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Switching Hubs Are Full of Tips: Choosing an AV-Oriented Hub and Using Its Ports [Yoshida Iori's A&V Oku no Hosomichi]
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A hi-fi writer, Iori Yoshida, explains why a small network switching hub (a box that connects devices with LAN cables) can change the sound of music streamed at home. He also shares tips on which ports to use.
Music over the home network
Music is now sent as digital files over the internet and home network. Devices like network players stream music to your home. The writer says that a switching hub placed close to the audio gear can make the sound better. He also says that the choice of ports on the hub matters for sound quality.
Why use a hub at all?
A router can connect straight to a network player, so a hub is not strictly needed. But the writer found that using a hub improves sound. The problem is that many devices plugged into a hub use switching power supplies. These create electrical noise, which can spread through the cables and reach the audio gear. The writer's answer is to keep the connections simple, with only the router and the player. He also found that cleaner, quieter power for the hub helps. A metal case and a battery or noise-filtered power supply gave better results.
Key facts from the writer's test
- His hub has 5 LAN ports and a metal case.
- He bought it for a few thousand yen at a retail store.
- A 5-volt battery pack gave the best picture, and the writer used it as the reference for sound tests.
- Using ports 1 and 2, or 3 and 4, next to each other sounded better than using ports far apart.
- For a 5-port hub, ports 4 and 5 sounded best, so he used them for his system.
Why it matters
Many people think that all ports on a network hub work the same way. This article shows that small choices, such as which ports to use and how cables cross, can change sound quality. It also shows that a simple setup with less electrical noise may sound better. Readers can test these ideas with their own hubs by swapping cables, since the method needs no special tools.
Things to try
- Test different port pairs on your own hub and listen for changes.
- Keep the router and the network player connected directly, and remove extra devices from the hub if possible.
- Check whether the hub has a metal case and a DC power input that can take a cleaner power source.
- Remember that soldering a power or ground wire changes the product, so screw-based connections are safer.