For over 8 years I have used a Melco N1 Music Server connected to my player (now an NSC222).
The Melco has two Ethernet ports. One is directly connected to the player and the other to the network. The aim is to isolate the player from network noise.
I recently had a call from my dealer who advised me to get a Melco switch which they found, when put between the server and the player improved sound quality. The dealer also told me that even though there is a direct connection between my Melco and my player, the music stream still goes out to my network switch and back.
I really donât get this. I would have thought that putting anything between the Melco and the player would have some negative effect on sound quality. Also, I donât believe that the music touches my network switch, otherwise why have a second Ethernet port for the player?
I have a N10/2 feeding my NDS. I am aware that @frenchrooster found direct connection sounded worse than using the player connection ever since he added a pheonix net switch to his system between his Melco and NDS.
I have a slightly different setup with a pair of Cisco switches (1 is PoE) and an EE8. I found that if I put the PoE switch inbetween my Melco and the NDS then the difference between Direct player mode and using the Network port is negated (you can then also switch off the player port completely in the settings).
The only conclusion I can come to is that the network switch is doing an âas good asâ or better job of removing noise than the internals of the N10.
I would also point out that if you are using the Player port and disconnect the network port completely there is a slight improvement audible (obviously playing from the Melco itself)
For me, as said above, the connection of Nds to the PhoenixNet switch gives better results than direct connection to the Melco server switch.
But you have to compare yourself with the Melco switch.
Difficult to predict. And you are not obliged to get the Melco switch. Other very good switches exist.
That was very diplomatic of you, FR. Maybe add that most whoâve tried the Melco switch havenât been massively impressed, the exception being those who added an external power supply, apparently.
Despite the dealerâs assurances, it would be very sensible to, at least, compare Melco and PhoenixNet switches between the Melco server and streamer.
Just to come back to this Q: I am not familiar with the Melco N1 but itâs âbriefâ is probably as multi-faceted as many storage devices. By contrast, a switch deployed for audio purposes (rather than for what switches were originally designed for, such as to provide more ports) has only one job to do: to kill noise. Itâs therefore quite logical that the right audio-optimised switch installed in the right way/place (just before the streamer/player) might make a real contribution to sound quality. Sure, itâs a one-trick pony, but if it does the trick better than any non-specialist device then youâll be happy.
Definitely worth a shot if you can get one on no-commitment home demo.
CorrectâŚâŚbut it was the first switch, the S100âŚ.now ÂŁ2000. There is one at almost ÂŁ5000.
The S100 sounded un involving and flabby, others like itâŚâŚpersonal taste, room acoustics.
You write 8 years so I guess its a N1Z you have? I dont know much about the new N1.
The N1Z works best with a 100Mbps network and the quiet switches said be used. So half the S100 use true 100Mbps switching and the other half is supposed to be used with video and so it use 1Gbps switching.
I did the mistake of asking several experts if it was true 1Gbps was more noisy and run in half-duplex while 100Mbps run in full duplex. Of course I got different answers so in my case I set the Melco-port in my simple GS108T switch to 100Mbps. And then I added a second GS108T in âmagic-filterâ mode before my N1Z (just use port 7 as input, port 8 as output, no more connections). If that last step sounds crazy, skip it
I tried adding the âmagic filterâ to the player port. But removed it. For me player port sounds best directly connected to my MagnaHiFi Ultra 3 streamer. I dont own a Naim-streamer.
Well, thats my story. Never tried the S100 but learned to not to stress te N1Z! If the dealer wants to sell you a S100 ask him to show you the advantages.
I like the Melco S10 switch but havenât compared it to the usual favourites on here, so canât opine on whatâs best. What I have found with networking, is that experimenting with positioning and cables, filters, grounding etc is worthwhile. Whilst a certain piece of equipment is meh in one position, itâs more significant in others.
I wasnât impressed by the S100 (possibly a Mk I not II) finding it calm but dull and poor on instrumental tone. I preferred the EtherRegen and even more the PhoenixNet, which I still have. For me it was better than 2 daisy-chained EtherRegens with a transformational custom-made Sean Jacobs linear power supply: more out-the-speakers sound with greater soundstage breadth and depth, greater instrumental texture, more bass but without loss of speedâŚ.
Juat to be clear⌠was the "transformational Sean Jacobs linear power supply on the 2 daisy-chained ERs? I ask because I know he has a close relationship with Innuos.
If I understand this correctly (please correct me if not) the function of such a switch is to isolate noise from the player. Perhaps being a bit pointed, I might question why Melco didnât put better noise isolation in the player port on their server rather than asking their customers to fork out another ÂŁ2,000 on a switch to isolate said noise.
Melco might say that they needed to decouple the noise reduction aspect from the main server, or similar.
But if you plug any device into your DAC with an Ethernet cable and send the signal via that cable, you will get more electromagnetic activity than just the digital signal entering the device that houses your DAC.
Which is why you probably never get a coherent explanation of what an audio âswitchâ does from any manufacturer of them.
