English Electric 8Switch

I don’t have either at present but thinking of trying a switch for my Nova

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Although my situation/setup is different (NDX2), I do expect you will be pleasantly surprised. Good luck!

So the EE sounds better than your Ciscos linked by fibre?

No, not exactly … and sorry to make things this difficult.
I’ll give it another try: … in the latest situation the EE8 sounded better than 2x 2960.

Previous situation: router/modem (RJ45) -> Cisco 2960* (RJ45) -> Cisco 2960 (RJ45) -> AQ Vodka (RJ45) -> NDX2 (RJ45), … with the rest of the LAN connected to Cisco 2960*, but not via one of its RJ45 ethernet-connectors but via its special SFP-port (and afterwards a fibre-cable, followed by a SFP/RJ45-converter, towards another simple and el-cheapo switch).

New situation: router/modem (RJ45) -> EE8 (RJ45) -> AQ Vodka (RJ45) -> NDX2 (RJ45) …
and, now parallel to this: same router/modem as entry-point (RJ45) -> Cisco 2960* (using its SFP-port) -> Fibercable -> 2960 (RJ45) -> rest of LAN (RJ45).

In both situations all other devices on the network are separated from the audio stream by using the SFP-port on the Cisco 2960*. In both cases the rest of the network-devices are never directly connected to the EE8 nor to the Cisco 2960* switch. The connection to ‘the rest of the LAN’ on the Cisco 2960* is realised via the SFP-port on this Cisco 2960* followed by a fiber-cable. So no electrical connection, but an optical fiber-connection.

Related to your specific question "… than Ciscos linked by fibre … " : in the past I initially had a fibre-connection included in the audio-stream-chain, but that wasn’t for there better. SQ decreased in my situation.

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Clever way to isolate your hifi from noise.

I suppose the hifi is also on a dedicated radial mains supply?

Indeed.

My first days recieved audition a new EE switch …lets ear what he does comparing to my old Sisco 2960 …does it will be sound better to add my Sisco between router to EE .

I would suggest to try both (only EE8 between router/modem and your ND555, as well as both Cisco and EE8 between router/modem and ND555). In my situation I prefer only EE8. Succes

I will listen around a week EE and latter will add my Sisco to compare .after two weeks I will downgrade back to my Cisco …that’s best tests to be sure

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From the beginning it’s sound cleaner more relax

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EE More bright… instruments sound tidier and clearer…everything sound sharp like a live shoe not as before soft

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After listening for two days and enjoying the benefits…I felt the disadvantage of the EE switch, it sounds a bit harsh when a lot of instruments at the top plays together…is it related to time running the switch (still new)or looking for a different network cable … someone felt similar

Not something I experienced - clarity and dynamics were the big gains for me. It may be a run-in issue, but to be honest it never sounded any different to me.

But the important thing is that it’s your system and your ears, and so your call.

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Did you use the Chord C-stream ethernet cable, provided in the EE8 standard delivery box? For now I’ve switched back to BJC Cat6a in stead of C-Stream, to preserve improved clarity, staging and musicality, and also to avoid a bit the increased focus on the high’s by the C-stream cable. Present setup: AQ Vodka between EE8 and NDX2 and BJC between EE8 and modem/router.

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I use chord Sarum T from Melco to ND555…and Melco ethernet cable from Melco to EE switch…

Nice stuff! Can’t beat them! :wink:

Got a demo one from acoustica in the post. Plugged it in this morning but in so much of a hurry to plug in that I forgot to listen to something without first. Ho hum. Out for day for wife’s birthday so will play around a bit more this evening. Or tomorrow when two melco Ethernet cables arrive :blush: and will take out and put back in a couple of times. Inclined to keep if it makes a noticeable difference and then later will try a melco switch to see if that offers enough improvement for the extra ££

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I’m curious about your opinion! Have fun listening …

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EE switch plugged in and now with added Melco Ethernet cables (switch to nd555 and switch to core). The cable that came with the EE switch is running from it to the router.

This is probably the time to say that 14 months after getting the nd555 this is the first time I have concerned myself with cabling - Pete from acoustica sent me the EE switch and am trialling at the moment. Will keep it in for a couple of days and then remove it but leave the Melco cables in for comparison purposes. So nothing really to report yet as I cannot be sure that I am really hearing improvements. I think I am but don’t just want to assume so - at the end of last week when I last had an proper listen (difficult with other people in the house) I was really tired and a bit harassed with work. Today am much more relaxed (some work pressure has gone away and had a lovely day off with my wife in the Yorkshire Dales yesterday) and so not sure if the improved sound is due to Melco cables and switch or being in a happier place to start with.

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Spent a bit of time swapping the EE out and back in again. Very disappointed to find that it sounds much better in place - bother ££££

Makes the music feel more natural and less like a recording is my best description

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