I think it’s been well established that Chord didn’t design this from the ground up and then just get it manufactured in China so it’s not like the Muso or Apple products.
Nevertheless it works well but I’d not be fooled by a resurrected brand name and marketing guff.
Well summarised, James.
It probably is a bit expensive for what it is, but if it gives a VFM uplift in SQ, then why not.
I wish Chord would offer the EE8 without the rather ordinary C-Stream cable for say £50 less, for those who already have streaming cables they are happy with. I assume Chord don’t want to risk the performance of the EE8 by end users plugging nasty cheap patch leads into it. The provision of the C-Stream does not negate this possibility though.
all this is secondary - all that matters to me is - how does it perform and does it make my system better?
I mean for example with all the technology inside a ND555, why are such devices needed? Does a ND555 not already have this built in?
On an Allo digione I can understand the need for this as it is a 30 GBP raspberry pi device, but I can’t understand why Naim streamers benefit from the english electric?
or the ether regen for that matter?
Many of us don’t need to understand, we just enjoy the uplift in SQ from such tweaks/upgrades.
Although I don’t own a EE8, I have heard a demo of it vs. a Newtgear GS 5 port switch. Rather impressive. I may trial one.
I remember innocently walking into a dealer showroom in the UK and hearing naim for the first time, I had no idea it would start a life long relationship with Naim and all things hi-fi (I was completely amazed by what I heard)
but this isn’t quite the same thing… 
The Newtgear is just pond life.
Not actually bored. At turns amused, educated, frustrated, irritated but not bored.
Hi James
Are you saying that you’re very happy with your EE, but that it makes no difference to SQ?
Jim
After reading the Cables Mania thread, what made you buy a Chord Shawline streaming cable?
Hardly anyone discussed or bought or recommended that cable on the entire thread.
On the EE8 advertising, the switch is photographed with Shawlines attached.
Bizarrely the Shawline has very wide plugs and only allows half of the EE8s ports to be used!
Nigel, I think somebody reported on this fact, my Audioquest cables fit like a glove.
Must be like a Hand In Glove…
Shame about the Rubber Rings. Smiths titles are a gift that keeps on giving…
I use Shawlines across my system, but as Nigel says, you can’t fit them side by wide on the EE8, so make sure you will have enough ports.
@anon77199223 You are correct. I have got Shawline cables already connecting amps to pre-amps and TT to Pre-amp.
I have found them to be OK for the money.
Perhaps also I like red?
The cover version by Sandy Shawline?
This is getting weird…
When I demoed the EE8, it sounded good. But compared to the (already good) Ubiquiti Unifi PoE-powered switch I already had, I wasn’t able to discern any consistently repeatable sound quality benefits.
Basically, the EE8 is a good switch. It looks good, and the size of the device is quite attractive (especially if the tiered switch and LPS rabbit hole has been a pleasing diversion). And most importantly, it’ll also provide good SQ benefits if you’re coming from a ISP router or cheap home-grade switch. But in my experience, if you’ve already sorted out the switching and other network components, it might be a harder purchase to justify.
Good to hear and though I have not used the EE I have a full Unifi network and it’s good to hear a comparison to this more expensive switch. I have not felt the urge to change them, they where bought purely for network unification and ease of managing all the devices from one place.
IMHO, if you hear the differences when you install EE or ER, it means you home network was somehow knackered before.