Can Bits Do Beats? - Matrix Audio SS-1 & SS-1 PRO Ethernet Switches Review

[@connorduke4619]

Clocking has been proven to have no impact on ethernet signals which arrive as discrete random packets, not as a continuous signal. Hans Beekhuizen and Paul from PS Audio have recently each explained this. The main benefit network switches deliver is galvanic isolation, but that can be done much cheaper without paying for an expensive clock that does nothing, e.g. the Effe-01 Optical Ethernet Isolator for 400 pounds.

[@AudriusN]

those both are not the people to listen to how networks work.

[@connorduke4619]

@@AudriusN Well they have a combined 80+ years either design or reviewing digital gear, so I think their opinions have got to be right up there.

[@AudriusN]

@@connorduke4619 digital or networking? berghuizen has no clue what OSI model, ethernet, internet protocol, TCP, UDP is.

[@Pete.across.the.street]

@@connorduke4619 the clock reduces jitter

[@vladelikyvladelik5588]

@@AudriusN It's snake oil for people from network industry.

[@silviuenache7080]

Not really a believer in the audiophile aspect of network switches but clicked like for Sandu. Still, looks like it would integrate beautifully enough near a TV to add ethernet connect to all sorts of media players, game consoles, streamers and other gadgets with decent bandwidth for all of them.

[@liamporter1137]

Thanks for sharing. I prefer to play FLAC files direct into a separate DAC without depending on online music services.

[@knietiefimdispo2458]

FLAC is completely incompatible with ethernet. The best sound gives you MP3 compressed to 13% ratio and less than 8 kHz bandwidth. And don't forget to use two ethernet links at the same time because ... stereo you know. This requires switches that are capable of LAG (Lossless Audio Gaga).

[@RobertMircea]

Any thoughts on how SS-1 PRO performs vs LHY SW-10?

[@Soundnews]

Sure, mate. In my case, SW-10 was tilting the frequency response towards warmth and sweetness. SS-1 PRO is not doing that, instead, the sound gets tighter / more in control and by a hair more resolving. It depends on the use cases, one might prefer one versus the other.

[@knietiefimdispo2458]

@@Soundnews 😄🤣🙃💩

[@arendbols3336]

How did the SS Pro compare to the Melco S100? More realistic?

[@gerihifi]

Thanks for sharing. What i'm always be a bit more careful to compare this 2 very similar products (lets forget the clock, yes linear psu is sure better) is that there is some "audible" changes. It would be always more obvious to prepare audio samples and upload them to YT/we transfer, to share where you think there were changes. My experience is not that dramatically and yes I've also tested decent ones and own two Paul Pang quads. Therefore I'd appreciate if more reviewers would upload sound examples. DAC make a much bigger difference 😊 we ALL fall to psycho accoustic, me included and thats perfectly fine for every hifi enthusiast!

[@larsv6144]

Anyone tried one of these switches for video signal? E.g. input into Apple TV 4K? If so, does it also improve video quality and sound of streaming signals?

[@net_news]

Replaced my harsh sounding ethernet LAN with a Token Ring one and It improved the sound incredibly... tube like warmness, chocolatey mid-range airy highs... oh golden age of networking!!

[@gerihifi]

Try Novell networking, awesome Audio improvement... I see you are a real expert..

[@net_news]

@@gerihifi absolutely!! Soundstage is huge with Novell, IPX improved the highs, punchier bass much better than TCP/IP. My wife asked from the kitchen what did you change???

[@gerihifi]

@@net_news than i highly, highly recommend to you, to Go he next audiophile step and use ATM protocol, I can offer you my baynetworks ATM switch for audiophiles (extra Large psu for 1200v and 10kv accu). Feel free to send me €6000000 to my Paypal Account 😉

[@annebokma4637]

​@@gerihifionly if you use Novell with token ring or arcnet. 😂

[@knietiefimdispo2458]

And the very, very warm sound of NetWare ELS Level II. Unmatched since 1987.

[@larsv6144]

Compared to the Silent Angel Bonn N8 Pro?

[@jondu-sud274]

Excuse me a potentially silly question, but are we all sure that a hard wired ethernet is the best approach. Does a very high quality wireless solution not exist these days ?

[@Pete.across.the.street]

@@jondu-sud274 the antenna for wifi picks up a lot of noise

[@knietiefimdispo2458]

You need oxygen free air. Like those oxygen free copper wires. Then you have the best approach either in wired ethernet or wireless ;- )

[@knietiefimdispo2458]

The website of Matrix Audio is obviously hosted at the appartment of the -snake-oil-salesman- audiophile company. Feels like a Robotics modem connection from 1985.

[@EvgeniyRC]

This is very interesting. Thanks for the review. Tell me please how can I compare my LHY-10 switch with the CC1pro on a ten-point scale? Maybe it makes sense to upgrade?

[@OzSteve]

Great review. I added 2 Gustard N18 Pro's and I was surprised that it actually had a difference (just wider soundstage and better lower bass that I could tell on the same songs I know very well in my system) I have the master clock coming to see if that makes any difference. I like the MA SS-1 Pro and 'might' end up getting it. I like the 100mb ports. One other 'tweak' I love is the APC UPS I have for components. Zero noise floor.

[@audiofetish]

What model of apc ups ?

[@rangerrecon]

Ok, so I will preface my comments with the statement that I do not own a HiFI system. My music source is a mid-grade Yamaha receiver, AppleTV streamer, and a pair of Klipsch bookshelf speakers (RP-600M II - I think). So, I probably should just keep my mouth shut, but the experience that I have working as both an electrical engineer and then eventually a network engineer is causing me to struggle with how this device impacts the audio signal in any way. If I have a streamer with an integrated DAC, connected to the internet via ethernet, there is no analog component on the digital side of the DAC, which is there the internet connection is. The internet signal comes in via ethernet, goes through a ethernet chip to be broken down in it's IP components which are then handled by the on-board microprocessor, which feeds a digital signal to the DAC to be converted into an analog output. There is no analog component on the ethernet connection that passes through to the DAC's output. I can understand noise concerns from noise generated by the on-board CPU in the streamer, but these 'HiFi ethernet switches' seem to claim that they are filtering the digital ethernet signal, which makes no sense to me. Regular noise that causes errors/delays in processing the ethernet IP traffic would simply results in a perceived slow connection (or no connection if errors are extream enough), but an ethernet switch isn't going to help in such situations. I read the linked SoundNews article, but that seems flawed in it's reasoning. I attempts to equate digital and analog signals. It states, "What we need to know here is that even though we are talking about a digital transmission, it is, in fact, an analog one." It also states, "digital transmissions rely on analog radio frequency transmissions." These statements are both false. I presume it makes these statements to identify any timing/signal jitters in the digital signal with traits of analog behavior and thus traditional analog filtering, which isn't the case. The digital filtering and error correction of the ethernet chip that converts the signal into IP information handles all of this digital error correction. Again, I speak only theoretically as I have no equipment of sufficient quality to actually test such a scenario. At the end of the day, there just seems like a lot in the HiFi world that strikes me as purely snake oil - like "speaker cable burn-in" and the such.

[@AudriusN]

better ask audiophools how that crap affects your broadcast traffic, documents, pictures, videos.

[@rangerrecon]

@@AudriusN I don't have unmanaged switches in my home network (everything is Unifi/Ubiquiti) as I don't like any devices I can't control. Unless you're dealing with an EXTREMELY noisey ethernet signal, I don't see how a ethernet switch like this does anything. I certainly can't see how it impacts the sound stage, dynamic range, etc. as I've heard other reviewers claim about other devices.

[@AudriusN]

@@rangerrecon "Unless you're dealing with an EXTREMELY noisey ethernet signal" - only possible in industrial setting, not at home. "I certainly can't see how it impacts the sound stage" - why it only magically affects audio? Photographers see no blurred or out of focus photos using any off the shelf switch same as videographers.

[@rangerrecon]

@@AudriusN And that takes me back to the snake oil theory and how people get away with it. It is easy for an audiophile to claim that they perceived some sonic difference - especially when they are not engaged in blind testing. They may truly believe that they hear it, or just say that they do to justify an equipment expense. If you don't hear what they hear, then it is dismissed as your ears are just not as refined as theirs, you don't know what to listen for, etc. For a videopgraher or photographer I believe that becomes more difficult as there is visual proof that can be more easily inspection by anyone for critique. And I agree, if an ethernet switch like this made such an impact, wouldn't that be visible in media other than just streaming audio?

[@Pete.across.the.street]

I Cascade some cisco switches via fiber. Very noticeable improvement.

[@AudriusN]

what do you smoke? we want that too.

[@masterazlan6999]

Hmm new audiophiliacs are indeed streamin' as a needs but old timer audiophiles just has Sum collections as their best playlist..We like it old CD, vinyl n tapes..well u all used as a Pcm nor dsd or even dxd in facts it's frm us While media are sucked into tiny called memory..as a bits. Naa nostalgic is part of the music for me.. anyway njoy the futures of rabbit holes..Peace!

[@michaelmityok1001]

Have a LHY switch with fiber connection to router - very noticeable improvement in dynamics and noise reduction, and the result is grain-free easy listening. The difference is not subtle. However, I have doubts the spend is worth it in a budget system.

[@annebokma4637]

Ethernet is totally unfit for audio. It breaks it into pieces and just dumps them on a tiny cable. For audio you need token ring or arcnet. These switches are a rip off 😂 dive into how ethernet works before you spend over 1000$ for a 50$ dollar switch with an unneeded power supply upgrade 😂

[@IdeaBoxful]

Snake oil..

[@toddt5562]

Thanks for the review, and loved the tin foil hat 😂... I was a switch skeptic until I got an LHY Audio switch In my system. Another tweak I highly recommend, that produces surprisingly solid cost-effective results... Stack Audio isolation feet for components and speakers. Patent pending particle impact damping tech... You should check them out as well. Made a much bigger difference than an ethernet switch swap In my system. 👍

[@AudriusN]

Try oxygen free air. The results are drop dead.

[@eldogo1]

Thanks for sharing. What do you the Stack audio feet on?

[@TheTastefulThickness]

Now were gettin' crazy