SOtM sNH-10G - SOtM’s first network switch

[justubes]

On 2/8/2019 at 12:44 AM, incus said:

I have done a lot of playing around with new SOtM products in the last month, including the addition of two new switches, fully loaded. They are tethered by optical across the room from my two-channel rig to my headphone rig. At the same time, I upgraded one of my sMS-200 Ultras to the SE version and was able to A/B with my other, non-SE version 200Ultra. I also have a SOtM server I am testing out - this one Ultra and SE too. I would rank the improvements in the following way: the switches brought the most profound increase to my system over all - an increase in ease (which I attribute to better timing) and detail (which I attribute to the filters) and over all tonal balance (which I attribute to the sCLK boards and the caps). The second greatest SQ bump has come from the server which is externally clocked by the SOtM Master Clock. A quietness to the background and a fleshiness to the midrange that I find intoxicating. Then the third level of increase would be the introduction of the Evox caps in the SE version of the sMS-200Ultra: that refined, airy, and detailed soundscape that SOtM is known for received a more balanced bottom end and punchier lower mids from the caps. None of these upgrades are cheap, of course, except the caps, but I thought it might be helpful to know that the switch was the most obvious upgrade among them. I would definitely opt for the one with the sCLK board and the Evox caps. Master Clock optional. In fact, interestingly, with the second switch at my desktop feeding the SE version of the sMS-200 Ultra, I no longer feel I need my Mutec Ref-10 to clock them. In fact, I am going to sell it because I prefer the sound of just the SE switch and SE sMS-200Ultra. Hope that helps.

It's nice to see you have taken great pains to isolate your network.

 

I have had much success now also, isolating and clocking my the fibre connections between this and the main router (wifi disabled) and my secondary router which solely provides provides wifi throughout.

 

There is a nice and for me, huge improvement to streaming isolating my non music network. This  is after going the same route which you have also taken with your switches and you may be more than pleasantly surprised.

[justubes]

Sorry no.

 

But i will try my best to describe in an easy for everyone  to understand.

 

My main router with wifi disabled ditributes 2 lan cables, one for streaming network through 2 sotm switches connected by fibre.

 

My other line for wifi goes like this...

 

Main router Asus router (sclk-ex with linear psu) ------Rj45 ----FMC (vcxo reclocked wirh linear psu)-------FMC -------hp switch (vcxo reclocked)------Netgear S8000 gaming switch ------- Netgear router for wifi and 1 lan line. Old 12v bricks were used for the rest.

 

To note that the reclocked fmc and switch including the Nighthawk S8000 clearly made a nice improvement and the 1st fmc was tested with the same stock model which makes an improvement but the reclocked one aound smoother.

 

I just placed the Nighthawk which was unsuccesfully ocxo clocked left from a year back replaced a atock linksys 5 port model. 

 

The Nighthawk in this position just sound better.

 

I know it is strange why should all this matter and because i had these switches and fmc left over from unused serial implementation and as spqres for  my main streaming line. 

 

It did make a worthy difference but until i replace the 1st clocked fmc and the Nighthhawk switch did i really appreciate that the difference it contibutes was clear and wanted to contribute my findings back to this forum which started me on a long network implementation for streaming tidal a few years back.

 

It has taken this long for me through this process with many failed attempts and a truly rewarding journey, sonically.

 

I have at least went through to ocxo clock about 20 switches which some were used in series and fmcs to date and a lot to expenditure with failures and especially fmc which just stopped working .... Countless hours and sweat included.

[justubes]

13 hours ago, ehoz said:

Ive got to say that for me the biggest difference was the SoTM Cat & cable. I don't have a WHOA moment with the SoTM switch in my system. This could very well be the sps-500 or the fact that I don't have the EQVOX caps....not sure.

Do you have the Sclk-ex installed?

[justubes]

7 hours ago, ehoz said:

Yes

I personally also find without the 10Mhz clocking, the sound was fine and had more accuracy than ocxo clocked triple switches i used.

 

With the 10mhz and double switch was  just a tremendous, huge difference.

 

In clocking, even the clock cables with makes alaso a rather imporrant part of the final sound. With your flavour of linear supplies, costs can add up up rather quickly, but the bottlenecks just keep vanishing no matter how good ones gear is after the switches. Of course, giid ethernet cables are critical.

 

I have never had the evox cap, but have boutique film caps proves to be excellent. I believe the likes of Jupiter Copper foils, Duelund, Vcap teflon are just fantastic.   

 

Get one part wrong and the sound could collaspe, take it slow and hang in there to find the right synergy and the improvements with the Sotm will be very rewarding.