Ethernet Connection

for me, i run an ethernet cable from router to a cisco 2960 switch. My nds and unitserve are both connected to this switch.  It is much better sounding than connecting all to the router.

Thank you for reply. So would I be correct, then in running a good quality Ethernet cable  between router and switch, then two good quality Ethernet cables to Nova and Core. If I had to have guessed I would have thought the best SQ would have been direct from router, due to elimination of switch in signal path. Have you any Ethernet cable recommendations?

I tried quite a few in the Audioquest range up to vodka....ended up with Melco which sound great and really good value about £50 a metre, so hits your budget.

Thank’s Gazza

Wow, the Melco must be really good, for you to prefer to Audioquest Vodka. Do you run your Nova to switch then router for your Ethernet? I notice you have a Nova and PMC twenty5 26. I picked up a pair of these speakers last weekend. I cannot believe sat here how well the Nova does in driving them - stunning ????????????

There is no straight answer,  it all depends on your router's specification (abilities)  When I first started streaming my old router overheated so much that its plastic body changed shape after about 2 or 3 hours switching between NAS & NDX.  I bought & installed a switch the next day & that fixed it & (surprise suprise) improved SQ.   Broadband routers are multifunctional devices & their chip set has a number tasks in addition to data switching.  Modern ones are pretty good & they do work as intended in most cases,  however the older & cheaper devices are questionable IMO/E.   ? Do they have the ability to identify the source or intended destinations of the data streams ? or do they send all the data to all the devices (pebble dash) connected on the network ?   if the later then for streaming  it going to be sub-par.     Switches will always send & receive simultaneously & will communicate only with the devices they are programmed for. The simpler unmanaged switches learn the MAC addresses of the devices they are to communicate with. More complicated smart or managed switches are user programmed to specific MAC addresses.    I still use a switch even though I can't hear a difference when its streamed via my better spec'd new router,  plus it makes for tidier wiring.

Just to be clear I found that when I added my Cisco 2960 the cable quality seemed less important to sound quality in my system. The Melco sounded very good at a great price........it is designed by Melco to go with its £7 k servers. The cables are Cat 6 and widely available online if you google them.

Thank’s for reply

I did notice quality and reliability of connection Improved when I threw the free Sky router out and replaced with a TP-Link one.

I just looked them up I use 1m for that price I quoted, it’s £95 for 3m.

Thank Gazza, for that. So I guess, I would need one 3m lenghth from router to switch, then two 1 metre length’s to connect switch to Nova and Core? As an aside did try Naim Powerline to Nova, if so did you notice any real gain with just Nova and twenty5 26?

I use a cheaper audioquest from switch to router, and then use the Melco from switch to Core and Nova. Many on the forum have commented it’s the last network link that responds to the quality cable, the likes of Simon in Suffolk are better able to explain. The power line came up second hand at my dealer for £300 , put it straight on my Nap300, have never tried on Nova.

Seems strange the lesser cable is not the weakest link. However, I have heard many things in hifi that make a difference, but at a loss to explain. Was the Melco change night and day or subtle?

Man with no Naim posted:

Thank Gazza, for that. So I guess, I would need one 3m lenghth from router to switch, then two 1 metre length’s to connect switch to Nova and Core? As an aside did try Naim Powerline to Nova, if so did you notice any real gain with just Nova and twenty5 26?

This is how I have my Nova and NAS set-up - a 3m length from Netgear router to Cisco 2960G and then two 0.75m runs to each of the NAS and to the wall point from where internal Cat-5e wire runs to the lounge, with a final 0.75m from wall to Nova. Despite the 'standard' cat-5e burried in the wall there is a difference  using shielded cables* over the short lengths at each end. 

Using a switch made a big  improvement over everything  going to the  router, changing the switch for the Cisco brough a massive improvement for me over it's predecessor (I also tried a Cisco 2960 initially - I can't say there's an audiable difference between 2960 and 2960G, but the latter makes file copies much quicker to/from the NAS and ripping PC and to the backup device).

* I'm using Audioquest as that's what my dealer recommended (and stocks). I do have quite a bit of EMI/RFI so the shielding on the cable may be the important part in my environemnt. I do have some Blue Jeans cables I need to unpack and try in place of the Audioquest. I'd agree with Gazza that changing the switch had more effect than the cables in my setup.

Man with no Naim posted:

Seems strange the lesser cable is not the weakest link. However, I have heard many things in hifi that make a difference, but at a loss to explain. Was the Melco change night and day or subtle?

the most important is the ethernet cable from your nova to the switch.  But the 2 other lans have also an impact on sound quality.    

But some will tell you that audiophile ethernet cables are a waste of money.   Try by yourself.

Man with no Naim posted:

Hello,

Can anyone tell me the best way to connect a Uniti Nova and Core via Ethernet connection? Let me expand, is it better from SQ to connect both inpendantly direct to router or connect both to switch, which then has single connection to router. Current connection is via switch and router. Has anyone noticed a difference or it makes none at all. If connected direct to router would I lose any functionality, to Uniti Star that connects via wi-fi to Core. I would try this myself, however have not got long enough Ethernet cable to connect direct to router. If the direct connection to router is superior SQ and no loss of functionality, can anyone recommend a superior SQ Ethernet cable. I would be looking for 3m length and willing to pay up to or around the £100 point. Thank you, for any replies.

Hi, good question, a lot of mis understanding on the forum about this. If your router is is relatively recent, ie bought within the last four years or so, it’s switch ports will be fine, as they will be hardware controlled, just like a recent or commercial grade standalone switch.

Some early routers particularly those bundled with lower spec broadband services used switch ports controlled by software and were more problematic other than for very basic use.

So in short your router switchports almost certainly will be fine unless old and bundled, and if it operates correctly at all it will offer no network advantage, although a remote switch might enable neater wiring etc.

You are more likely, though not definitely so, to have issues with Wifi and device discovery, but again because of the prevalence of devices that use this network techniques now, any reasonably recent router with Wifi access point should work fine.

if you are in tweaking the most from your system, then network sync stability can be become relevant and some of the Cisco Catalyst switches can offer benefits here such as the 2960 series. Also there are benefits in different media server platforms, and finally some Audiophile Ethernet cables can bring some benefit with certain devices... but these are tweaks and subtle optimisations. It can be worth experimenting with different Ethernet cables, and they need only cost a couple of pounds to provide a worthwhile improvement in terms of interaction with your audio equipment..

 it doesn’t need to cost a lot at all... although cables that cost only  a few pounds may need some trial and error, but i personally would refuse to spend more than £10 for a 3 metre patch lead...  and typically pay a lot less.

I would buy a Miecord for circa £60 for the 1M, I use a Nova and the Miecord for me was better than the Chord C Stream, AQ Vodka, Ghent, only bettered by the Chord Aray types but then your talking £500 to £2400.

Then later add another Miecord and Cisco 2960.

You will be happy.

I personally still like the fibre bridge, but recently I upgraded my power supplies from ifi 6v to Linear PS, then quickly back to the Ifi, as I actually found the Linear PS was not much better than the stock SMPS TP Links.

I really believe in every setup, tweaking (cable dressing, support, cables (where Naim don't supply, only ethernet, but exclude Chord Aray), switches) can improve the setup by 50% maybe more.

Yup +1 for MeiCord.  I have it between NAS - Switch - NDX.      

agree too, the meicord is very good for its cost.

French Rooster posted:

agree too, the meicord is very good for its cost.

No the MeiCord is simply just good.   I bought it because it sounded as good or better than most others I tried.   My limit is not cost (price),  my limit is the sense in buying a cable that cost almost as much as the streamer to say nothing of the XXX cost of the NAS  

I think the Miecord was very neutral and good, but the Chord Aray (at a significant price), totally blows it away and that's the Ahem look end priced ones.

Mike-B posted:

French Rooster posted:

agree too, the meicord is very good for its cost.

No the MeiCord is simply just good.   I bought it because it sounded as good or better than most others I tried.   My limit is not cost (price),  my limit is the sense in buying a cable that cost almost as much as the streamer to say nothing of the XXX cost of the NAS  

for me the audioquest diamond is much ahead, but 12 times more expensive.    And i am also sure than chord indigo array is also much better vs the meicord.  I need only 0,75 m, so the cost was reasonable.

I would suggest that you use decent, certified Cat5a UTP cables. Not the super-cheap unbranded ones you get on eBay, but nothing fancy. Get the system up and running. Then, if you feel the urge, experiment with some alternatives at a variety of prices, not just high price ones from audio cable manufacturers. It's always possible to try such items and return them for a refund these days. What is not so easy is to make accurate judgements about whether or not the shiny expensive ones are really so much better! 

French Rooster posted:

 

...........   I need only 0,75 m, so the cost was reasonable.

My point exactly:    I need 3m +plus between switch & NDX & maybe better to go to the next length at 5m.  Whatever 3m of AQ Diamond is £2150 (€2417)  not very helpful to the OP's question with his £4000 Nova.   Enough !!!!   this is thread drift & madness 

Why not use what Naim use.

Earlier this year I manage to discover the secrets to Naims streaming setup, at the Accoustica show. While examining the equipment being used, I notice a green cable emanating from a black box. This cable wasn’t connected directly to another black box, but mysteriously disappeared behind a large screen. As my name suggests I’m rather curious, so, throwing caution to the wind, I immediately adopted Ninja mode and made my way, unseen, behind the screen and took a few photos.

So, you need.

1 Off - Linksys router, complete with supplied wall wart. (note1) 

2 Off – 25ft lengths of green Ethernet cable

Notes.

1.  Wall wart plugged into a socket approx 24 ft from the black boxes.

Mike-B posted:

French Rooster posted:

 

...........   I need only 0,75 m, so the cost was reasonable.

My point exactly:    I need 3m +plus between switch & NDX & maybe better to go to the next length at 5m.  Whatever 3m of AQ Diamond is £2150 (€2417)  not very helpful to the OP's question with his £4000 Nova.   Enough !!!!   this is thread drift & madness 

so we agree, 2k ethernet cable for a nova would be too much.  Even for my nds , i am not sure i would invest so much.   

fatcat posted:

Why not use what Naim use.  

........   salient point.  When at Naim HQ I had a peek behind the boxes in the listening/demo room & noted a vin ordinaire ethernet connecting the streamer(s).