I am pretty sure I will regret this but I have ordered one! Thanks - I will report back when it arrives.
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In all my testing I found the blue ciscos to be more noisy. I blind tested an array of different switches, fast and GB. I landed on the Cisco PD switches for best sound mostly b/c they were more quiet in my system. I also observed the fast switches had better SQ as well. My system my ears of course. For best SQ Iām using the 8PT and 8TT in a POE arrangement with the 8TT being the last switch with only my streamer attached.
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Shunyata Sigma, Ansuz D2 Powerswitch and NSS333 + 555PSDR on a little Nait 50 is MAGIC. I have no idea how the Nait can perform this good but it does. Naim magic 
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Can you be more specific about how you achieved āblindā testingā¦ā¦
I had someone arranging the switches and connections as I stepped out of the room. Holding all else constant.
Decent amp and you will be rolling 
Iām not sure toslink does transmit CM noise. But if it does, is it as much as a copper wire would.
With regards to changing the noise profile to something more agreeable to the individual. Isnāt that what the whole thread is about?
The problem is the when someone posts an opinion about cable Q, and that is used in a system containing Switches A, B, C, LPS X, Y, Z and Cables L, M, N. The opinion about cable Q, is only relevant in a system also containing the list above or pretty close to it.
I canāt find the article, Iām going to need more clues/hints on how to find it.
Are the people who wrote the article experts in toslink cables? Do they design manufacture and sell toslink cables?
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Toslink does not carry or emit noise, however its lower-performing in hi-fid audio compared to other digital standards:
The receivers have jitter (timing errors) compared to coax as the conversions between electrical to light and back again is a relatively slow process.
It lacks the bandwidth and vs copper coax and is limited to 96/24.
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It would be interesting to hear a direct comparison between the Shunyata Sigma and Ansuz D2 Ethernet cables. Both are in a similar price range. And with the Ansuz D2 switch, the D2 Ethernet cable should be a good match. In what ways is the Shunyata Sigma better?
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I use a Primare streaming bridge into ndac with a Van Den Hul Optocoupler. It works perfectly at 24/192.
With regards to how well it performs, itās not as simple as saying coax is better than optical.
I use a Primare streaming bridge. The guy who makes the advertising/information videos also does youtube blogs concerning hifi in general. His opinion is the best optical cables can compete with good quality co-ax costing up to say Ā£300, but they canāt compete with co-ax costing Ā£1000 and upwards. There are also reviews indicating good optical can perform as well as Ā£300 coax.
He also suggests that the streamer output will have sweet spot (sonically) depending on the quality of the dac. But I suppose that should also include the quality of the toslink cable.
I donāt find any drop off in performance at 192 using the ndac with a Van Den Hul Optocoupler.
Predicting how a cable will perform is a minefield, with a lot of pitfalls. 
Yes some individuals will tell you that, I just know the technical stuff, so what do I know?
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The jitter figures will be dependent on quality of the sender, quality of the cable and quality of the receiver.
Think Ā£30 dvd player, free coax cable and a Ā£100 DAC. vs Ā£3000 streamer Ā£100 toslink and Ā£5000 dac.
Which will have the better jitter figures.
Not Toslink per se, as described the common mode noise path is via the power supplies for the mode converters. Alpha Audio, Iād link but itās not permitted to be helpful.
Regarding noise shaping, yes that was the point - it is just another approach and you need to take additional steps if you want to actually impede common mode noise, rather than thinking it is blocked.
@Mike-B has described some of the negative effects, there is also the higher diode drive current that directly leads to increased noise generation.
Thereās no free lunch.
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Yes, thatās the one I have. I think I paid about Ā£19 for it, so a bargain.
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Thank you very much. Thatās interesting for me. Iāve also had good experiences with the Ansuz A2. And thereās no rush, and quick A/B comparisons arenāt always meaningful.
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Does this problem also apply for fiber optic conversion with SFPs? Could it explain my and othersā experience that too many fibre optic conversion steps degrade SQ?
@Wilfried I am also very happy with the 2 m A2 cable. Just listening to Ysabels table dance by Mingus. Tough song to play through in a balanced way. It sounds so great with the improved streaming setup, I have now. And the A2 contributed. I will get another one.
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Ansuz ethernet is very good at keeping it balanced and together IMO. Nothing sticks out.
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That really describes it very well
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