Cisco 2960 Recommendation

NickSeattle posted:

I see the latest compact 2960 switches boast powering by PoE, as one option.  Is this desirable in the Hi-Fi context?  The 2960 serving e.g. the NDX would not need a local power supply.

In an office setting, or, indeed, in the Living Room, this reduces clutter.  Is it a universal Good, or is there a sonic price to pay?

Nick

yes it has smps but it is very well built and costs new around 700GBP.  A lot of forum members have bought second hand, refurbished and factory reset for less than 60GBP on bay site.

model 2960-8tc and 8tl.     Try and return if not satisfied, a minority returned it. I kept mine.

I am looking at WS-C2960L-8TS-LL at the Hi-Fi, powered by a -8PS or -16PS to deliver PoE, located close to the router.

is PoE power desirable?  It eliminates the need for a wallwart at the Hi-Fi switch, which sounds good to me, but is it the best way for a remote switch to be powered, for Hi-Fi purposes?

Nick

Now looking at 2960-CX series. . .  Lots of choices.

It had crossed my mind that a PoE switch would be a neat solution in terms of keeping cables and socket use to a minimum. I wonder if there is a price to pay in having the signal carried in the came cable as the power (not that Naim have a problem with doing this in their amps.) I believe S-in-S has mentioned that he has experience of PoE switches, so maybe he will chip in with something more than just speculation.

Hi Nick yes the primary advantage of PoE in the Home I suggest is to keep clutter down, increase efficiency, and reduce the number of potentially noisy mid to low quality SMPS and reduce electrical noise on the mains.

i use PoE catalyst switches, but primarily as power sources for Wifi access points etc.

NickSeattle posted:

Now looking at 2960-CX series. . .  Lots of choices.

Simon is the person who recommended to this forum the cisco 2960 switch.  He had experimented the different models but found no real differences between 8tc or 8tl.  The cx, i think to remember, is the latest model. But you will hardly pay 50GBP for it....and not sure you will hear a difference vs the older model.

The majority of members of this forum had bought the 8tc model, refurbished and factory reset on bay site.  Of course you can buy a new last model, but you will pay around 900 k for it. 

These switches are very well built and can live a lifetime....

Predictably enough, the newer models are supposed to be smarter/greener/more capable than the older models.  

The L models have more ports and come either with or without PoE, and are described as “entry level”.  My old Netgear 24 port is about 10 years old, and was entry-level+1 at the time.  It can probably be swapped out for an L with PoE.  Then a CX without PoE can be a PoE client of the L. 

I think I am on the right track.  Later maybe add a Meraki AP here and there.

Thanks very much, all.

Nick

NickSeattle posted:

Predictably enough, the newer models are supposed to be smarter/greener/more capable than the older models.  

The L models have more ports and come either with or without PoE, and are described as “entry level”.  My old Netgear 24 port is about 10 years old, and was entry-level+1 at the time.  It can probably be swapped out for an L with PoE.  Then a CX without PoE can be a PoE client of the L. 

I think I am on the right track.  Later maybe add a Meraki AP here and there.

Thanks very much, all.

Nick

i see on your profile that you have cd555 and ndac 555. What is the transport for your ndac 555? the mac mini?   how the sound vs the cd555?  i know, not the topic here, but just curious...

I bought the CD555, non-DR, used, during a market downturn, and consider it an excellent reference vs other contenders.  My system has been waiting for five years for a permanent home in an optimal basement space.  We are 12-18 months from realizing that improvement.

In the meantime, it lives in the Living Room at the top of a Fraim column, and  attracts neither criticism nor gasps of appreciation — it discharges duties with precision and humble excellence, which is all I ask.

Frankly, Audirvana+ via MacMini into nDAC/555DR is my best source; but the NDX is compellingly good, and more flexible and family-friendly.  I enjoy all of the options, and especially FM from the NDX.

Wife and daughter have forgotten we have rips on a NAS, preferring the Spotify/NDX experience overall.  

My daughter’s High School Christmas pageant CD is the current resident of the CD555 — it sounds fantastic, and is likely to remain there into March.

The Naim app controls the NDX, 552, nDAC, and CD555, throughout the house.

I count my blessings daily.

Nick