Audiophools will save us from degraded online streaming signals - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: TomS_
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 23, 2020, 11:25:36 pm
content: https://www.fidelizer-audio.com/etherstream-network-switch/

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2020, 01:10:54 am
content: Audiophools have been fidelizing for decades in secretthis gadget will be another welcome addition to their Golden Ear arsenalSatisfied Customers:"Image quality from Netflix is so much better. It’s like watching from hard drive directly.Unit received. Thank you for the rush. MaRKED IMPROVEMENT IN sound.Have lost a funny digital grungeand increased information throughput.Amazon Prime HD audio and Berlin Philharmonic channel now sound great.Thank you again. Will spread the word."Oh yes, please do that...

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2020, 01:51:47 am
content: Oh, it has special tantalum caps in it, for more explosive goodness!Hmm, source $18 Monoprice switches, make custom label, invent some bullshit woowoo to market them with, and resell for 20x cost - nice profit! If I wanted to compete.So despite using your existing devices in the same chain the data must flow through, this magic device fixes degraded DIGITAL signals? Wow. How do they propose to improve the signal in the line from the pole to my house, and through my router? For that matter, from the pole back to the cable or phone provider? Oh and then since they say commercial Cisco routers aren't good enough either, what about the bir core routers at the ISP?It doesn't even take much thought to see how their claims are 100% bullshit. Even if they really do have some super special Ethernet switching devices in their bit of the link.

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2020, 05:32:18 am
content: I really like the idea, that those Cisco engineers with a billion Dollar R&D department messed this up so badly.Fanfare, enter the dumpster find oscilloscope from the 80s, only with that tool and a 10MHz probe (for the 1Gbit Uplink traffic) a true fix is doable.(2 sidenotes: Are they aware that they are modifying this unit, voiding the CE and FCC statements of the original manufacturer, but still claiming those? Second, I would automatically pass on any HiFi-shop offering this nonsense. OK, the Markup is supposed to be good, but it is like framing your customers…)

author: daqq
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2020, 05:33:07 am
content: Wow, that's awesome! I've been waiting for a product like this! Why, just yesterday, I looked at the binary of one file I downloaded, and instead of 0 and 1 I got at best 0.1577 and 0.8422!

author: magic
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2020, 05:57:30 am
content: It's funny that industrial switches aren't good enough, I wonder what Netflix might be using in their datacenters?

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2020, 11:54:43 am
content: Without any ground or shielding on the ports

author: WattsThat
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2020, 02:34:31 pm
content: Oh my, the woo runs very deep in this fine device.QuoteI think this product will not be very successful, it is simply priced too low. After all, how good can it be at only $395? If you’re going to peddle woo, at least have some confidence in your BS and go for at least a 100x cost markup. Pikers.

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2020, 02:50:06 pm
content: The BS-o-meter goes. It's profit maximization for a simple Ethernet switch with a cheap standard chip. Do they also offer some directional audiophoolery patch cables?

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2020, 05:26:32 pm
content: Oh they must - and also special cables designed for the specific traffic they will be carrying, after all they show two different ways to use their switch, this can only be optimized with cables designed for each specific implementation. No way would ordinary Ethernet cables be good enough, and even run of the mill directional cables aren't optimized for their special digital signal conditioning.

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2020, 02:38:10 am
content: Quote from: madires on April 24, 2020, 02:50:06 pmRumor has it an elite group are working on Tri-Directional audiophoolery patch cables,in a secret bunker somewhere beneath, in an abandoned NYC sewer systemApparently using tri-angulation techniques to lock in any straying audio magic, and keep it from spilling over into neighbors routers

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2020, 05:17:50 am
content: Quote from: Electro Detective on April 25, 2020, 02:38:10 amThey will go great with our new Repacketizerstm. The repacketizers consist of two glowing "phase locking crystals" (glass with LEDs) and a dynamic repacking coil (not actually connected to anything) through which the cable passes through to ensure that all packets stay packetized and do not get scattered when traveling down the cable causing aweful "brown noise". Available as standoffs or brackets and pairable with our new Super Quantum Lithium-Graphine batteries (shitty carbon-zincs).

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 25, 2020, 06:28:01 am
content: You mean, my 10 Gigabit Ubiquiti switch is no good? Damn!

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2020, 10:37:38 am
content: Sorry guys, Audiophool Tech owns us yet again

author: dropkick
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2020, 03:48:29 am
content: So this will improve the 15 year old obsolete Linksys router shown in the pictures? Excellent!Maybe they forgot Cisco once owned Linksys and their small business rubbish is a direct lineage of that.Don't forget your "CAT 8.1" cables and the 2 week burn-in period. Those woo capacitors have to "brake in" for better bass and sound stage, you know.Better call the phone company and have them replace both ends of my fiber with these.

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2020, 04:25:00 am
content: Would splicing together two Cat 5E cables give me Cat 10EE performance or Cat7.5CE ?so I can save a ton of money after I marry rich and score a Fidelizer as the dowryI don't want to push my luck with her mum and dad for the patch cables as well

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2020, 08:32:23 am
content: What the fuck is going on with that capacitor with no sheath and a piece of tape covering the board to prevent the case shorting the tracks?I doubt they have permission to use the Cisco brand, perhaps someone ought to report them so they can be sued?

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 26, 2020, 09:13:41 am
content: Quote from: Zero999 on April 26, 2020, 08:32:23 amWhy not? They take Cisco switch and recap it.

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2020, 10:35:29 am
content: Go easy guys, they were probably waiting on Audiophool Grade Precision Heatshrink Jackets for that capacitorand a thermally tuned heat gun to match that custom batch of heatshrinkThey know what they're doing(Ka-ching...!)

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2020, 11:25:46 am
content: Quote from: wraper on April 26, 2020, 09:13:41 amWhich is probably illegal to resell, without the manufactures consent.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 26, 2020, 12:39:25 pm
content: Quote from: Zero999 on April 26, 2020, 11:25:46 amBullshit. If there is any problem to sell it, it's not related to consent of original manufacturer.

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2020, 03:39:14 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on April 26, 2020, 12:39:25 pmI wouldn't bet my money on this. I can think of a couple legal issues, which are all severe - don't assume they asked their legal council.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 26, 2020, 03:57:09 pm
content: Quote from: Haenk on April 26, 2020, 03:39:14 pmList them. Altered goods do not become counterfeit, there cannot be valid claim about that. There can be talks if it's EMC compliant, yada, yada. But there is no legal issue with brand, copyright and sorts of. They do not alter any logos or place Cisco logo which was not there, end of story.It's like telling that HP can sue company that buys HP computer, adds network card, then sells it further clearly stating that network card was added by them. HP may try to not sell computers to them but it's all they can do.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2020, 06:18:04 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on April 26, 2020, 03:57:09 pmI'm pretty sure there are legal issues with selling modified goods, especially if you're not honest about them, or they're sold as new. The manufacture will have built their product to meet certain standards and specifications. If someone buys their product, modifies it, sells it as new and it fucks up, or they've made various false claims about its capabilities, it will damage the manufacturer's name and they can sue for damages. If the seller is honest that they've modified the item, then it might be acceptable, but I'm no lawyer. In this case, the fraudulent claims have been made about one of Cisco's switches and I'm pretty sure they don't want consumers to associate them with audiophool scams, so they have every right to claim damages.

author: dropkick
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2020, 04:29:07 am
content: I spot woo woo directional ethernet cables!!https://positive-feedback.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/fidelizer-etherstream-network-switch-2/"I placed a Walker Audio Resonance Control Disc weight on top to stabilize the box, give it some mass, and damp vibration. While at it, I put a pair of edenSound TerraStone Pure Cylinder isolation pucks underneath. Did I mention it was already connected to the Nordost QKORE Ground system? Yes, yes, and yes, each step added bounty: images fleshed out, tone gained weight, dynamics improved, nothing was loose on this stage"

author: Daixiwen
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2020, 07:24:47 am
content: There is one thing that i don't understand... if each time they make a small change the sound is unbelievably improved, does this mean that 5 years ago all audiophools were listening to real crap?... okay probably more than one thing I don't understand

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2020, 08:03:16 am
content: Quote from: Daixiwen on April 27, 2020, 07:24:47 amThat's the same with washing detergents - every year there will be a "new improved" product. I wonder how they did manage that constant improvement for the better part of a century. Or did they fool us all the time?

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2020, 08:27:33 am
content: Quote from: Daixiwen on April 27, 2020, 07:24:47 amOr take an "audiophile" I knew who discovered how they actually prefer music:"why didn't anyone just tell me music sounds better when its loud"This came after they tried using "crap" sounding equipment but much much larger than they could have ever afforded in audiophile "quality" components/speakers. The extended low end and perceived loudness boost there really captured them (became a bass aficionado?). They could still appreciate fine reproduction but realised there is so much more to the experience, like listening with other people...If you really want to get confused, some people like old class A amps without negative feedback, while others love class D (entirely negative feedback!). Some prefer the unquantifiable vintage "sound" (for example high noise floor masking imperfections in the rest of the chain).I stopped chasing perfection and found where I'm comfortable, plenty of people on here would say its all "woo woo" when you're considering speakers rigidity and exploring beyond a frequency response graph. There are users on this forum who ignorantly rail against higher quality digital cabling, they're just as wrong as the audiophiles.But we should rightly laugh at the product in this thread that makes no attempt to change the signal in any meaningful way. Paying for more stable oscillator in the asynchronous network link that has checksums and retry on failure is rightly silly.Quote from: Haenk on April 27, 2020, 08:03:16 amThere have been improvements in fluorescent dyes used to whiten clothes, and more broad formulations of active cleaning ingredients, so possibly more progress there than in audio!

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 27, 2020, 10:23:29 am
content: Quote from: Zero999 on April 26, 2020, 06:18:04 pmTell this nonsense to car tuning companies like Brabus. They not only do aftermarket tuning but also sell brand new. They do exactly the same, modify device and slap on their label in addition to original label.

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2020, 01:19:18 pm
content: Quote from: Someone on April 27, 2020, 08:27:33 amActually, there is only "good enough" and "not good enough". You can't have anything better than "good enough" digital cables.

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2020, 04:53:05 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on April 27, 2020, 10:23:29 amBrabus has been in a very close relationship with Daimler AG for decades now. There have been official Brabus-tuned models (at least an official M-model I know of), they do the Mercedes classic repairs, and they even went together (purchased? don't remember...) SMART, a Daimer AG car-making daughter.For the Brabus-models themselves, they are actually supplied on an OEM basis by Daimler, modified and sold under the Brabus brand - the company has it's own car maker certification (and therefor need their own certifications for being street legal).So this is a completely different thing, as the cars are OEM'ed and certified.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 27, 2020, 05:57:33 pm
content: Quote from: Haenk on April 27, 2020, 04:53:05 pmHow about Brabus modified Tesla?

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2020, 06:44:26 pm
content: Quote from: dropkick on April 27, 2020, 04:29:07 amAll I can say to the guy who wrote that is what Arthur said to the Black Knight: "You're a looney"And look, Walker Audio again.

author: Ground_Loop
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2020, 02:49:04 pm
content: Quote from: dropkick on April 27, 2020, 04:29:07 amWhat??? nothing about mouth feel?

author: JimS
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2020, 11:28:45 am
content: I would like to see a picture of this switch's PCB before their 'alleged' modifications.

author: Ranayna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2020, 03:05:47 pm
content: Not surprisingly there is just an ordinary electrolytic cap in place of that "fancy" "audio" capacitor:https://hackaday.io/project/170181-cisco-sg110d-08-teardownhttps://hackaday.io/project/170181/gallery#335fb04b97a9232024d9e4be639ca251The kapton tape is used so that the ceramic capacitors are not shortened, meaning that blank capacitor is a deliberate choice they made.The two 0 ohm links (L2 and L3) below the switch look badly soldered in their picture, same with the 000 links (R93, R94 and R95) in the top right area.The crystal also looks a bit different (and is slightly askew in their picture), so it appears they do not outright *lie* about their modifications it appears.I'm surprised they did not actually populate that common mode choke. Maybe for their revision 2

author: Sal Ammoniac
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2020, 04:50:14 pm
content: Quote from: Ranayna on April 29, 2020, 03:05:47 pmThat's a $200 upgrade...

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2020, 08:10:47 pm
content: If they decide to offer an upgrade. More like "New, even BETTER version 2, $400 more than version 1"