Cisco 2960 - Mains cables
Posted by: Obsydian on 29 November 2017
Ok so been happily enjoying what the 2960 with a standard generic cable. Wanted to post this in the original 2960 thread but it's closed.
Anyway given the big improvement the 2960 gave to my Atom then Nova setup, I was planning once all settled to try alternative cables, the key one for me was the Supra purely due to me using a Supra ethernet cable in my system and appreciating the improvements that gave.
So I purchased a Supra Load 2.5 Anniversay edition with the mother of all wattgate IEC fitted.
I had a listen just before swapping, only put the Nova into standby and relatively quickly swapped the cable.
But lost as to should I wait for some run in period before judging, as the sound has changed in a number of ways, at the moment I don't like.
Bass is now very taut no bloom, midrange seems sucked in as do parts of the soundstage, but backing singer's and other details small nuances are more pronounced, all seems a bit all over the place.
I can understand main box cable changes changing the character, but this is just to the switch.
Any thoughts.
Hi Obsydian.
Interesting findings. I too use the Cisco 2960 and a Supra cat8 to my 272. I’ve not tried anything other than the supplied mains cable but I’ll have to give it a go. I’ll try my spare powerline lite and my TQ cables.
Finkfan posted:Hi Obsydian.
Interesting findings. I too use the Cisco 2960 and a Supra cat8 to my 272. I’ve not tried anything other than the supplied mains cable but I’ll have to give it a go. I’ll try my spare powerline lite and my TQ cables.
Hi Finkfan, thanks that would be greatly appreciated as I was going to buy a powerline for my Nova and use the life power line for the 2960.
Going to leave my setup another day and then swap back and see, but one thing is for sure to me the switch, cables to it surely make a marker improvement/change, at a future stage also want to position the 2960 correctly as opposed to bundled away out of sight behind my TV.
I’ve got a PowerLine Lite on mine. I’ve no idea if it makes a difference but as I had the spare wire I thought I’d use it rather than leaving it in the box. I do suspect though, that as it is only a switch, the mains wire makes no diffference whatsoever. But who knows?
I have powered mine over Ethernet (power over Ethernet), and it sounds superb. Elsewhere I have powered with off board Cisco powersupply, and that also sounds superb. I suspect the difference in the ‘sound’ will be down to the impedance of the earth line of the cable you use.....
Simon-in-Suffolk posted:I have powered mine over Ethernet (power over Ethernet), and it sounds superb. Elsewhere I have powered with off board Cisco powersupply, and that also sounds superb. I suspect the difference in the ‘sound’ will be down to the impedance of the earth line of the cable you use.....
Simon as in you have a POE 2960 or other Cisco switches.
I do indeed have a PoE powered 2960... it’s a nice bit of kit...
Sorry new at the switch and internet of things so bear with me.
I nearly purchased a 2960 POE 24 Port then opted for the 2960 on board. So the POE as the name suggests has no on-board power supply and like POE Cameras it's all down the same standard ethernet cable?
But you suggest both are superb or is POE better and why ?
Obsidian, you’ve downgraded from a wonderfully well balanced, CDS2, 52, active 250, SBL system to a Nova and cheap, standmount Focal speakers and you’re now worried that the power cable to your Ethernet switch is responsible for spoiling your sound.
It could be that your hearing some other effects here, but as HH says, who knows?...
kevin J Carden posted:Obsidian, you’ve downgraded from a wonderfully well balanced, CDS2, 52, active 250, SBL system to a Nova and cheap, standmount Focal speakers and you’re now worried that the power cable to your Ethernet switch is responsible for spoiling your sound.
It could be that your hearing some other effects here, but as HH says, who knows?...
Could be getting o l d
; )
kevin J Carden posted:Obsidian, you’ve downgraded from a wonderfully well balanced, CDS2, 52, active 250, SBL system to a Nova and cheap, standmount Focal speakers and you’re now worried that the power cable to your Ethernet switch is responsible for spoiling your sound.
It could be that your hearing some other effects here, but as HH says, who knows?...
Said it before and say it again the Nova setup is far superior.
Obsydian posted:Sorry new at the switch and internet of things so bear with me.
I nearly purchased a 2960 POE 24 Port then opted for the 2960 on board. So the POE as the name suggests has no on-board power supply and like POE Cameras it's all down the same standard ethernet cable?
But you suggest both are superb or is POE better and why ?
Firstly, unless you need a large switch and you can store away, use an 8 port or similar as they are generally fanless and completely quiet. PoE is preferable for me because I need less clutter and power supplies into the mains.
Cant said remember noticing a difference between PoE, tether powered, or directly powered Catalyst switches with respect to the end audio.
i hope that helps.
Simon
I use a spare tail from my Grahams Hydra to power mine. All sounds jolly good and nice & neat.
G
I always thought it was best not to have non-Naim equipment on the hydra. My Naim is on a decicated spur, with the Nas and the Cisco powered from a UPS connected to the ring main.
Simon-in-Suffolk posted:Obsydian posted:Sorry new at the switch and internet of things so bear with me.
I nearly purchased a 2960 POE 24 Port then opted for the 2960 on board. So the POE as the name suggests has no on-board power supply and like POE Cameras it's all down the same standard ethernet cable?
But you suggest both are superb or is POE better and why ?
Firstly, unless you need a large switch and you can store away, use an 8 port or similar as they are generally fanless and completely quiet. PoE is preferable for me because I need less clutter and power supplies into the mains.
Cant said remember noticing a difference between PoE, tether powered, or directly powered Catalyst switches with respect to the end audio.
i hope that helps.
Simon
Thanks Simon as always thanks for your guidance.
Simon-in-Suffolk posted:Obsydian posted:Sorry new at the switch and internet of things so bear with me.
I nearly purchased a 2960 POE 24 Port then opted for the 2960 on board. So the POE as the name suggests has no on-board power supply and like POE Cameras it's all down the same standard ethernet cable?
But you suggest both are superb or is POE better and why ?
Firstly, unless you need a large switch and you can store away, use an 8 port or similar as they are generally fanless and completely quiet. PoE is preferable for me because I need less clutter and power supplies into the mains.
Cant said remember noticing a difference between PoE, tether powered, or directly powered Catalyst switches with respect to the end audio.
i hope that helps.
Simon
In my old Olive system i used the Hydra : )
Obsydian posted:Simon-in-Suffolk posted:Obsydian posted:Sorry new at the switch and internet of things so bear with me.
I nearly purchased a 2960 POE 24 Port then opted for the 2960 on board. So the POE as the name suggests has no on-board power supply and like POE Cameras it's all down the same standard ethernet cable?
But you suggest both are superb or is POE better and why ?
Firstly, unless you need a large switch and you can store away, use an 8 port or similar as they are generally fanless and completely quiet. PoE is preferable for me because I need less clutter and power supplies into the mains.
Cant said remember noticing a difference between PoE, tether powered, or directly powered Catalyst switches with respect to the end audio.
i hope that helps.
Simon
Thanks Simon as always thanks for your guidance.
+ count my thanks in. I was not aware of PoE and if I'm lucky I can get rid of some power supplies in difficult places (e.g. the PS for my RPi next to my snaxo).
Thanks.
Dim question but in POE where does the power come from?
You central switch. All you need to have is a switch which supports PoE. Then, if you have multiple switches e.g. in your office, the office switch needs to have pass-through capabilities.
Certain switches can be PoE powered too which means they don't have a PS, but take the power from the ethernet.
Also, you need either devices which take the power from the ethernet cable, or need a small device next to the end device which splits the power from the ethernet and feeds it to the device.
Just made a small calculation, by using PoE, I can remove 6 powersupplies on difficult places. I think that I replace my switches before end of year.
This is quite important to me, since I've learned this year that mains / power is really having an effect on the sound quality. When I redressed my power lines next to my setup, the amps were driving the loudspeakers much better. Interferrence or so.
I know some of you will last me but I plugged the Supra into my B&Q mains block which feeds all my TV, Apple, Fire, Sky Router).
Just repositioned it so as to give it a dedicated socket, now nowhere to plug the landline phone.
Ahhh much better, plan to tiday the wires and distance the switch from the router have a longer listening period then swap back to the £3 generic ICE.
Forget Bitcoin, I’m going to start stockpiling used POE 2960s on fleabay;-)
Ardbeg10y posted:You central switch. All you need to have is a switch which supports PoE. Then, if you have multiple switches e.g. in your office, the office switch needs to have pass-through capabilities.
Certain switches can be PoE powered too which means they don't have a PS, but take the power from the ethernet.
Also, you need either devices which take the power from the ethernet cable, or need a small device next to the end device which splits the power from the ethernet and feeds it to the device.
Just made a small calculation, by using PoE, I can remove 6 powersupplies on difficult places. I think that I replace my switches before end of year.
This is quite important to me, since I've learned this year that mains / power is really having an effect on the sound quality. When I redressed my power lines next to my setup, the amps were driving the loudspeakers much better. Interferrence or so.
indeed - just be a little cautious if you venture into consumer equipment and PoE - need to ensure interoperability between source and powered device. I suggest checking that the PoE standard supported is 802.3af / 802.3at Type 1, or 802.3at Type 2 - that way you can improve the chances of interoperability - also just bear in mind power consumption. The former supports upto 12.95 W per device and the latter 25.5W per device but do check source overall power availability. The former supports Cat 3 and Cat 5 cabling and the latter supports Cat 5 - however I guess most here are using Cat 5 cabling
S
So after a week with the supra in place, after a good listen today swapped back to me generic IEC £3.
Nova is back on song. The Supra seems to suck in the soundstage, sound becomes lethargic and a serious lack of dynamics.
Nova now has it's lovely dynamics back, vocals are sweet and as before float and project towards you.
Supra is packed away, back to just enjoying the music as opposed to analysing and lots of toe tapping head nodding.
Oh question I think I found and old Naim cable of mine, as with my old olive I went hydra and think this was left over. It is about 1.5m long and a white MK plug (anyway to be sure)
It's better must be Naim : )