Melco S100 Network Switch

[matthias]

If the extreme experiences with the Melco in the shop had often been repeated at home, I would not have hesitated to buy the Melco. But presumably no system can afford that anymore, so I remain modest and live with what I have.... Until the next temptation and hope...:):)

What do you think was the reason the Melco performed so well in the shop but not in your set-up?
Thanks

Matt

[Eli7]

If the extreme experiences with the Melco in the shop had often been repeated at home, I would not have hesitated to buy the Melco. But presumably no system can afford that anymore, so I remain modest and live with what I have.... Until the next temptation and hope...:):)

What do you think was the reason the Melco performed so well in the shop but not in your set-up?
Thanks

Matt

I suspect it's my more modest system, the setup and the room my system is in. When I took the Melco back to the shop, another system was set up. This time with a Linn Select but the same speakers. We tried the Melco solo again on the 1000 ports. I then experienced something similar to the 1st time. Not as extreme, but I recognised it.

Of course, I also know what that means. The best system is of no use if it cannot be set up optimally.

[Spannko]

So let's move on to Melco/Sbooster vs Melco/Sbooster/Adot (Linear power supply).

1) https://www.dropbox.com/s/gxpmqu5lbqvgx ... 9.m4a?dl=0
2) https://www.dropbox.com/s/45yrgresdx1ma ... 9.m4a?dl=0

Number 1 for me please.

[Charlie1]

So let's move on to Melco/Sbooster vs Melco/Sbooster/Adot (Linear power supply).

1) https://www.dropbox.com/s/gxpmqu5lbqvgx ... 9.m4a?dl=0
2) https://www.dropbox.com/s/45yrgresdx1ma ... 9.m4a?dl=0

Prefer 1. Didn't much enjoy 2 after hearing 1

[Eli7]

So, let's come to the resolution of the comparison. It was clearer with these. We all voted for:

1 = Melco/Sbooster

With this example we can see again that a theoretical technical advantage (galvanic separation, fibre optics) does not necessarily have to be musically advantageous. So we must remain critical and not believe everything we are told.

[Eli7]

Here is the final comparison of the test winner Melco/Sbooster vs Netgear.

1) https://www.dropbox.com/s/fxhynm5l9xu6h ... r.m4a?dl=0
2) https://www.dropbox.com/s/60wzik2clxtstrs/12.m4a?dl=0

[tokenbrit]

Here is the final comparison of the test winner Melco/Sbooster vs Netgear.

1) https://www.dropbox.com/s/fxhynm5l9xu6h ... r.m4a?dl=0
2) https://www.dropbox.com/s/60wzik2clxtstrs/12.m4a?dl=0

Closer than I expected given the number of votes originally for the S100 over the 108T, and the consensus in favour of the Melco/Sbooster... I enjoy both in slightly different ways: swing w/ 1; snap w/ 2 - I have a v.slight preference for 1, but just as happily listen to 2. Is there much a difference in room?

[beck]

I prefer 1 guessing it is the Netgear. I could be wrong though. :-)

[lejonklou]

I prefer 1

[Spannko]

Eli7,

First off, thanks a million for undertaking this series of tests 👍 They’ve been excellent.

I’ve only had time to listen to the last pair once, but I think I preferred No.1 by quite a big margin, which surprised me. I’m being hassled to mow the lawns for the weekend, so I’ll listen again later 👨‍🌾

EDIT: Yep. Deffo No.1

[matthias]

#1 for me

Matt

[ThomasOK]

I agree that they do both sound pretty good. But I prefer 1. When listening to clip 1 I had a hard time pausing it to go to clip 2. I just wanted to keep listening. I found clip 2 to seem a bit restrained in comparison. It didn't pull me into the music as much.

[Tony Tune-age]

I agree that they do both sound pretty good. But I prefer 1. When listening to clip 1 I had a hard time pausing it to go to clip 2. I just wanted to keep listening. I found clip 2 to seem a bit restrained in comparison. It didn't pull me into the music as much.

I prefer clip 1 also...(+1)

[Eli7]

Here is the final comparison of the test winner Melco/Sbooster vs Netgear.

1) https://www.dropbox.com/s/fxhynm5l9xu6h ... r.m4a?dl=0
2) https://www.dropbox.com/s/60wzik2clxtstrs/12.m4a?dl=0

Closer than I expected given the number of votes originally for the S100 over the 108T, and the consensus in favour of the Melco/Sbooster... I enjoy both in slightly different ways: swing w/ 1; snap w/ 2 - I have a v.slight preference for 1, but just as happily listen to 2. Is there much a difference in room?

I did not hear any difference in favour of the Melco that triggered a must have reflex in me.

[Eli7]

This time it was not easy for me to make a decision. I listened to the clips a few times and like them both. However, I found a slight preference for clip 1. The music seems more natural to me, more human, as if I were there live.

[Eli7]

Let's move on to the evaluation.

I prefer 1 guessing it is the Netgear. I could be wrong though. :-)

You are exactly right with your assumption, Beck.

So we have all cast our votes for:

1 = Netgear

[lejonklou]

Let's move on to the evaluation.

I prefer 1 guessing it is the Netgear. I could be wrong though. :-)

You are exactly right with your assumption, Beck.

So we have all cast our votes for:

1 = Netgear

Thank you for this series of comparisons, Eli7!

They were both fun and educating. Funny how we went in a circle back to the Netgear

[beck]

This time it was not easy for me to make a decision. I listened to the clips a few times and like them both. However, I found a slight preference for clip 1. The music seems more natural to me, more human, as if I were there live.

I agree with your observations about the music. I find digital difficult to get right. I do think that the step from good reproduction to “right” is like a move from “interesting hifi” sound to something I would call “normal” sound. Less “bling” but more “human”.

[ThomasOK]

This time it was not easy for me to make a decision. I listened to the clips a few times and like them both. However, I found a slight preference for clip 1. The music seems more natural to me, more human, as if I were there live.

I agree with your observations about the music. I find digital difficult to get right. I do think that the step from good reproduction to “right” is like a move from “interesting hifi” sound to something I would call “normal” sound. Less “bling” but more “human”.

+1. I agree with Fredrik as well, this was an interesting and informative set of comparisons.

[lejonklou]

This time it was not easy for me to make a decision. I listened to the clips a few times and like them both. However, I found a slight preference for clip 1. The music seems more natural to me, more human, as if I were there live.

I agree with your observations about the music. I find digital difficult to get right. I do think that the step from good reproduction to “right” is like a move from “interesting hifi” sound to something I would call “normal” sound. Less “bling” but more “human”.

Yes! That's what I'm looking for as well.

I think part of the reason why we find digital difficult to get right is that we don't yet have enough experience with all of its imperfections. Analogue imperfections are difficult enough, but they follow a pattern that is easier to learn, while the digital imperfections are still evolving. In the beginning they were harsh and unforgiving. Then the harshness was removed and we identified sterility, a lack of emotion. Now they're often rich and impressive, in a way that doesn't bring any further musical insights.

As always, the Tune Method sorts the wheat from the chaff.

[Charlie1]

Here is the final comparison of the test winner Melco/Sbooster vs Netgear.

1) https://www.dropbox.com/s/fxhynm5l9xu6h ... r.m4a?dl=0
2) https://www.dropbox.com/s/60wzik2clxtstrs/12.m4a?dl=0

Clear preference for 1

[beck]

Getting digital “right” is a bit like this search:

https://youtu.be/A0TalLrtZ24

:-)

[Spannko]

Getting digital “right” is a bit like this search:

https://youtu.be/A0TalLrtZ24

:-)

OMG!!! No wonder you stay away from all this digital malarkey charlie1! The analogue world is far safer😂

[Eli7]

I refuse to believe that digital is the problem with me. After all, I listened to music with great satisfaction for 10 years with a Naim CD3.5 CD player. At that time I also had an LP12/Lingo/Akito2. I liked analogue and digital equally. In my case, it's something else.

[beck]

I refuse to believe that digital is the problem with me. After all, I listened to music with great satisfaction for 10 years with a Naim CD3.5 CD player. At that time I also had an LP12/Lingo/Akito2. I liked analogue and digital equally. In my case, it's something else.

Lack of believable physical presence from the instruments and voices in the room when playing music is a turn off for me personally. This gives me a hard time with todays digital offerings.

As an example this despite the musical presentation does not do it for me:

https://youtu.be/uNTDp7jX0Qg

It does not give me the sound I want. The instruments lack a believable presence to me.


....or to choose an analog approach listen to this comparison.

https://youtu.be/KbUtsUGgdaQ

I would pick the Shure because of it’s more believable presence. Just my personal preference.