Cisco 2960 - Power Cables

Hi [@mention:1566878604014936]. I remember your earlier post. I didn’t have time to experiment at that time, but since then I have tried my TQ ultra blue mains cable on the Cisco switch. Like you I found it gave more punch, bounce and just sounded better to my ears. I have also found that plugging the switch into a Tacima mains condition block has improved things out a little again. 

• i was using a zavfino fina 1877 power cable on the cisco. My system had recently too much bass and body to my ears.  I put a standard power cable with furutech plug some days ago:  the bass is better controlled now.

Obsydian posted:

I had previously tried a Supra Lorad Silver ilo of the cable that came with the switch (actually not sure IF it came with one new), but found it really strangled the sound, a very compressed and shut in sound.

I found a new standard Naim power lead and used that instead, i recall it just made sense, sounded natural and err very Naim.

I upgraded another power cable so had a spare Naim Powerline Lite, i had been meaning to try this on the Cisco, but with all the firmware drama left it, until today.

The result a worthwhile improvement in detail, clearer vocals more bounce (?), plus free (so to speak). 

My original setup the CIsco had it's own mains socket, now it shares a powerblock, a compromise in sound, plus i think the Powerline would maybe work better into a wall socket ... 

I also had some spare Atacama speakers pads, a whileback i added these, cannot recall any improvement.

 

hey Obsydian, have you still the feeling that the update is not your cup of tea?

I discovered one thing in the ethernet chain:   when i installed the network bridge, i had very average quality lan cables at that time.  I have now 2 audioquest diamond, from router to the cisco and from the cisco to the streamer.  I disconnected my network bridge and  connected the audioquest diamonds directly to the cisco( router >cisco 2960>nds):   a major upgrade in prat, punchiness, involvement...without loosing the tonal richness and softness.

I am a bit surprised, but i feel now, with high quality lan cables, that the network bridge is sucking the life and prat now.  I decided to put it off.

I don’t know what it will be for you, but you have the chord indigo now, so i would advise you to try now without the ffmc, just to see.

When I tested four LAN cables, the best one I found was a StarTec Cat6 UTP which cost £6.00 (and yes the decimal point is in the right place).

It just depends on your setup and environment, with Ethernet cables Expensive is not always better.

Hi guys

FINKFAN - good to hear, sorry i just popped out to pick up a Wireworld 6 way, just about the try the Powerline into that, then all my router, switch, fibre bridge)

FRENCH ROOSTER - yes it is a disaster, i have tried, listened and back to a pre build. I have the Indigo and C Stream in place, everything is singing to well to disturb, but YES i was always intending to remove the network bridge (just to hear), but i like to make one change at a time. So you have no fibre bridge now.

HUGE - my first 3 cables where sub £10 from Amazon : ) at the moment VERY seriously looking at the Sarum T, but as MR ROOSTER mentioned i want to trial something else.

not always but in most cases, for me of course.  I tried a dozen of lans, from 5 dollars to 800.

The audioquest vodka, more expensive than opal, was not better in my system.   But the audioquest diamond is far away from the bunch.

Very interesting just introduced the Wireworld Matrix 2, the Naim Powerline now direct from the wall socket to the Wireworld block, then my Router, Switch, IFI PS / TP Link Sender (previously are where connected to a £12 6 way).

Once again, more detail (and air), but no the leading edge attack is more dynamic (not harsh) and the decay has more texture.

Obsydian posted:

 

...

HUGE - my first 3 cables where sub £10 from Amazon : ) at the moment VERY seriously looking at the Sarum T, but as MR ROOSTER mentioned i want to trial something else.

 

French Rooster posted:

not always but in most cases, for me of course.  I tried a dozen of lans, from 5 dollars to 800.

The audioquest vodka, more expensive than opal, was not better in my system.   But the audioquest diamond is far away from the bunch.

My test included 2 very well regarded 'audiphile' cables, but the standard StarTec UTP cable beat them both!

Absolutely, Monsieur Rooster the only way to find out what works best in your system and in your environment is to try them - cost is no indicator of final performance.

I still rate the Chord C Stream, it's around £45 less on the Bay, but for those dipping their toe a excellent, neutral cable from a firm with roots and links back to Naim.

But as someone advised me, get to your dealer and get a few for home demo for a week at least, although I find if it's good or bad you'll know quickly.

Part of the fun is trying suggestions, maybe not someone cup of tea, may drive you bonkers, but better than the blind sheep approach I used to subscribe to.

C-Stream came next to last in my system!  So yes, the home demo is essential.

Huge posted:

C-Stream came next to last in my system!  So yes, the home demo is essential.

Oh no maybe I need my ears syringed.

I removed my fiber bridge (TP Link 110cs pair) and instead am going via SFP modules and fiber cable from one 2960 to another. Server (NUC) plugged into first 2960; ethernet out to mR only on second. Better sounding, and lost the FMC power supplies. 

For the price ($29 ea) these 2960 switches are a fantastic upgrade. OEM SFP modules were only $5 ea off ebay. 

Huge posted:

Obsydian posted:

 

...

HUGE - my first 3 cables where sub £10 from Amazon : ) at the moment VERY seriously looking at the Sarum T, but as MR ROOSTER mentioned i want to trial something else.

 

French Rooster posted:

not always but in most cases, for me of course.  I tried a dozen of lans, from 5 dollars to 800.

The audioquest vodka, more expensive than opal, was not better in my system.   But the audioquest diamond is far away from the bunch.

My test included 2 very well regarded 'audiphile' cables, but the standard StarTec UTP cable beat them both!

Absolutely, Monsieur Rooster the only way to find out what works best in your system and in your environment is to try them - cost is no indicator of final performance.

 

 

i won’t disagree Mr Huge. It’s your experience, i can’t deny it.  Mine is different, but our system may differ too.

Obsydian posted:

Huge posted:

C-Stream came next to last in my system!  So yes, the home demo is essential.

Oh no maybe I need my ears syringed.

Not necessarily (but I can't rule it out!).

It may just be that it's the right cable for your system - there's really no reason why the best in one person's system should work particularly well in any other system in a different location (hence a different electro-magnetic environment).

charlesphoto posted:

I removed my fiber bridge (TP Link 110cs pair) and instead am going via SFP modules and fiber cable from one 2960 to another. Server (NUC) plugged into first 2960; ethernet out to mR only on second. Better sounding, and lost the FMC power supplies. 

For the price ($29 ea) these 2960 switches are a fantastic upgrade. OEM SFP modules were only $5 ea off ebay. 

Charles - so you have 2 x 2960 equipped with SFP and linked by fibre.

Old 2960 are cheap, but I found new are much better but rare as rocking horse poo.

Obsydian posted:

Hi guys

FINKFAN - good to hear, sorry i just popped out to pick up a Wireworld 6 way, just about the try the Powerline into that, then all my router, switch, fibre bridge)

FRENCH ROOSTER - yes it is a disaster, i have tried, listened and back to a pre build. I have the Indigo and C Stream in place, everything is singing to well to disturb, but YES i was always intending to remove the network bridge (just to hear), but i like to make one change at a time. So you have no fibre bridge now.

HUGE - my first 3 cables where sub £10 from Amazon : ) at the moment VERY seriously looking at the Sarum T, but as MR ROOSTER mentioned i want to trial something else.

 

yes Obsydian, i have no fiber bridge now.  I think the audioquest diamond ( or other high quality lans) are removing the noise as the network bridge, but in the same time the sound has more prat and edge, without being edgy or hard.  All is more musical now.

But with entry level lans, the fiber bridge was quite essential.

For me, the way to go now is 2 high quality lans and the cisco 2960 between the router and the streamer.

I didn’t experienced Charlesphoto or Ciscu fiber bridge with 2 cisco 2960.  Maybe one day....

Obsydian posted:

charlesphoto posted:

I removed my fiber bridge (TP Link 110cs pair) and instead am going via SFP modules and fiber cable from one 2960 to another. Server (NUC) plugged into first 2960; ethernet out to mR only on second. Better sounding, and lost the FMC power supplies. 

For the price ($29 ea) these 2960 switches are a fantastic upgrade. OEM SFP modules were only $5 ea off ebay. 

Charles - so you have 2 x 2960 equipped with SFP and linked by fibre.

Old 2960 are cheap, but I found new are much better but rare as rocking horse poo.

That’s correct. The 2960’s I got were from July 2010 and at least one of them looks hardly used if at all. Would these be considered “old?” 

i have a refurbished cisco 2960 from 2009.  I would be curious to know if really, as Obsydian found, a new model will really sound better.  Because perhaps Obsydian had an old model in not good condition (?).

If it is true, i will buy a new 3560 model, with the last spec.

French Rooster posted:

i have a refurbished cisco 2960 from 2009.  I would be curious to know if really, as Obsydian found, a new model will really sound better.  Because perhaps Obsydian had an old model in not good condition (?).

If it is true, i will buy a new 3560 model, with the last spec.

Very true, pot luck, they make look mint on the outside but had a very hard life.

It's the SMPS that you can recapp, if you have an older Cisco 2960,....say from 2007,2008.

We have done that on two from this two years....YES,they are better after the SMPS-recapp.

/Peder???? 

just bought a cisco 2960-8tc-l, white, new and sealed, for around 170 GBP. Very good price i feel.  This forum doesn’t help to make economies...     I hope Obsydian was right !

Bargain......enjoy

French Rooster posted:

just bought a cisco 2960-8tc-l, white, new and sealed, for around 170 GBP. Very good price i feel.  This forum doesn’t help to make economies...     I hope Obsydian was right !

Well, will be interesting. I’m sticking with my $29 ones! Pick up a couple of SFP’s and a patch of fiber LC-LC and see what you think. My V1/110 is hitting way above weight now. 

charlesphoto posted:

French Rooster posted:

just bought a cisco 2960-8tc-l, white, new and sealed, for around 170 GBP. Very good price i feel.  This forum doesn’t help to make economies...     I hope Obsydian was right !

Well, will be interesting. I’m sticking with my $29 ones! Pick up a couple of SFP’s and a patch of fiber LC-LC and see what you think. My V1/110 is hitting way above weight now. 

if i find this new cisco not sounding better than my refurbished one( 50 eur on bay site) , i will return it back.  My model refurbished is a 2009 one, perhaps hard use for 10 years had some effects ?  i will report.

Before anyone else says it...  The old one has had time to 'burn in'

By the way, this is is a joke, not a serious suggestion!