The German company AQVox offers an 8-port network switch for almost 800 euros and it
reportedly improves the audio quality.
It's even more surprising when you know it is in fact a tweaked D-Link switch.
And if you think that's crazy, think again….
Now before I start the review, let me state clearly that if you have a 1000 euro stereo
and enjoy it to the max, don't bother watching this video.
But if you have a well set up stereo of a few thousand Euros, you might find this interesting.
If you own a stereo equal or better than my setup 1 you MUST watch this video.
In this video I will compare my TP-Link switch with sBooster linear power supply to the AQ-Switch SE.
The TP-Link Is the switch in my audio and video setup in the living room and thus feeds
the SOtM sMS-200 Ultra in setup 1 with an ethernet signal.
Normally I discuss the hardware before I come to the sound quality.
This time a different approach: I'll start with the sound.
Comparing the two switches, the AQ-Switch SE gives clearly more detail, especially in
the mid range.
Furthermore the stereo image was deeper and more in focus while the highs - like triangles
- sounded cleaner.
And there was this undefinable tranquility - by lack for better words.
Or perhaps less stress is better or relaxation.
I don't really know how to describe it and it's not huge, it subtile.
But it's there.
Or, perhaps better, the small amount of stress that appeared to be there with my own switch
is gone using the AQ-Switch SE.
I was lent the QA-Switch SE for a longer period, which gave me the opportunity to first have
it play-in for a few weeks.
During this period I didn't listen to it, it was switched on and connected to one of
the ports on my switch.
Then I had it in my listening chain for a week.
After this week I went back to my own switch.
I immediately noticed the sound differences I mentioned earlier.
Then I did a direct comparison: play a part of a track, changed the plugs to the other
switch and play it again.
The difference was clear, reproducible and rather surprising.
I have been involved in digital audio right from the start, I was the second person in
my country to make recordings with the Sony PCM-100, the first professional digital recorder
that was going around studios in the late seventies.
And digital kept surprising me.
Things that are not supposed to happen with digital do happen and it takes years before
we understand what is going on.
In the eighties I have almost been crucified for writing that I heard differences between
digital interconnects: bits are bits and all that.
And I was not the only one noticing these things.
I trust my ears but have to fight the tech-inquisition, the Malleus Nyquistum in hand.
But this time I must say I had a hard time believing what was going on.
Imagine: the audio bits stream from an Intel NUC i7 using the very good Roon RAAT protocol
to the switch.
From there it is sent to the Pink Faun Ethernet isolator that is directly plugged into the
SOtM sMS-200 Ultra - known for its high quality USB signal.
From there it goest over an AudioQuest Diamond USB cable to the UpTone Audio ISO REGEN USB
reconditioner that is directly plugged into the Mytek Brooklyn.
I have played with every possible combination and this gave the best result on my own switch.
Using the AQVox switch the Ethernet Isolator made no difference, so I left it out when
playing with the AQVox.
It's already too much equipment in series to make sense.
And then the switch makes a difference too!!!
But it does.
I was not allowed to open the switch and was told that if I would open it, I would only
see resin since all electronics is injected in it.
So I have to depend on what AQVox tells.
It starts with internal ultra-low-noise voltage regulation - that is probably why an external
sBooster didn't bring an improvement - then jitter reduction, reclocking, signal shaping,
EMI elimination and de-noising.
All these measures do make sense but you would expect that using the sMS-200 Ultra - that
also takes these measures - would suffice.
Well, it didn't, obviously, otherwise the REGEN USB reconditioner had not brought further
improvements.
So digital keep surprising me, timing appears to be hyper critical time after time.
In my setup 1 the AQVox AQ Switch SE brought a more relaxed sound that has more detail,
improved stereo imaging and cleaner highs.
Don't be mistaken, my setup 1 was already rather good.
So how come?
It's like when a low sun blinds you when driving directly into the sun.
Cleaning your spectacles does help.
But without cleaning the windscreen you still will be blinded by the sun diffracting on
the dirt.
Cleaning only the inside of the windscreen does help.
But only when you clean the outside as well, you get a really good view.
It's the same with audio, only there are far more panes to keep clean.
Some of them are done by manufacturers but power, cables and - as seen here - ancillary
equipment all should be optimised to the full.
That is why there still are people that think of these tweaks as snake oil.
They only clean the inside pane of their windshield and are still blinded by the sun.
If you carefully optimise every part of your stereo, you will hear these improvements in
setups from - say - 3000 euros up.
But whether spending the 800 euro's on the switch gives you the best return on investment
depends on the equipment you use.
In my setup 1 - that already is quite well balanced - it is a fine investment.
It is a fascinating improvement that inspired me to further look for comparable improvements
in the signal path.
So if you want to follow my quest, subscribe to this channel, or follow me on Twitter,
Facebook or Google+.
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Help me to help even more people enjoy music at home by telling your friends on the web
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I am Hans Beekhuyzen, thank you for watching and see you in the next show or on theHBproject.com.
And whatever you do, enjoy the music.
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