If an electrical signal is passing across a place in the switch, I don’t see how electrical isolation could be complete.
First, wow - I’m amazed that they are that cheap to buy retail.
Is that for single switches or bulk orders?
In that case why are they around half that price SH several years old?
And also these are difficult to compare with the ER switch because theCiscos are made in vast quantities whereas the ER are made a few hundred at a time.
Maybe because it’s completely electrically isolated from everything else
to the best of its knowledge and ability...Humm !!
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Indeed, but marketing is not a personality contest.
Interesting change of direction with the thread…
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Just different aspects around this great subject…
•Marketing and Design.
But I’m surprised that Xanthe criticizes the design,.this without even have listening to this EtherRegen.
For of course,.the most important thing is how the product performs in its own music-system.
It is certainly always possible to Optimize and Develop the product more.
But it all depends on what price-level the manufacturers want to reach.
I think that this EtherRegen,.will be develop more over time by the designer.
/Peder🙂
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There are many flavours of the Cisco Catalyst 2960.
Some of them are cheaper than others.
But all share the same base (and “sonic” properties)
The WS-C2960C-8TC-L is relatively cheap.
It retails new (2 years warranty) in Switzerland for about 215 euros.
I went for a Cisco Catalyst 3560CX-12PC-S which is a managed switch (pretty useful). But much more expensive.
Because it could have been made better for comparatively little extra cost*. The better design wouldn’t necessarily make it better in all systems but would increase the number of systems in which it will work well.
As I said this is nothing to do with listening to it in any particular system but a purely technical issue…
.
I have a thing about engineering efficiency, missed opportunities and doing things properly when the impact on cost is relatively small*.
*. Of course I am assuming that this is a completely original design here (including physical packaging); I acknowledge that this could have been a variant of an existing design, so the cost optimisation here could be due to the requirement for minimal change, and the compressed layout and limited screening are caused by that.
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Marketing messages are reasonably well regulated in this country. Only the extremely gullible need concern themselves.
Hello all,
I have taken delivery of the Cisco 2960PD. This is the PoE variant but can be powered from a 48v power supply. It did not come with a power supply. What is the recommendation on which power supply to get for it? Or would it be better to get a PoE injector?
Thanks,
ASenna04
Hello Xanthe
Perhaps you should post your suggestions to John Swenson who is the designer, he often answers questions about the ER on their forum. I would be interested in hearing what he says about them.
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I bought this network cable has good result on the music presentation, it is come from Japan Canare and not expensive, kindly reference. 
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Having followed the design and development on the Uptone Forum, I understand the design if the EtherRegen is a unique, from the ground up, to provide the isolation and deliver an improved switch for the purposes of streaming audio.
The only consideration was that the casing was the same as the UltraCap products (versions LPS 1 and 1.2), which is also a similar case to that used by the Sonore UltraRendu (also a John Swensen design) and the UltraDigital products. This reduces a tooling cost for a new large casework for the switch. However the form factor of this switch in this case is nice compact size.
I’ve got an 8tcl that I bought SH for about £65.
Then a PoE into a PD 2960.
The effects each of them has on the sound of my hifi is similar.
Except that the PoE system has a noticeably lower noise floor, therefore the sonic result of using it is superior to using a 2960 switch with internal psu.
Can you explain any aspect that is suitable for audio… from what I can see from a switch perspective there are no optimisations for Ethernet audio .possibly sailing close to advertising standards authority territory.
To me it looks like a standard mass produced consumer chipset with some mods around the side, from what I can see there are no specific Ethernet noise reduction chipsets or designs, but it would be good to understand if indeed it is optimised for audio over Ethernet what they are addressing and be duly informed.
Changing the clock is sensible if the original design had poor clock stability, but depends where you start from … and changing the powersupply over a poor noisy one, is simply good EMC hygiene, but none of these are specific to Ethernet audio on their own.
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I just received two more white 2960 gigabit switches to go along with the one I purchased several years ago when this thread started back on the old Naim forum.
Can you explain more in depth about the POE solution you are using? Can all 2960 switches accept POE and not rely on the internal PS? What are you using for a POE solution and is there somewhat of a consensus that there is a noticable improvement?
Thank you
Best
Gregg
No only certain 8 port models can accept PoE and PoE+
Thank you Simon
I just purchased two more of these - Cisco WS-C2960CG-8TC-L • 8 Port Gigabit LAN Base Switch
which a Google search appears to indicate are not POE capable.
When using these switches was it ever determined if it made a difference plugging in only one audio component (in my case a Klimax DS) and leaving the remaining ports empty vs. utilizing the additional ports as well with other non audio devices?
Thank you
Gregg
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