you and Michael have both found that other psus can make a big improvement.
Based on what you’ve said, I think you should try an EE. It’s very much a Naim-friendly device in that it times wonderfully - not something I’d ever have expected to be saying about a blinkin’ switch!
First leg is just after the router. Second leg is before the Melco.
Router then 1st leg Cisco then vodka then 2d leg Cisco then Diamond then Melco.
As for lps, Uptone makes a three times more expensive vs the lps 1.2. It’s called the JS2. The uplift would be probably on the level of the MCRU.
The lps 1.2 makes bigger uplift on their Usb Regen component, or other items. But in the case of the Etheregen, its SMPS is already good. Not a crap noisy one. So you need a big linear ps to really have a consequent uplift.
Review of the EE 8 switch in Ear audio. Comparing also to the Cisco 2960 , and with additional MCRU ps. But we don’t know which ps, there are 3 levels.
I think that summarises the whole review. A load of copy from the manufacturer and some rather vague words around what he heard - almost like it was rushed out for publishing to be the first review…
The latest Critic should be dropping through the door early next week so that should be more of an interesting read - perhaps that’ll be a more comprehensive evaluation (including the Melco and RA efforts).
After checking, there was a link for the MCRU linear ps. In fact it’s the level 1. Around 230 pounds.
The reviewer found a little uplift, some added sweetness and nicer sound. MCRU makes 3 levels of linear ps for the Etheregen, which has the same 12 v as the 8switch. Personally I would go at minimum at the level 2, for a real improvement. ( I have the level 3).
So, according to Martin Colloms and with reference to some of the above comments (in their defence, they haven’t actually heard one):
It is a switch
It was designed with input from Chord (have the ASA replied to the complaint?)
It hasn’t been approved by the Magic Circle of Informed Friends (who show no signs of listening to it)
It gets Best Buy status though
I take issue with both reviews in that they’ve basically taken the copy provided by the manufacturer and added very little other than what they’ve heard - that may satisfy the just listen brigade but i’d like a bit more information, especially from a publication like Critic. It quite clearly uses the internals from the Bonn (silent angel) and apart from a change of logo and some better feet it’s a rebranded Nuprime Omnia, itself Bonn based. No mention of that in the review.
It’s says, jointly designed by Chord Company engineers, addressing known noise issues found with conventional ‘data’ switches and their power supplies - I’d be interested in knowing what noise issues have been addressed and how has this been done ?
I like my EE8 switch and it works well for me but both reviews have been distinctly lacking in information other than what is readily available from the blurb on the website.
Thanks James…not sure i would be happy to be paying for such a review, i would expect much more in depth and insight. He seemed to be going through the motions with this review, shame, could have been really useful.
Have you heard Rammstein’s latest eponymous album?
I discovered them on MTV with Sonne/Mutter etc, they are utterly sublime as are they’re videos.
The Deutschland video is the most incredible music video I’ve ever seen - something of a cross between Excalibur/sci-fi/Tarantino movies. Controversial naturally.