Audioquest diamond definitely sounds different to the melco ethernet and chord c stream cables I have tried but on reflection it was a path I would have rather not gone down….
Gary
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I’m WiFi right now but have Catsnake, Chord C Stream (just because it’s supplied with the EE8 which is yet to go on the network) and regular Cat5e. If I get an uplift through direct connection then I’ll be happy.
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Interesting. This may be due to some electrical susceptibility of the Naim streamers, plus the 240 voltage, 50 hz in the UK? I am
using the Linn streamer in the US, and I don’t experience any difference between different ethernet cables, and different network switches.
Right now, I am on wifi, and can’t be bothered anymore.
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Yes different systems, different influences.
DG…
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Everyone says the same about Ebay - I must try it. The magic money tree.
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The testing has been completed using my Focal Elear headphones to reduce any external influences. All the Ethernet cables were CatSnake 6a Floating.
The test tracks were;
- Take Five; Dave Brubeck
- Paranomia; The Art of Noise (just for a difference)
- Pull Your Pants Up; Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio
- Ca’ Purange (Jungle Soul); Gene Ammons
- Woman In Blue; Wynton Marsalis
- Limbo; Yello
The first set up was;
NetGear —> TP-Link —> Streamer
*This is the existing set up and was used as the baseline as familiar with the sound from this.
The second set up was;
NetGear —> Cisco —> TP-Link —> Streamer
- Clear high end
- Boomy bass, drums and bass guitar merged.
- Masked some of the high end sounds
- This didn’t sound as good as Set up1
The third and final set was;
NetGear —> Cisco —> Streamer
- Clear high end and very detailed, more clarity
- The bass was more subdued (softer), but detailed and clearer for the bass guitar
- Sounded better than Set up 1 and 2
The tests were repeated twice at two volume levels;
- Firstly at 60/100, normal listening level. The SPL was on average 55.4 dBA
- Secondly at 35/100, reduced listening level. The SPL was on average 39.5 dBA
Background noise was 41.1 dBA. It was noticeable that at the 35/60 level, the music was certainly clearer on Set up 3
I have also connected the AppleTV box to the Cisco switch, following advice from Apple Support, “Specially if trying to load 4K streams. Apple recommends at least 25Mbps for 4K content and at least 10Mbps for HD content to avoid buffering”, so the Cisco will be fine with this. Additionally this is also inline with what @Simon-in-Suffolk says about using a switch which has an earth connection, “Using earthed switches may also help picture quality on smart TVs, as you again cutting down the RFI”.
Completed a Speed Test with the following results;
- Ping - 8ms
- Jitter - 0ms
- Loss - 0%
- Download - 94.1 Mbps
- Upload - 94.0 Mbps
So nice and stable.
Other changes that have been suggested is changing the non-earthed iFI SMPS on the two TP-Link media converters, with an earthed power supply.
Having investigated this, this would mean two new power supplies, for example either, an iFI iPower Elite or a LPS. Plus a decent mains cable for each.
This may or may not make a big improvement, I don’t know. But as I’m only tinkering with a modest cash outlay, I’m not going to go down that rabbit hole.
Moving on, I’ll keep it as per the third set up; NetGear —> Cisco —> Streamer. This also has additional benefits of reduced electro / mechanical connections and power supplies. In comparison with the second set up, four less electro / mechanical connections, plus two less SMPS power supplies in use. In comparison with the first set up, two less electro / mechanical connections, plus one less SMPS power supply in use.
The kit now not required will go back on eBay and be sold on, which should easily cover the cost of the two switches and trunking.
DG…
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How about using just 1 switch?
Netgear → Streamer
Cisco → Streamer
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Just reading the new threads in streaming…. Oh dear, what a pain for a few people 
I’m finding my Linn Klimax DS3 Organik quite the perfect partner for my Naim amplification. I can’t fault it. The advantages of the older DS3 is you get the organik (upgraded ones are common on the market), it’s a lot cheaper and you get to use a Naim pre (not a DSM), a 332/300 in my case. The presentation is still very much the Naim sound.
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Valid point.
Trying to reduce the potential for network noise and using a high quality and dedicated switch for the Hi-Fi / TV duties.
As advised, after undertaking further research on the Forum, a common suggestion is to use a second switch, often a Cisco Catalyst 2960 switch with an earth connection and using that as an edge switch to the streamer, but not being located in close proximity to the streamer. So consequently the Cisco is this switch.
The NetGear switch is the core switch, feeding all the other switches in the house as the Mesh Node only has one RJ45 port. If it had more ports, then the NetGear switch wouldn’t be needed. But circumstances dictate, etc.
DG…
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Ok, make sense.
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So you’re currently preferring the Cisco over the TP media converters?
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Yes, as described, the bass wasn’t as bloomy, which appeared to mask some of the top end.
Also at a lower listening volume 35/60, there was a lot more clarity.
As there was only a few test tracks, I repeated the Second and Third set ups at 60/100 again and found the same.
Trouble is who really knows what these changes do.
I’ve got no issues, but just tinkering around the periphery. The network cable area and cabling did need tidying up, so that needed doing, plus followed some suggestions from the Forum. I’ve still a little bit more tidying up to do as I want to hide the excess Ethernet cable, which is presently creating a bulge under the front door mat. But I do have some ideas for that.
DG…
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Might be a bit big for the front door, but I’ll give it a go.
DG…
You hum it, I’ll play it 
.
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Chimps advertising tea. Those were the days.
DG…
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I (we?) really are getting too old for this game .
ATB, J
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I look at it this way, we’re in our prime.
DG…
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I have spent a very interesting and entertaining day at my dealer, auditioning the Linn Selekt DSM Edition, first with the Standard DAC and subsequently with the Organik leading to the following;
- Looking at build quality, the new Classic 2024 runs the Edition very close, the only differences immediately apparent are the acrylic front panel, scratchy, scratchy sooner or later, and a slightly rougher feel to the top panel rotary control movement. Metal work appears top notch.
- Listening, the Standard DAC sounded really good until we switched to the Organik. Exactly as expected it sounded absolutely fantastic, but whether or not £3k more fantastic would be up to the buyer. Although, apparently, at least one purchaser met their budget by fitting dual power amplifier cartridges with Organik DAC’s in the Classic case - I can certainly see how that would work aesthetically.
- The 50wpc power amp definitely shows its lack of control vs the NC NAP 250, although the detailed imaging of the Organik DAC distracts from this…… to a large but not total extent.
- I remained not totally convinced by the Linn sound - at the end we ran a comparison with the Naim Nova PE, similarities include SMPS and Class D amplification. As I said to my dealer, if I had been a new customer with a blank canvas, I would have chosen the Nova PE in a heartbeat, as would my better half. Both of us, whilst appreciating the Linn’s virtues, found the Nova PE toe-tappingly excellent.
So there it is, a bit more thinking, listening and then deciding. Of course, the above only represents my experience for a half-day audition, YMMV.
ATB, J
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Supports my belief that the Organic DAC is the sweet spot and the rest should be Naim. 
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