"Audiophile Grade" Ethernet Switches - The new generation

[David A]

A direct cable connection between streamer and DAC (with high quality cable) is not better than any router/switch (EtherRegen or not)?...
It is less expensive, for sure.

It is better to improve the USB first, then later the switch because USB will deliver more benefits. 

USB is more than just a cable, can include regen device, external clock etc. It can easily become more expensive.

I don't agree that USB is superior, at least not for everyone.

I've read comments from various manufacturers, some of whom say that USB is better and some of whom say that ethernet is better. My own experience is with 2 devices which offer both USB and ethernet output and 1 which offers only USB output. Of the 2 which offer both USB and ethernet output, Antipodes claim USB is superior and Roon that ethernet is superior. My experience with an Antipodes DS and a Roon Nucleus+ is that I preferred ethernet with both. With an Auralic Aries Mini which offers only USB output I would prefer USB from the Aries Mini to USB from the Antipodes DS or the Nucleus+ but I still have a preference for ethernet from the Nucleus+. My feeling is that different manufacturers have their own views over which is better and try to optimise their products for that method. I prefer the sound quality I get with an ethernet connection but experience also tells me that if there is an audible difference then some people will prefer one connection and others will prefer the other. I don't think that one method will satisfy every Devialet user, especially when we're using a variety of different source devices which may or may not do equally well at implementing both methods and it's easy to lose the theoretical advantages of a given connection method by not implementing it optimally.

And since I use Roon, ethernet has an advantage for me that USB does not have. Roon can control volume via the Devialet's own volume control with an ethernet connection so I can send a bit perfect signal to the Devialet while still controlling volume in Roon. Using USB Roon can't control volume by using the Devialet's volume control so it controls volume over USB by applying DSP. Is that result any worse in terms of sound quality? I don't know but regardless of whether USB or ethernet is theoretically superior, I tend to believe that sending a bit perfect signal to the Devialet and applying volume control in the Devialet is theoretically superior to controlling volume by DSP in Roon and losing the bit perfect signal transmission.

YMMV. USB and ethernet sound different to me and I prefer the sound I get with ethernet. Ethernet also allows me to control volume in Roon and keep a bit perfect signal path which I'd prefer to do. Others, including you, prefer USB and that's fine but one thing is certain and that is that neither USB nor ethernet is preferred by everyone. When different people have different preferences my advice is always that you should run with what your personal preference is because that's the option which will give you most enjoyment.