Nordost QNET 5 Port Network Switch
“Thanks to Nordost’s QNET, network audio just took a leap forward in listenability. It makes your streamed music sound more like music and it’s only when you realise just how far from that goal we usually are with networked audio that you begin to understand how important this humble looking audiophile hockey puck is going to be.”
— ALAN SIRCOM, HI-FI+
A five-port Ethernet switch that has been specifically designed with audio performance in mind.
Many "audiophile" network switches are standard switches with a simple upgrade to either the power supply or oscillators. The Nordost QNET is completely redesigned from the ground up.
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 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.
Nordost has a dedicated stand for this unit.
Specifications
Type: Layer-2 unmanaged 5-port switch
Port Throughput (1-3, 4-5): 1000BASE-T/100BASE-TX capable with auto-negotiation and auto-MDI/MDI-X support, 100BASE-TX full duplex
Connectors: 8P8C (RJ45)
DC Power Input: 9 V/1.2 A
Weight: 88 g / 31 oz
Dimensions (DH): 6.5" x 1.35" (165 x 34.25 mm)
