Improve Your Streamed Music with the Nordost QNET Network Switch: Specialty Device Enhances Dynamics, Detail, Clarity, Body, and More

A superb Ethernet switch can make a huge difference in your entertainment system. Whether you stream music and/or video from a local server, a NAS drive, or from the internet, upgrading your digital system with Nordost's QNET Network Switch will make a dramatic improvement. This premium network switch will allow your system to deliver a greater dynamic range, better extension, and improved clarity. As a result, the voices and instruments will stand out against an ink-black background, allowing you to experience accurate, lifelike playback.

QNET is a Layer-2, five-port Ethernet switch specifically designed with audio performance in mind. Compared to other audiophile network switches — typically standard switches with a simple upgrade to either the power supply or oscillators — QNET is completely redesigned from the ground up. Every aspect, from each part to its careful placement, is made to perfect the transmission and receival of high-speed audio signals, all the while achieving extremely low-noise operation.

Internally, QNET uses a high-speed, multilayered, impedance-controlled layout, which optimizes signal routes and thereby minimizes reflections, interference, and crosstalk. It also boasts an extremely low-noise, stable oscillator for the main clock, leading to minimal jitter and phase noise. In addition, six dedicated power supplies provide unencumbered current to all parts of the switch while minimizing noise cross-contamination, thus ensuring interference-free performance.

QNET is framed in durable aluminum housing that acts as a heat sink and shield, and 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 design element, ensuring minimal crosstalk and interference within the unit.

Moreover, each port 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.

Please note: QNET comes with its own DC power supply. To achieve the best results, Nordost recommends QNET be powered by Nordost's QSOURCE power supply and connected with Nordost Ethernet cables. 

“Thanks to Nordost’s QNET, network audio just took a step forward in listenability; it makes your streamed music sound more like music…”
—Hi-Fi+, 2022 Best Product Award, Digital Component: Network Switch

“[If] your goal is achieving no-compromise Ethernet-connected streaming sound, this QRT setup will get yo what you pay for… I guarantee you will never take them out [of your system].”
—Lawrence Devoe, TONEAudio

“With Nordost’s QNET in place, everything sounds smoother and more fluid; it’s better balanced with less harshness. The leading edges of notes seem to be sharper and have more energy, giving the system greater dynamic expression."
— Mark Gusew, StereoNet