SOtM sNH-10G Network Switches x2 : The NEW KING of USB/Network Gadget Setup

[paulkwan]

7. Near the end of the gathering when all of us were tired and wanted to go home, we were listening to a SOtMx2 connected with optical fiber.

I suggested to test a last tweak : to replace a cheap ethernet cable which was connecting the music file NAS to the SOtM1 with a Vertere HB ethernet cable.

All the attendees were wakened up by the sudden surge/improvement of sound quality. The Vertere gave the music back much richness and musicality!

This was a surprise, telling us that every steps/components in the network pathway did matter!

Do you think that making a CAS system to sound good is more difficult than to do so for a LP playback system? Haha

Hi CKKeung,
I read you guys' report repeatedly, very enjoyable and enlights me in my ways.
I'm using melco s100 switch between my Synology Roon core / music storage and dCS Bartok, s100 to Bartok use Shunyata Sigma lan cable, but s100 to NAS use a cat8 professional cable only.
I find the SQ is still a bit below my CD transport to Mutec to dCS, so wonder if i shall upgrade the NAS to switch cable could help, and model or level of cabke shall i use ?

 

[cczer017]

I compared the S100, sNH-10G, and the EtherREGEN in my recent review.

https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/reviews/uptone-audio-etherregen-review-and-comparison-r887/

Hi,

What an amazing (and lengthy) review. I was drawn to the review as ive been reading up on the benefits of running 2 switches.

I myself use an sNH-10G with evo caps/paper upgrade (I did add the external clock too but dont currently use the functionality) and an sps-500 power supply. I also have the sotm cat 7 connecting the 10g to my Antipodes CX

Now im not sure if I missed it (it was a lengthy review) what do you find the preferred stack to be? 2xsotm or sotm>EtherREGEN?

Im pretty sure I will demo/replace my sps-500 with a farad super 3 at some point too.

Thanks
Bill

 

[Darmstadtium]

I posted this in the other thread (for antipodes EX/CX combo). This is my current setup. I use two sotm switches and I highly recommend 2 instead of 1

 

[CKKeung]

Hi,

What an amazing (and lengthy) review. I was drawn to the review as ive been reading up on the benefits of running 2 switches.

I myself use an sNH-10G with evo caps/paper upgrade (I did add the external clock too but dont currently use the functionality) and an sps-500 power supply. I also have the sotm cat 7 connecting the 10g to my Antipodes CX

Now im not sure if I missed it (it was a lengthy review) what do you find the preferred stack to be? 2xsotm or sotm>EtherREGEN?

Im pretty sure I will demo/replace my sps-500 with a farad super 3 at some point too.

Thanks
Bill

My personal preference is SOtMx2 or SOtM+Melco S100.

 

[CKKeung]

[

Hi CKKeung,
I read you guys' report repeatedly, very enjoyable and enlights me in my ways.
I'm using melco s100 switch between my Synology Roon core / music storage and dCS Bartok, s100 to Bartok use Shunyata Sigma lan cable, but s100 to NAS use a cat8 professional cable only.
I find the SQ is still a bit below my CD transport to Mutec to dCS, so wonder if i shall upgrade the NAS to switch cable could help, and model or level of cabke shall i use ?

Yes of course!
It has become the bottleneck of the network pathway in your audio system.

 

[CKKeung]

I posted this in the other thread (for antipodes EX/CX combo). This is my current setup. I use two sotm switches and I highly recommend 2 instead of 1

Hello Darmstadtium,
A nice EX/CX setup you have!

Have you tried moving the CX to the upstream SOtM switch and let the downstream SOtM switch to connect to the EX?

Several friends of mine found that putting an audiophile switch between their dual diy CAS desktops in HQPlayer HQ-NAA mode gave significant sonic improvement.

 

[cczer017]

Hello Darmstadtium,
A nice EX/CX setup you have!

Have you tried moving the CX to the upstream SOtM switch and let the downstream SOtM switch to connect to the EX?

Several friends of mine found that putting an audiophile switch between their dual diy CAS desktops in HQPlayer HQ-NAA mode gave significant sonic improvement.

Sounds interesting adding one there. Food for thought

 

[Darmstadtium]

Hello Darmstadtium,
A nice EX/CX setup you have!

Have you tried moving the CX to the upstream SOtM switch and let the downstream SOtM switch to connect to the EX?

Several friends of mine found that putting an audiophile switch between their dual diy CAS desktops in HQPlayer HQ-NAA mode gave significant sonic improvement.

. I have tried various different combination and permutations over the last 6 months and finally settled on this setup. Reg your suggestion , I did initially like that option but after a few days I went back to my original (and my current) setup. It’s not a huge difference ,perhaps just a slightly different presentation of the soundstage which I didn’t prefer.
btw I use a single Akiko stunning stick wrapped to my usb cable and XLR3 and they make a difference. Sorry couldn’t really represent that in the diagram.
.

 

[cczer017]

Thats something else ive learned about today....Akiko tuning sticks.... Never heard of those before

On the subject of Network Bridges, if I just need the 1 SFP, is there any reason why this wouldnt be up to the job? If not, is it to do with its only 5v power?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/10Gtek-Con...rds=network+bridge+sfp&qid=1589742601&sr=8-29

If more power is needed, what about this?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-M...uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

Is the Cisco 2960 still the preferred choice for a fibre bridge?....and is the 8TC variant an option?

Thanks

 

[cczer017]

Thats something else ive learned about today....Akiko tuning sticks.... Never heard of those before

On the subject of Network Bridges, if I just need the 1 SFP, is there any reason why this wouldnt be up to the job? If not, is it to do with its only 5v power?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/10Gtek-Con...rds=network+bridge+sfp&qid=1589742601&sr=8-29

If more power is needed, what about this?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-M...uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

Is the Cisco 2960 still the preferred choice for a fibre bridge?....and is the 8TC variant an option?

Thanks

Is there anyone that can help here? I dont want to buy something to be told...."you shouldnt have bought that"

Thanks

 

[Darmstadtium]

@CKKeung
what SFP module would you recommend for connecting to the SOTM switch ? I am currently using cheap Cisco rebuilt ones from usecisco.com and was wondering to go Startech or planet tech
thanks

 

[Abyss Man]

My Planet tech SFP should be coming in soon, it left the States a month ago and I got an update yesterday saying it left Taiwan enroute to Singapore. Best bet I reckon is Friday delivery. As I was writing this reply, email came in it has left Changi Airport.

Oh my the anticipation.......special thanks to Ken who made this happen.

 

[CKKeung]

@CKKeung
what SFP module would you recommend for connecting to the SOTM switch ? I am currently using cheap Cisco rebuilt ones from usecisco.com and was wondering to go Startech or planet tech
thanks

Yes, the two most popular optical transievers on WBF must be the Startech and Planet.
Both are recommendations of Emile.




However some friends and I in Hong Kong recently prefer the following Finisar and have already replaced all our transievers with it.

 

[Darmstadtium]

Yes, the two most popular optical transievers on WBF must be the Startech and Planet.
Both are recommendations of Emile.

View attachment 65424
View attachment 65425

However some friends and I in Hong Kong recently prefer the following Finisar and have already replaced all our transievers with it.


View attachment 65426

Thanks mate.
Is it a 20km one ?
Mind giving a link to the Finisar model ? I couldn’t find them on google

 

[Darmstadtium]

My Planet tech SFP should be coming in soon, it left the States a month ago and I got an update yesterday saying it left Taiwan enroute to Singapore. Best bet I reckon is Friday delivery. As I was writing this reply, email came in it has left Changi Airport.

Oh my the anticipation.......special thanks to Ken who made this happen.

Looking forward to your listening impressions

 

[cczer017]

Could somebody help here please, just need to know if a Cisco 2960 is the only one to get or can any of these be recommended?


https://www.amazon.co.uk/10Gtek-Con...rds=network+bridge+sfp&qid=1589742601&sr=8-29

If more power is needed, what about this?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-M...uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

Also, whats a Cisco 8TC? could that be used?

Thanks for your time. Im a bit of a novice when it comes to fibre networking so appreciate some feedback

Thanks

 

[Taiko Audio]

However some friends and I in Hong Kong recently prefer the following Finisar and have already replaced all our transievers with it.


View attachment 65426

Nice find, the power consumption is really low for a SFP module at around 700mW. That will likely help SQ

 

[cczer017]

Can anyone help here please?...re post #449 #450 #456

Its not a taxing question surely for you guys?

Regards

 

[ray-dude]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/172413442482

These look the same as the ones in the photo. For $10 each (shipped), I'm in!

 

[ray-dude]

Nice find, the power consumption is really low for a SFP module at around 700mW. That will likely help SQ

Emile, where do you find the power consumption figures? I tried for a while to research some lower power transceivers, but the sources I could as a consumer all had generic "< 1200mW" type figures. I figure there must be more details for OEMs.

To jump to goal line, what's the lowest power SFP module you've seen? I'd love to get back to optical in with the star tech card...