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  #21  
Old 06-11-2019, 11:51 PM
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After I hooked up the 6 gauge copper wire from the switch to the cable junction box I noticed the grounding cable for the cable and phone was attached to the incoming water pipe on a Copper line - the home is all Copper, no Pex.

Last night I tied into the clamp and heard a difference but was not thinking as good as when it was in the cable box, there was now 4 pieces of wire in the clamp at different diameters, plus some were stranded - then I did some reading after the fact and realized it was said not to tie in with cable and phone because their issues could become mine.

So I bought two new grounding clamps, keeping the 6 gauge audio separate, then cleaned the pipe and was cautious when placing the audio clamp onto the pipe as the elbow is about an inch off and don’t want to break soder.

Let me tell you the difference was now greater then the cable box tie in, and I had a hunch this was gonna happen.

That little noisy AQVox SE switch needs to be tamed and begs for grounding, and that’s what I gave her 🤺 My system is killing as it should for that pile of cash, and it every tv in the home has taken a step up as well.

So if your not using linear on the switch, and your switch has a grounding screw then consider following something like I did as an option, I now have under $20.00 in this and the work was simple at best.

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  #22  
Old 06-12-2019, 12:15 AM
Tecknik1 Tecknik1 is offline
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For The Love of Music We have similar approaches.

My router, switch and FMC are all grounded and powered with LPS,s. On the other side of my room closest to my system sets a FMC plugged into another Aqvox SE using AQ Diamond, Aqvox SE to Server, AQ Diamond, AQ Diamond to QX 5 TWENTY.

Again all switches , FMC are powered with LPS,s and grounded. The only big difference between us is the use of FMC ( fiber) which gives greater clairity then cat cable because of the galvanized Isolation.

Following Steve Nugent finding the Aqvox switch needs to be closest to your system to give greater results rather then closer to the router. In other words the switch needs to be at the end point to your server dac rather then at the router end.

The one thing I noticed you have your switch on a slab of granite sitting on StillPoints which I will have to do one day. My switch is mounted on the side of my rack. I believe your correct on isolating the switch I just didn't think of that but it certainly makes since.
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  #23  
Old 06-12-2019, 01:19 AM
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For The Love of Music For The Love of Music is offline
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For The Love of Music We have similar approaches.



My router, switch and FMC are all grounded and powered with LPS,s. On the other side of my room closest to my system sets a FMC plugged into another Aqvox SE using AQ Diamond, Aqvox SE to Server, AQ Diamond, AQ Diamond to QX 5 TWENTY.



Again all switches , FMC are powered with LPS,s and grounded. The only big difference between us is the use of FMC ( fiber) which gives greater clairity then cat cable because of the galvanized Isolation.



Following Steve Nugent finding the Aqvox switch needs to be closest to your system to give greater results rather then closer to the router. In other words the switch needs to be at the end point to your server dac rather then at the router end.



The one thing I noticed you have your switch on a slab of granite sitting on StillPoints which I will have to do one day. My switch is mounted on the side of my rack. I believe your correct on isolating the switch I just didn't think of that but it certainly makes since.


Hey there,

Sounds like your dialed, and you have 2 more Diamonds than I. I was really impressed what that did in my system.

I moved the switch from the music room for two reasons; it was fed by a switch and simpler IMO is better, and I had a hunch on noise despite my Nordost QKore 6. The result, was a greater sense of openness; timbre embodied vocals and instruments in a smooth and natural manner but nothing like once I grounded the switch using the built in grounding port.

I’m not going FMC as I have the Gigafoil v4 serving duty. I have a couple of small things to do then I’m sticking a fork in it for Summer anyway.
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  #24  
Old 06-12-2019, 02:50 AM
Tecknik1 Tecknik1 is offline
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I agree grounding the switch does a lot , grounding the router was equally good since I believe it contributes even more noise.

Sounds like your dialed in as well.
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  #25  
Old 06-12-2019, 10:30 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tecknik1 View Post
For The Love of Music We have similar approaches.

My router, switch and FMC are all grounded and powered with LPS,s. On the other side of my room closest to my system sets a FMC plugged into another Aqvox SE using AQ Diamond, Aqvox SE to Server, AQ Diamond, AQ Diamond to QX 5 TWENTY.

Again all switches , FMC are powered with LPS,s and grounded. The only big difference between us is the use of FMC ( fiber) which gives greater clairity then cat cable because of the galvanized Isolation.

Following Steve Nugent finding the Aqvox switch needs to be closest to your system to give greater results rather then closer to the router. In other words the switch needs to be at the end point to your server dac rather then at the router end.

The one thing I noticed you have your switch on a slab of granite sitting on StillPoints which I will have to do one day. My switch is mounted on the side of my rack. I believe your correct on isolating the switch I just didn't think of that but it certainly makes since.
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Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components.
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  #26  
Old 06-12-2019, 10:31 AM
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Originally Posted by Tecknik1 View Post
I agree grounding the switch does a lot , grounding the router was equally good since I believe it contributes even more noise.

Sounds like your dialed in as well.
Yes, agreed!
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Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components.
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  #27  
Old 06-15-2019, 01:06 PM
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For The Love of Music For The Love of Music is offline
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Default Front end digital foundation

AA’ers

Added the iFi with Spade to the AQVox SE switch using the repurposed Nordost Red Dawn power cable formerly feeding the Keces P8 replacing it with an AudioQuest Thunder Source power cable from the Audioquest Powerquest 3.

The iFi spade contributed a modest gain to noise reduction, and wanted to be sure I wasn’t losing anything as I was suspicious. I believe the Red Dawn did something here, but not sure as the Thunder was put in right after and the first hour you could hear where things might go, then the burn in on the Thunder set in, making me shut the amps off and let the cable do it’s thing over night. This morning it’s a night and day difference, it’s bringing things together nicely.

Takeaway;

- iFi proved a modest gain, a better power cable may make a difference but not sure - this grounding process uses electrical grounding whereas my switch grounding is what I consider passive

- power cables influence Linear Power Supplies, and the Keces in my system performed horribly with an Ansuz C2, good with an Audioquest NRG 2, better with a Nordost Red Dawn and well on its way with the Audioquest Thunder Source passing all.

- Pay attention to what’s coming into your system as you can rob performance from other pieces in your system.

- Grounding; electrical and passive makes a good system into a great system!

Happy Listening!

Image1560618397.911022.jpgImage1560618410.447175.jpg

Last edited by For The Love of Music; 06-15-2019 at 01:10 PM.
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  #28  
Old 06-15-2019, 07:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by For The Love of Music View Post
AA’ers

Added the iFi with Spade to the AQVox SE switch using the repurposed Nordost Red Dawn power cable formerly feeding the Keces P8 replacing it with an AudioQuest Thunder Source power cable from the Audioquest Powerquest 3.

The iFi spade contributed a modest gain to noise reduction, and wanted to be sure I wasn’t losing anything as I was suspicious. I believe the Red Dawn did something here, but not sure as the Thunder was put in right after and the first hour you could hear where things might go, then the burn in on the Thunder set in, making me shut the amps off and let the cable do it’s thing over night. This morning it’s a night and day difference, it’s bringing things together nicely.

Takeaway;

- iFi proved a modest gain, a better power cable may make a difference but not sure - this grounding process uses electrical grounding whereas my switch grounding is what I consider passive

- power cables influence Linear Power Supplies, and the Keces in my system performed horribly with an Ansuz C2, good with an Audioquest NRG 2, better with a Nordost Red Dawn and well on its way with the Audioquest Thunder Source passing all.

- Pay attention to what’s coming into your system as you can rob performance from other pieces in your system.

- Grounding; electrical and passive makes a good system into a great system!

Happy Listening!
Agreed on all counts. I'm using Shunyata power cables on everything, from Venom 14s for the Mac Mini and the Meanwell AC/DC brick supplying the Uptone LPS-1 (which in turn powers the OpticalModule); a Diamondback powering the Keces P3, and Black Mamba CX, HC CX and Zitron Cobras for everything else, all plugged into the Shunyata Triton.

I did a demo comparing the microRendu vs the SOtM UltraNeo for an audio buddy who swang by yesterday. It was the first time I had heard the microRendu powered by the Keces P3, and I have to say that it sounded pretty darn good. And this was with the Keces only having arrived around mid-day that same day, too.

Speaking of grounding, I installed the homemade JSGSS cable I made up the other day onto the incoming power port for the LPS-1, which powers the OpticalModule yesterday.



This is the grounding cable "shunt" that shunts high-impedance leakage currents from the LPS-1's Meanwell SMPS AC/DC power brick to ground. I was surprised at the improvement in sound quality it brought: it lowered the noise floor, made the imaging more focused and cleaner and took out some "digital discomfort" from the upper mids/lower highs.

So, yes, good power cords, good, linear power supplies, and good grounding are all key to a musical, engaging and very enjoyable digital front end.
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Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components.
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  #29  
Old 06-24-2019, 12:41 AM
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I tried an old enterprise grade switch (properly grounded by design) with a shielded patch cable (grounded by the switch) to my MacMini (unmodified, I’m saving for better), and it did lower the noise floor some over the consumer tplink switch it was connected with. Mac and switch coming from independent P15 ports.

Hmmm... well I know that’s not packet loss. Hell, Audirvana downloads/caches the song from Tidal. The theories about interference passed into the system is the only explanation I can accept rationally.

Cheap tweak as they go.
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  #30  
Old 06-24-2019, 09:50 AM
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For The Love of Music For The Love of Music is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kubla36 View Post
I tried an old enterprise grade switch (properly grounded by design) with a shielded patch cable (grounded by the switch) to my MacMini (unmodified, I’m saving for better), and it did lower the noise floor some over the consumer tplink switch it was connected with. Mac and switch coming from independent P15 ports.

Hmmm... well I know that’s not packet loss. Hell, Audirvana downloads/caches the song from Tidal. The theories about interference passed into the system is the only explanation I can accept rationally.

Cheap tweak as they go.

Good to hear your efforts were positive.

I have a Cisco one at work, that was in the $1,000’s and was tempted to try this but never did.
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