The argument that 1’s are 1’s and 0’s are still the same 0’s no matter which switch is used is something which is dragged out of the cupboard on a regular basis in these discussions and yet those of us who have tried an ‘audiophile’ switch in our systems would be very careful about dismissing their possible advantages. I tried an Innuos PhoenixNET switch in my system and having heard it there was no way I was going to return it to the dealer. This was not just with music streamed from the internet via Qobuz but was also the case with locally stored ripped files on my streamer / server (an Antipodes K50). In my case I already had an EtherRegen in the system and I was comparing that to the PhoenixNET and also compared it to having the K50 directly connected to my local network and the internet via a standard Cisco switch.
What I did was to set a music file playing from the hard drive on my streamer/server and then pull the ethernet cable from the back of the K50 mid track to see if I could hear any difference. With the PhoenixNET connected I did not hear any difference when I pulled the ethernet cable but with the other two switches the sound changed when the ethernet cable was pulled. For me that was a quite compelling demonstration of the effect of the PhoenixNET.
On the basis that the PhoenixNET effect might be due to it removing overlaid noise in the ethernet cable I also tried an alternative of inserting a length of fibre from the Cisco switch and then using a fibre to copper cable ethernet converter (Piccy below). This seemed to work well with the caveat that although the unit itself is cheap its effectiveness seemed very dependant on the power supply so the overall cost of the whole package of ethernet media convertor + power supply soon became not cheap. Using the supplied smps with the media converter the effect was not all that impressive.
I have been asked many times on FaceBook user groups and similar groups about the Innuos PhoenixNET and each time all I can suggest is that anyone interested should try it in their own system and make up their own mind. So far everyone I know who has tried one has decided to buy it and that is also the decision I came to because I think the price justifies the improvement I can hear.
The PhoenixNET was taken to a friend’s house and I think that it possibly made more of a difference in his system than in mine. Also in my friend’s system the PhoenixNET was compared to another audiophile switch he uses which is designed around minimising noise transfer and that switch was doing a creditable job in his system whilst costing quite a bit less than the Innuos. So although I am concentrating on the PhoenixNET purely because that is what I have it is clear that there are other products which also seem to work to varying degrees and at varying price points. It is therefore a matter of balancing the effectiveness of the device in ones own system judged against the cost but what is not in doubt as far as I am concerned is that these things are capable of sounding different.
For the avoidance of doubt, I have ‘no dog in the race’ with audiophile switches and do not sell any. However I readily admit that my mind is already susceptible to the suggestion that noise overlaid on digital signals can affect sound quality because that is the basis of the WAVE digital cables which I manufacture and sell. I bought my PhoenixNET as a retail customer from my local Innuos dealer (
@Musicraft of this parish as it happens and I am happy to recommend Rick).
The fibre to RJ45 converter that I have also tried connected to a Cisco switch via fibre.