interestingly i use my reiki switch close to the streamer, but i guess its purpose designed to be quiet.
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I wouldnāt put a Cisco 2960 right next to hifi boxes.
Keep it well away and run ethernet to the streamer.
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thanks Simon in the case of multiple rooms and multiple AV equipment, does a single earthed switch ground all the ethernet points?
can you please clarify why such networking equipment has to be far from my Naim system?
A single earthed switch will provide a single low impedance path ton earth for any common mode currents flowing through patch leads.
But you can add switches to suit depending on your network topology.
The reason itās best to keep network equipment away from hifi, just like itās best to keep general computer based equipment, electronic devices, phones etc away from sensitive hifi , is because they are inherently electrically noisy.
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My cisco 2960 switch is mounted on the wall behind the system. Everything sounds superb and I donāt get any kind of interference that Iām aware of. Im using an audioquest vodka 0.75m ethernet lead from switch to nds, so moving the switch would be quite costly as I would want to still use a vodka lead. Would it likely make a noticeable difference if it was moved?
Yes what I am talking about is very low level high frequency electric magnetic interference. Unless super severe it shouldnāt be directly audible, but at very low levels such energy can cause low level intermodulation distortion noise that raises the noise floor and starts to smother some of the nuanced detail and feel they may be in the audio.
If you want to be more deterministicā¦ either use an EM meter, or a untuned LW or SW AM radio and place near your hifi,ā¦ if you hear an increase in noise from the radio, there is an EM interference field that is likely interacting with your hifi.
This method works for all sources of potential electrical noiseā¦ like some LED lights, power supplies, DC tether leads from double insulated power supplies, computers, iPads etc.
However some audio replay or hifi systems might not be sufficiently resolving, or have a higher native noise floor, so might have no effect of being exposed to an extra EM fieldā¦
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Thanks, is there any issue if I have multiple Cisco 2960 switches at home, I mean there would be multiple paths to earth for the circulating current
Just managed to purchased a used Cisco 2960 CG which has gigabit ethernet speed. Plugged in and I can see an instant improvement in Picture quality.
I used to be one of the bits are bits skeptics but I do understand that circulating currents do need a low impedance path, and it should not end up in the streamer or the TV (both connected to ethernet) ā¦ Thanks for explaining this Simon.
By the way did you try one of the usual audiophile switches (English electric and any of the others?) I did try the English Electric, and I was quite surprised by the lowering of noise in both Video and Audio.
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This is about low impedance path to groundā¦ so multiple earthed switches is good if you need multiple switches.
Yes I have used an EtherRegen switchā¦ no real noticeable difference, but leave it in.
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Yes, I have bought the Etheregen. I have not heard a difference. But decided to keep it.
Using the Ndx2 into Chord Dave, the transport separated from the dac, gives now no differences and no need for a boutique switch.
Hope that help, Simon.
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Thanks Roosterā¦ yes itās still in as you can see, and yes still donāt really hear a differenceā¦ I guess apathy leaves it in. Youād make a great PA
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Is that personal assistant, or public address system?!
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I was thinking the formerā¦ but the latter could also fit 
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We took out our switch when we moved to NDX2 into nDAC.
Thereās method in separating transport and DAC.
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Because it made no difference or because you believed Simon ?
We listened both with and without switch and heard no difference.
With 272 there was an audible difference.
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Thanks. I purchased a 2015 manufacturing year Catalyst 2960 Gigabit without POE, I think it should last a few more years? What is the lifespan of a cisco switch (the power supply will fail at some point?)
They tend to last for years and yearsā¦ I suspect it will outlast your Naim.
In the limit the only consideration is the software gets older and is non supported, so if any new vulnerabilities arise, they wonāt be fixed. The impact is likely to be low in a typical domestic setting, but as it moves to a more sensitive environment such as an high worth environment then this becomes relevant.
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I can definitely hear a change in the sound and picture, less noise in both.
Not a day and night difference, but most definitely there is one. I can understand why some people donāt get along with the usual Audiophile switches, but much of āsparkleā seems to be electrical noise now to my ears. It is quite interesting to listen to both movies and music with the Cisco in place. Again, I wish I had done this years ago now !
As you know the Naim amps are no slouches in the longevity department, good to know the Cisco will last just as long
Hi Simon, there are other brands network switches that have IEC power connectors, like from Dell, HP and others, including TP link I supposed they are earthed also, and would let the circulating currents have a low impedance path to earth, it doesnāt have to be a Cisco, I assume?
Within my setup, Ubiquiti switch USW-24-POE (loft) linked to UDM-SE (garage) both have IEC mains.
USW feeds a Ubiquiti In- Wall WiFi AP (living room) via PoE, this has an inbuilt switch that the ND5XS2 connects to.
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