What are Contenders for Top Audiophile Routers? Routers more Impactful than Switches?

[LeBlanc]

Might be helpful for this thread to distinguish between routers, modems and modem/router combos. To further complicate things, it could matter if Wi-Fi functionality of the router is available (and used) or a separate Wi-Fi access point.

With regard to audiophile routers, if I’m not mistaking Waversa was the first manufacturer with such a product. Nowadays maybe the Taiko Router is a well known audiophile product. I believe Synergistic Research has also launched a router. Seems the much less expensive Ubiquiti Edgerouter X was often deployed in the networks of audiophiles.

 

[agisthos]

I initially used just a TP-Link router/modem. Turning the wi-fi OFF, and instead using an outboard wi-fi extender was an upgrade. Just by moving the wi-fi function out of the modem did bring a slight uptick in transparency and noise removal.
Then I got a Ubiquiti Edgerouter X, and reduced port speed to 100mbps on the 2 ports the streamer and NAS were connected to. Again this brought a slight uptick in transparency and noise removal.

But since then I put an audio grade switch in-between the modem/router and streamer/NAS. This was always better than connecting to the router directly.

 

[audiobomber]

Might be helpful for this thread to distinguish between routers, modems and modem/router combos. To further complicate things, it could matter if Wi-Fi functionality of the router is available (and used) or a separate Wi-Fi access point.

I believe most audiophiles agree that having a router separated from the modem is an improvement in sound quality and provides better wi-fi coverage. I experienced both upgrades in my system when I added a TP-Link C9 Archer router.

Some have found that removing wi-fi from the router improves the sound. I can turn off wi-fi in my router, but I detect no change in sound quality when I do so.

A Zero-Zone 3.3A linear power supply on the router did improve sound quality, and sounded better than an iFi iPower Elite that I borrowed for a couple of weeks. An inexpensive Tirstrup AC power cable from Amazon was another audible improvement.

A Network Acoustics Muon was a step backwards when I tried it between my EtherRegen and exaSound PlayPoint streamer, but was a sonic upgrade when used between my router and Silent Angel Bonn N8 switch. I would have kept it, but the 100Mbps bottleneck was unacceptable in that location.

I tried separating the router from my switch using fiber optics (TP-Link MC220L with iPower X and Finisar FTLX1475D3BTL, smf, MikroTik CSR-305 with Teddy Pardo 12/2 and Finisar FTLF1318P3BTL). This was good, but needlessly complex. I replaced the fiber break with an iFi LAN iSilencer and I am happy with the result. Hard to compare, but I think the LAN Isolator is better. I redeployed the fiber setup to my desktop system, separate from the main audio chain. (My main audio system uses a more sophisticated fiber break).

As to the main question "Routers more Impactful than Switches?", you need both, but IMO a switch has a greater impact on sound quality, if only because it is closer to the DAC.

AferDark Audio sells a modified Ubiquiti EdgeRouter:

Ubiquiti EdgeRouter ER4 x Giesemann OCXO Black Modernize Edition

Ubiquiti EdgeRouter ER4 x Giesemann OCXO Black Modernize Edition Audiophile are welcome to approach us for details on modification. The below is an example of modification we done for one customer recently. The Project ClayX Black Modernize will include belows: Upgrade the Floyt Biopolar Audio...

www.adark.co

 

[Republicoftexas69]

I believe most audiophiles agree that having a router separated from the modem is an improvement in sound quality and provides better wi-fi coverage. I experienced both upgrades in my system when I added a TP-Link C9 Archer router.

Some have found that removing wi-fi from the router improves the sound. I can turn off wi-fi in my router, but I detect no change in sound quality when I do so.

A Zero-Zone 3.3A linear power supply on the router did improve sound quality, and sounded better than an iFi iPower Elite that I borrowed for a couple of weeks. An inexpensive Tirstrup AC power cable from Amazon was another audible improvement.

A Network Acoustics Muon was a step backwards when I tried it between my EtherRegen and exaSound PlayPoint streamer, but was a sonic upgrade when used between my router and Silent Angel Bonn N8 switch. I would have kept it, but the 100Mbps bottleneck was unacceptable in that location.

I tried separating the router from my switch using fiber optics (TP-Link MC220L with iPower X and Finisar FTLX1475D3BTL, smf, MikroTik CSR-305 with Teddy Pardo 12/2 and Finisar FTLF1318P3BTL). This was good, but needlessly complex. I replaced the fiber break with an iFi LAN iSilencer and I am happy with the result. Hard to compare, but I think the LAN Isolator is better. I redeployed the fiber setup to my desktop system, separate from the main audio chain. (My main audio system uses a more sophisticated fiber break).

As to the main question "Routers more Impactful than Switches?", you need both, but IMO a switch has a greater impact on sound quality, if only because it is closer to the DAC.

AferDark Audio sells a modified Ubiquiti EdgeRouter:

Ubiquiti EdgeRouter ER4 x Giesemann OCXO Black Modernize Edition

Ubiquiti EdgeRouter ER4 x Giesemann OCXO Black Modernize Edition Audiophile are welcome to approach us for details on modification. The below is an example of modification we done for one customer recently. The Project ClayX Black Modernize will include belows: Upgrade the Floyt Biopolar Audio...

www.adark.co

Any time I have placed a filtration device between my EtherRegen and my Innuos Zenith it sounded at if tied a knot in my NeoTech NEET 3008 Ethernet Cable, no matter the filter. English Electric, Stack Smoothlan or EMO....Move it in front of the Sonore Optical Module Deluxe V2 they are most effective. May give the Stack Regen a spin..

 

[agisthos]

@audiobomber
I also found an LPS to be better than the iFi Elite on the router.
The iFi Elite was better than the stock SMPS on the Cisco Meraki router, but I don't think its worth the money.

 

[MacF]

Great topic! There should be audiophile modems that are easy to select and have the same inherent advantages of an audiophile switch I agree. But between having to use a certain modem per your ISP provider, I have gone the way of audiophile switches.
I will say, however, that adding an excellent linear power supply (in my case a Sean Jacobs DC4 AR6) to my Verizon modem, I perceive a huge uptick in anything coming out of the modem. From there I peal off audio only into both a JCAT M12 Gold switch with same Sean Jacobs power supply, into a GTT DeJitterit switch which creates a ‘clean network’ free of any other wired or wireless traffic.

,Do you happen to know what size the router plug? I have the Verizon FIOS G-3200 router/ modem combo, more easily recognizable by its cylindrical shape.

 

[tony22]

the fiber comes into the house and connects to the small white wall-mounted box. An ethernet cable from that box goes to the ATT router on the floor

So some sort of ONT is used, it seems. The fiber does not go directly into a fiber based router.

 

[MacF]

Correct

 

[NigelB]

Using an eero Max7 with one gig of speed from Frontier. The eero outputs to an 8Switch. All digital is hard wired ethernet. Just moved my dCS DAC out of the 8Switch and now directly into the eero Max7 router. Could hear no difference, both processes were dead silent.

What are your cable distances eero to 8Switch and 8Switch to streamer? What cables are you using for these two connections? The position of a switch is important to its ability to contribute sonically as its's nothing to do with the digital data and everything to do with minimising RFI noise reaching the streamer and going on to the DAC.

 

[NigelB]

I initially used just a TP-Link router/modem. Turning the wi-fi OFF, and instead using an outboard wi-fi extender was an upgrade. Just by moving the wi-fi function out of the modem did bring a slight uptick in transparency and noise removal.
Then I got a Ubiquiti Edgerouter X, and reduced port speed to 100mbps on the 2 ports the streamer and NAS were connected to. Again this brought a slight uptick in transparency and noise removal.

But since then I put an audio grade switch in-between the modem/router and streamer/NAS. This was always better than connecting to the router directly.

What are your cable distances Ubiquiti to switch and switch to streamer/NAS? What cables are you using for these two connections?

I've just asked the same of @Coppy777 and wonder if your answer might be relevant to him. Thanks