SOtM sNH-10G Switch : Mods & Tweaks!

[Legolas]

Interesting thread guys. So, my network is up for some tweaks.

My room has:
Fibre optical input 400 Mbs into Fibre box > Movistar Router with Ethernet and Wifi > Ethernet cable > 432 EVO Music server.

Of course I first changed the power on the Router to 9V DC LPS. I am now looking at what next.

1. SOtM switch after the Router/Wifi and pace it ear my system, then Final Touch Audio Matis Ethernet 1.0m > 432 EVO Music server.
No Wifi devices near the system.

2. Power the SOtM with either the SOtM LPS or an sBooster LPS unit.

3. Upgrade the clock in the SOtM switch, and the interior cables as CKKeung detailed.

Thoughts on this? I need Wifi for laptop access for emails and Apple TV, phone wifi, so can't (at the moment) go all ethernet and kill the wifi router in the network.

I am thinking a typical router/wifi supplied by telecoms companies may inject noise into a network, so a way to negate that is key I would suggest.

 

[Stereophonic]

Mod Number Two :

An optional sCLK-EX clock card can be added to the SOtM switch internally.
The clock card sits over the main switch circuit board and is connected to it by 2 slender clock cables.

View attachment 67774

However I guess most sNH-10G switch owners cannot resist the temption of adding a good external 10M clock to the switch.


My favorite 10M audiophile clock is the Cybershaft made in Japan.
The built and effect are unquestionable.
The only pitfall is that all good audiophile 10M clocks are not cheap.

Edison, boss of N&E Audio in Hong Kong talked with my friends and I about his idea :
"The clock freq used by the switch board is 25M, not 10M. If the switch is given a 10M clock signal, it has to be converted to 25M, involving additional circuitry.

Also using an external 10M clock also means additional sockets, plugs, cable & soldering. All of these are detrimental to jitter/sound. "

Edison's solution is to add a 25M clock board inside the SOtM switch, much nearer to the switch circuit board than any other external audiophile clocks.

It's neat & tidy!
View attachment 67773

The ocxo module on Edison's clock card is from the famous Connor Winfield (http://www.conwin.com/oscillators-ocxo.html).
Although it may not be as good as those used in Cybershaft or Mutec, his direct approach does have many advantages.

Due to the COVID-19 semi-lockdown in HK, I am unable to do a direct comparison of Edison-modded-SOtM against SOtM+Cybershaft but Edison's mod gives very good sonic improvement typical of good clocking, and at a very very affordable price.


If any WBF brothers have interest, you may communicate with Edison directly at :
https://nandeaudio.com/contact/

Maybe will be better Edison own switch...

 

[CKKeung]

Maybe will be better Edison own switch...

View attachment 73028View attachment 73029View attachment 73030

Yes!
I listened to this new switch made by Edison of HK.
A steal!
And there is a deluxe version with better internal components too.

 

[CKKeung]

More and more hifi/CAS brands understand the importance of a good switch in network CAS.
A lot of new products in 2020.
Not all are as expensive as the Ansuz/Melco/SOtM/M12 Gold.
Right now there are many good mid-level choices for CAS audiophiles.

 

[Stereophonic]

Yes!
I listened to this new switch made by Edison of HK.
A steal!
And there is a deluxe version with better internal components too.

How does it sound?
Cheers...

 

[CKKeung]

How does it sound?
Cheers...

I will open a new thread on it later today.

 

[Parsons]

I will open a new thread on it later today.

i did a quick few searches and didn't find a thread on the Edison...have you started one and I missed it?

 

[CKKeung]

i did a quick few searches and didn't find a thread on the Edison...have you started one and I missed it?

Here it is :

Good mid-price audiophile switches

Stereophonic asked me via pm to talk more on a new audiophile switch launched by N&E Creations of Hong Kong. It's actually deaigned and made by Edison, a friend of mine and one of the two partners of N&E. My previous threads on audiophile switches seem to have have stirred up the WBF CAS...

www.whatsbestforum.com

 

[Parsons]

Thank you...

 

[Sampajanna]

Anyone tried the Edison clock mod yet? I’m nearby and thinking of doing this. Thx

 

[FDPDK]

Hello , my first post here in this forum , have been reading on for some time and find it to be very good.
Well i would be interested to hear if the Edison switch could be made with SFP output ?? asking as i am thinking of trying it out on my newly acquired Lumin X1 , so far i think i will try the Sotm switch as it has the SFP build in and if i dont like it its still a switch i can use.

 

[schiff1108]

View attachment 70398

IMHO an audiophile switch is a mandatory components for all CAS audiophiles.
My favourite audiophile switches in the current market are SOtM sNH-10G, Melco S-100 and Telegartner M12 Gold.
I shared my views on them on various WBF threads before.
They possess diff sonic characters and if used in a dual-switch config, the mix&match of their sonics can make all CAS audiophiles happy.

Amongst the three of them, I like the SOtM very much but some friends of mine think that it's a bit lean in the midrange and the bass is a bit light.

Therefore let me share with you two mods/tweaks for remedy.

Mod/Tweak One :

When ordering the SOtM sNH-10G, buyers may select 7N UPOCC copper or silver stranded internal wires as an option.

https://www.sotm-audio.com/sotmwp/english/shop/snh-10g/

Here are photos showing that these wires are just plug&play.

View attachment 67762
View attachment 67763

Audio Sensibility makes a much better internal wire for the SOtM switch.
https://audiosensibility.com/blog/

View attachment 67764
View attachment 67765

So what's the replacement result?
Improved musicality, richness & bass!

Easy and completely reversible.
Inexpensive.
This is a must-try for every SOtM switch owners!


I will post Mod Two very soon.
Pls stay tuned.

Hello. I do have this switch for a good year using a MUTEC REF10 as an external clock. Yes. I am very happy with this switch and do not want to miss in my chain. Well, I have bought the standard cable and have overseen the option for cable upgrades. Before I move on to order new cables I would like to know what the purpose of this cables is. Why are there anyhow cables used?
Can anybody explain this to me? Thanks

 

[Darmstadtium]

So I finally decided to try out the audio sensibility cable to replace the one inside the sotm switch.
I should get it soon. Will keep you guys posted

 

[Darmstadtium]

Audiosensibility Dc cable update 1
so I got two cables for my two sotm switches. Manage to change the cable in one. Unfortunately the torque x screw in the second switch seem to be stuck. I will try again tonight.

anyways it’s only been like 12 hours since the cable change (for the first switch ) and I can already hear similarities to what others have reported back.
It’s definitely positive. I will hold from giving proper feedback on sound untill a week passes.

 

[Darmstadtium]

Audiosensibility Dc cable update 2
It’s been a couple of weeks since I changed the cable in both switches. I believe this is worth the asking price of around 200€. The improvements are not night and day but it’s definitely noticeable and will add enjoyment to your listening session
Improvements heard
Music is a bit more fleshed out.
Better bass definition and volume
More resolution.
I am considering next adding a Pinkfaun ultra clock board inside the switch as my next upgrade. Will keep you guys posted

 

[Darmstadtium]

could someone who has done the Pinkfaun clock mod inside the sotm switch please give their feedback ?

 

[ducatirider916]

First port. I managed to get it apart and swapped the cable and added damping on the caps as well. But that darn ribbon cable. My lights aren't working. Maybe I'll take off the front and try again in a few days. The sound is definitely much rounder and 3D now.

 

[ducatirider916]

can someone please post a picture of how the ribbon cable is connected to the face plate circuit board? is it folded?

 

[Darmstadtium]

First port. I managed to get it apart and swapped the cable and added damping on the caps as well. But that darn ribbon cable. My lights aren't working. Maybe I'll take off the front and try again in a few days. The sound is definitely much rounder and 3D now.

The same happened to one of my switch. I tried fixing but couldn’t. Just left it at that.

 

[Darmstadtium]

can someone please post a picture of how the ribbon cable is connected to the face plate circuit board? is it folded?

I saw someone post the same question on Facebook sotm group about this ? If that was indeed you , I am glad to see you got sorted.

So I decided to finally upgrade the power supply to my sotm switch. Using a single SPS500 with a Y cable from sotm. weird thing is sound severely deteriorated if the sps500 is close to the switch. And gets better if it’s away. I can’t understand why.
anyways after much research , I ordered a dual rail Plixir Elite BDC , should be here next month (pandemic !) I am going to buy audio sensibility dc cable s for the same. Will keep you guys posted about the out come
The Pinkfaun clock upgrade plan inside the switch has been parked for now.