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Tag Archive for Network Switch

Introducing HyperLink, the world’s most affordable audiophile network switch

 

HyperLink - Network Switch (Front)

 

Today Fidelizer is launching HyperLink, the world’s most affordable audiophile network switch at only $169 USD! We have been designing products to improve streaming experience for over 7 years and we can finally developed product with best price/performance as below:

 

  1. Accept 12VDC input – Most affordable network switches with 5VDC input can’t share power source with other Fidelizer products
  2. Full scale dynamics – Most network switches we tested before often lack full sound experience, probably due to 5VDC input
  3. Isolation transformer support – Network switch with isolation transformer design can reduce interference from connected devices
  4. Good circuit design for modification – Good network switch should have multi-stage power regulation with radical can capacitors to upgrade

 

To find network switch that checks all these boxes at very affordable price point is very hard. We actually found one by coincidence while looking for parts to build Aura medical grade power supply that supplier also sell network switch too.

After finding the right network switch that aligns with our design philosophy, we applied the following modification as below:

 

-Upgrade input capacitor upgraded with high quality polymer hybrid design with higher capacitance and much lower impedance
-Upgrade crystal clock with higher precision clock module
-Upgrade capacitors in power supply section with higher capacitance and lower impedance
-Remove low quality solder in power input socket and replace with high quality solder to improve dynamics and transparency
-Components are soldered with high quality solder providing solid bass and dynamics
-Install high quality 3M rubber feet for better vibration control

 

HyperLink - Network Switch (Internal Photo)

 

At fraction of EtherStream’s price, HyperLink can deliver promising results in high-end audio systems. We recommend using HyperLink network switch together with Aura medical grade power supply. Aura can power 12V WiFi router before HyperLink also.

The product price will be $169 USD with 30-day money back guaranteed and free shipping until 30st April 2025. You can read more about HyperLink network switch product in details before ordering and happy listening.

Introducing EtherStream+ Upgrade program for original EtherStream customers

 

EtherStream2 - Network Switch

 

After successful launch of EtherStream2 network switch, I received a lot of positive impressions from clients and a few of them also own original EtherStream unit with satisfying improvement from previous version.

However, there are over 300 units of original EtherStream sold before launching EtherStream2 network switch and I don’t want early adopters who’s been supporting Fidelizer products using an obsolete product.

Just like Nimitra, we’re offering EtherStream+ upgrade program with the following changes to make original EtherStream performing at the same level of EtherStream2 with new technologies as below.

 

-Upgraded clock module with more suitable specifications for networked audio improving musicality
-Upgraded capacitors with new tuned value and have better specifications for lower impedance and current leakage
-Upgraded output transformer with high quality EMI/RFI reduction and vibration control sheet for router

 

It’s almost like modifying original EtherStream all over again except resistor part so the whole process will be $179 USD plus shipping. You can ship original EtherStream unit after confirming product and serial number to get your unit upgraded to EtherStream+ version.

I can assure you that these new found improvements will be worth every penny as EtherStream2 + Nikola2 combo can replace a few $3-5k network switches based on clients’ feedback I received and witnessed myself. EtherStream+ will also deliver that level of performance too.

If you’re interested in upgrading your original EtherStream product to EtherStream+ version, feel free to check EtherStream2 product page and purchase EtherStream+ Upgrade option to start EtherStream+ Upgrade program and happy listening. 🙂

EtherStream Network Switch receives Positive Feedback Writers’ Choice 2020 Award

 

Positive Feedback Writers' Choice Award 2020 for Fidelizer EtherStream Network Switch

 

Last year I launched EtherStream Network Switch due to some unforeseen events as originally personal mod being appreciated by Nimitra clients. It was a really pleasant surprise that modified switch was sold for almost 200 units now.

Last week I received an email notification about EtherStream receiving Positive Feedback Writers’ Choice Award. More than getting the first reward for EtherStream, I’m happy to see audiophiles are taking network improvements seriously in this year.

Elimination of noise from your playback really helps you sit up and listen closely to the music! With optical streaming, I really thought I was about as close as I could possibly get to the musical truth, but with the EtherStream—the overall sound quality is shockingly close. In fact, so much so, that all of my recent thoughts with regards to going all optical have now completely changed—the EtherStream is giving me probably 95 percent (or better) of the clarity and transparency that I was getting through the optical experience. Seriously, it’s virtually a wash! When compared to the NetGear switch that typically resides in my system, the EtherStream delivers a sound that’s not only deathly quiet, but punchier in character, with deeper, more defined bass and a significantly more liquid midrange. Fidelizer has done it again, and the EtherStream is very highly recommended!

This year Covid-19 hits hard on everyone. I hope you guys will remain safe with your family and enjoy the music during quarantine. You can read full article about Positive Feedback Writers’ Choice 2020 Awards and see other cool products too.

And don’t forget to check out the first and the second review of EtherStream Network Switch product. It may sound a bit weird to have two reviews but you can learn more from both perspectives from different systems. 🙂

EtherStream Network Switch review on HiFi Knights by Dawid Grzyb

 

EtherStream - Main

Actually, this review was published for a while but I’ve been so busy with delivering EtherStream Network Switch and many other products so I forgot to publish this until now. I’m so sorry and also very thankful for you guys’ continuous support.

This review is written by Dawid Grzyb and is the first Fidelizer product review in HiFi Knights. It’s thoroughly investigated review with every nook inside examined and shown. Not that I mind since I also showed and explained what I did for personal use.

I like how he compare EtherStream to his reference USB reclocker and galvanic isolation components and see that he can find similar improvements on network at more affordable approach as below.

Positive Feedback

The micro iUSB3.0 reclocker and EtherStream were quite alike voiced to my ears. The former’s action was more audible, but as previously not by a lot. Once again I thought that better LAN cables could even things out a fair bit, but today’s skirmishes with my USB boxes weren’t important per se as one doesn’t replace the other. Their action stacks. These investigations were conducted mainly to ease my own curiosity, but also to find out whether Keetakawee’s box could keep up with two fine examples of iFi audio’s USB engineering and remain just as relevant elsewhere. If today’s put up against USB sorters strikes you as odd, all fundamentally shave excess noise and make music more liquid, that’s their common ground. That’s why the main disparity was in their different junctures of my setup, not audible job. Even handicapped by stock LAN cables and away from streaming services, Fidelizer’s deck held its ground very well all things considered. What this switch was able to accomplish in my room, was already not too shabby for its coin and sub-optimal conditions. Something tells me that supported by better LAN cables, PSU, and used with streaming services, it would go faster, bigger and bolder, but that’s a story for another time. What’s important now is EtherStream’s audibly potent and beneficial input, with no strings attached. Yes, please.

I didn’t send switch with Nikola linear power supply so reviewer can review network switch on its own merits but you can upgrade linear power supply for better sound quality too. You can read his full review and see his journey about network improvements for more details.

EtherStream Network Switch review on Positive Feedback by Marshall Nack (Featuring CH Precision C1 with Quboz)

 

EtherStream - Main

 

Although EtherStream Network Switch was reviewed before in Positive-Feedback by Tom Gibbs. However, EtherStream works very well with CH Precision C1 DAC so it gets another review with highend networked audio setup.

This is probably the first review of EtherStream with ultra highend networked audio setup. We have some reviews with great systems but I wouldn’t expect $395 modded switch to be paired up with over $30k DAC in review for sure.

I’m really happy to see fellow highend audiophiles appreciating EtherStream too. Here’s his listening impressions and I’m glad he noticed that EtherStream doesn’t produce the stereotype of bleached, hyper-detailed, fast, and edgy audiophile sound.

Positive Feedback

After hitting PLAY, it only took seconds before my eyes opened wide. The piano was crisp and sparkling, with good edge definition and texture. WOW! Just like that, the culprit was nailed—and this was only my first sip! For confirmation, I swapped back to the TP-Link switch and, sure enough, the excessively soft presentation was there again. The TP-Link did not produce what we call a soundstage. It only had width and height, no depth, it was 2-D flat like a paint gun splatter. The images were swimming together as notes emanated from an ill-defined place, indistinct, hollow sounding, and lacking a tonal center. This is what happens when the music doesn’t have a good foundation. Without support, the soundstage gets spongy.

A firm foundation underpinning the stage is very important. When you build a house, the foundation is laid first and everything that sits on it, depends on it. If it’s unstable, the whole structure becomes insecure and wobbly. Same with instruments on a soundstage. The EtherStream firmed up the structure and presented a 3-D stage layered side to side and front to back, populated with decently sized images.

Well, this was quite a flip from the last time I streamed with Ethernet. My brain struggled to process what just happened. Unawares, I had slipped into the mindset of the audio objectivists, the deniers of differences. I put together these streaming front-ends on the cheap without giving them much thought, thinking parts is parts. It never crossed my mind to give the switch a second thought. Damn! It’s the same old lesson I have to relearn (let alone the undesirable association with the deniers). Remember: rule number one in the High-End is everything counts. When you’ve been doing this long enough, time and again, it’s the things from out in left field, the stuff you think can’t possibly matter, that blindside you.

The foundation of the soundstage was not the only thing that changed. After burn-in (yes, a new EtherStream needs about 200 hours for optimal performance), the music had a decidedly acoustic bent with nice flow and satisfactory timbre. Tonal balance was evenly disbursed from the decent low-end up to a natural treble, plus there was some flesh on the bones. The EtherStream is positioned to appeal to the audiophile market, but it didn’t produce the stereotype of bleached, hyper-detailed, fast, and edgy audiophile sound.

One other thing: according to the Fidelizer website, a primary design goal for the EtherStream product was to address many consumers’ poor opinion of streaming vs. music files on local storage. Based on my own explicit comparison, the EtherStream gives you the same playback quality from Qobuz as music files on local storage. There was no audible difference.

He also asked me for linear power supply upgrade too but the suitable product was yet ready at that time. I’ll launch new products to use with EtherStream soon and I highly recommend to read his full review and see how EtherStream can perform in highend networked audio setup.