NORDOST QNET NETWORK SWITCH

The Nordost QNET Network Switch is a high-performance, audiophile-grade Ethernet switch designed to optimize the performance of digital streaming audio systems. Recognizing the critical role that network connectivity plays in modern audio setups, Nordost developed the QNET to address issues related to noise, interference, and signal degradation that can affect sound quality in streaming environments. By incorporating the QNET into your network, you can achieve a cleaner, more transparent, and dynamic sound from your digital sources.

Overview

The Nordost QNET is not an ordinary network switch; it is meticulously engineered to deliver the highest quality network signal to your audio components. It features advanced technologies, precision-built internal circuitry, and high-quality materials that ensure minimal interference, low noise, and optimized data transmission. This makes it an ideal addition to high-end audio systems where network streaming is a key source of music.

Key Features

• High-Quality, Low-Noise Design: The QNET features a custom-designed circuit board with high-quality components to reduce electrical noise and minimize interference. This ensures that the network signal remains as pure as possible, allowing your streaming audio equipment to perform at its best.
• Five Optimized Ports: The QNET offers five Ethernet ports, each of which is optimized for different types of audio equipment, such as network-attached storage (NAS) devices, music servers, media players, and streamers. This ensures that each connected component receives the most appropriate signal path, minimizing crosstalk and interference.
• Internal Isolation: To further reduce noise and prevent interference between connected devices, the QNET employs internal isolation between each of the five Ethernet ports. This ensures that the digital signal path remains uncompromised, resulting in cleaner audio playback.
• Dedicated Power Supply Options: The QNET can be powered using its standard power supply or, for even better performance, the Nordost QSOURCE Linear Power Supply. The QSOURCE provides a cleaner, more stable power source, which further enhances the performance of the QNET and reduces electrical noise.
• Robust Chassis Design: The QNET is housed in a solid, anti-resonant aluminum chassis, which not only protects the internal circuitry but also helps reduce the impact of external vibrations, ensuring that the network signal remains as stable and interference-free as possible.

Benefits of the Nordost QNET Network Switch

• Enhanced Sound Quality: By providing a cleaner and more stable network signal, the QNET reduces noise and jitter, resulting in clearer, more detailed, and more dynamic sound from your streaming audio system.
• Improved Data Transmission: The optimized Ethernet ports and internal isolation ensure that data transmission is as efficient and interference-free as possible, which translates into better audio fidelity.
• Greater Flexibility and Control: With five dedicated ports, the QNET allows you to connect multiple audio components to your network, each receiving the optimal signal path for its specific function.

Ideal Use Cases

• High-End Streaming Audio Systems: The QNET is ideal for audiophiles who rely on high-resolution streaming services, NAS devices, or media servers as part of their digital audio setup. It ensures that your system receives the cleanest possible network signal, resulting in superior sound quality.
• Home Theater Systems: Home theater enthusiasts who use streaming devices or network-connected components can benefit from the QNET’s ability to reduce network noise and interference, enhancing both audio and video performance.
• Professional Audio/Recording Studios: For professionals who require a stable, high-quality network connection for streaming or digital playback, the QNET offers a reliable solution that maintains signal integrity and quality.

How to Integrate the QNET into Your System

1. Connect the QNET to your existing router or network using a high-quality Ethernet cable.
2. Connect your audio components (such as music streamers, network players, NAS devices, or DACs) to the QNET’s optimized Ethernet ports using high-quality Ethernet cables.
3. Power the QNET using the included power supply or connect it to a Nordost QSOURCE Linear Power Supply for enhanced performance.
4. Ensure that the QNET is positioned in a stable, low-vibration location within your audio setup to maximize its benefits.

Who Should Consider the Nordost QNET Network Switch?

The QNET Network Switch is ideal for:

• Audiophiles who demand the highest level of performance from their streaming audio setups and want to eliminate any network-related issues that could degrade sound quality.
• Home Theater Enthusiasts looking to improve the sound quality of their streaming devices or network-connected components.
• Professionals who require a stable and high-quality network connection for digital playback or streaming in recording studios.

Comparison with Standard Network Switches

• Superior Sound Quality: Unlike standard network switches, which are designed primarily for data transfer, the QNET is purpose-built for audio performance. Its low-noise design, optimized ports, and internal isolation ensure that the network signal remains as clean and accurate as possible.
• Enhanced Build Quality: The QNET’s robust, anti-resonant chassis and high-quality components make it far more capable of reducing noise, vibration, and interference compared to conventional switches.

Technical Specifications

• Ports: 5 optimized Ethernet ports, each internally isolated to minimize crosstalk and interference
• Power Supply: Compatible with both the included power supply and Nordost’s QSOURCE Linear Power Supply
• Chassis: Anti-resonant aluminum chassis to minimize external vibrations and protect internal components
• Connectivity: Compatible with a wide range of networked audio and video components

The Nordost QNET Network Switch is a highly effective and essential addition for anyone seeking to optimize their streaming audio system. By delivering a clean, stable, and interference-free network signal, the QNET ensures that your digital audio components perform at their absolute best, resulting in clearer, more detailed, and more dynamic sound.

Whether you’re an audiophile aiming for the highest possible sound quality or a professional seeking reliable network performance, the QNET offers a significant upgrade over standard network switches. It is an investment that will unlock the full potential of your streaming audio system, making it an indispensable component for high-fidelity digital music playback.

The QNET is a layer-2, five-port Ethernet switch that has been specifically designed with audio performance in mind.

Compared to other audiophile network switches currently found on the market, which are typically standard switches with a simple upgrade to either the power supply or oscillators, the QNET is completely redesigned from the ground up. Every aspect of this product, from part to placement, was made to perfect the transmission and receival of high-speed audio signals, while achieving extremely low noise operation.

Internally, the QNET uses a high speed, multi-layered, impedance-controlled layout, which optimizes signal routes, minimizing reflections, interference, and crosstalk. It also boasts an extremely low-noise, stable oscillator for the main clock of the device, which allows for minimal jitter and phase noise. It is equipped with six dedicated power supplies, which provide unencumbered current to all parts of the switch, while minimizing noise cross-contamination and ensuring clean, interference-free operation.

Externally, the QNET is manufactured using an extremely durable aluminum housing. This housing not only acts as a heat sink and shield for the device, but also provides physical separation for the five, independent ports, each accommodating an 8P8C (RJ45) connector. The physical separation of each of these ports is a critical and unique design element, ensuring minimal crosstalk and interference within the device.

Each port on the QNET is optimized for its application. Three of the five ports are auto-negotiated 1000BASE-T (1 Gbps) capable, which should be used for the router and other generic network devices. The remaining two ports are fixed to 100BASE-TX (100 Mbps), a speed at which internal noise reduction is possible, making these ports best used for primary audio servers/players or external media sources.

The QNET is provided with its own DC power supply. However, to achieve the best results, the QNET should be powered by Nordost’s QSOURCE Linear Power Supply and connected with Nordost’s award-winning Ethernet Cables.

Whether you stream music and/or video from a local server, a NAS drive, or from the internet, upgrading your digitally-run system with Nordost’s QNET will make all the difference. This premium network switch will deliver enviable dynamic range, extension, and clarity to your system. As a result, the voices and instruments in your music will stand out against a surprisingly black background, giving you the fluid, life-like performance that you are looking for from your digital experience.