AQVox AQ-SWITCH-8

[GuillaumeB]

Well after spending much of the evening listening to music all I can say is what a fantastic purchase. Highly recommended.

Kick drums have more solidity/texture to them. The soundstage is more open. Longer decays and more bloom in the midrange. There is almost a complete absence of leading edge in that unnatural way. It's easier to turn the music up louder and there is no fatigue. Of course these things are difficult to put into words without resorting to all the usual audiophile clichés (which I generally hate reading in other people's reviews).

Some of my best recordings are just jaw dropping now. And the ones that were a little challenging in parts are so much better now.

Tomorrow I will have some fun with Qobuz streaming.

Blows my Paul Pang with posh LPS out of the water. 

Guillaume

[Hifi_swlon]

Wow, pretty strong feedback. Great news!

What's your chain with the Aqvox Guillaume? I assume you're not using AIR?
Just trying to figure how much impact its having for you in your setup, versus what I might get by just adding the switch next tp the Devialet and using it as the final connection (its too small to replace my main switch).

And so the mains adaptor is EU - with an adapter?

[GuillaumeB]

Wow, pretty strong feedback.  Great news!

What's your chain with the Aqvox Guillaume?  I assume you're not using AIR?
Just trying to figure how much impact its having for you in your setup, versus what I might get by just adding the switch next tp the Devialet and using it as the final connection (its too small to replace my main switch).

And so the mains adaptor is EU - with an adapter?

Not using it with AIR at the moment, it's feeding my totaldac d1. I imagine it will be very interesting with AIR.

My Draytek router is connected directly to it via a 20M of Cat7. The Aqvox sits next to the hi-fi and has a few other things connected to it too. 

I have to say it's surprisingly good! I'm using a Schuko to UK adapter (my own since theirs weren't ready yet and I didn't want to wait much longer). I will eventually get a Schuko to US so that I can connect it to my power conditioner. 

Guillaume

[Rama]

Would this be of any goodness if you have a Melco?

[octaviars]

Wow, pretty strong feedback.  Great news!

What's your chain with the Aqvox Guillaume?  I assume you're not using AIR?
Just trying to figure how much impact its having for you in your setup, versus what I might get by just adding the switch next tp the Devialet and using it as the final connection (its too small to replace my main switch).

And so the mains adaptor is EU - with an adapter?

I use this connection right now but with a regular switch but have plans on a Aqvox.

I talked to a computer guy and he told me that using the router as a switch could affect things as the switch often found in routers is of less quality and a seperate good quality switch that handles the audio only could be a good thing to try.

   

[Hifi_swlon]

I'd personally like to see some measurements of these things - not just noise removal on the network lines (there are ones for the giso isolator on their website) but also some from the DAC output showing it made a difference and that there is a real problem to solve. Sadly I doubt that's going to happen so it's back to taking a punt and listening but also wondering what is there and what may be placebo.
I see they have a 30 day trial period, so I suppose there's time to get someone to help with a home made blind test.

Hard to know what to try next. Something like this, a lan isolator, power conditioning, or just new speakers (if I could ever find any suitable ones in my budget. )

[Rama]

One interesting fact about this unit is that it is made out of metal and rejects RFI. Another interesting point in my opinion is that the switch does re-clocking which is a first for a switch. Good plan would be to try it with my SOTM-SMS200.

[Antoine]

Hi Guillaume, thank you for sharing your impressions! The device looks like a winner!  

The type of changes/character of the changes in SQ you describe I recognize very much from my own adventures in optimizing the digital side of my system so I think the device does what it claims. Of course it's for anyone to find out if it warrants the purchase. I may take the risk tio try after things settle a bit here but you (and others) have certainly spiked my interest.

(I almost forgot I should receive a Paul Pang modded switch soon too in a deal I made to acquire a LPS-1. So going to try that first too.)

Enjoy!

[Antoine]

I use this connection right now but with a regular switch but have plans on a Aqvox.

I talked to a computer guy and he told me that using the router as a switch could affect things as the switch often found in routers is of less quality and a seperate good quality switch that handles the audio only could be a good thing to try.

I agree with that and it's something I've been doing in my system for a long time as well. One other reason you did not mention is that the router (if we're talking about the router that connects us to the Internet) has a noisy cable or other telco connection. Especially 'cable' (as in CATV) is very dirty, one needs to take great care in isolating it from ones system.

[Dr Tone]

Is that wall wart a 120VAC with a 230VAC adapter?