New Network Switch: LHY AS-6

Been there, did that!

UPS has not updated the tracking yet, and I do not know if it is in the US or still in Asia. Hopefully I will get an update soon.

The duo combo of SW-10/FO/SW-6 is doing a fantastic job, among the rest of streaming devices, in creating music that can almost match playing discs from my PST/DS MK2. Will SW-10 Pro finally bring streaming to the same level, or will it get even closer?

That was the whole reason I am getting this switch, isn’t it?

6 Likes

It looks like you’ll be the first. No pressure to do a full review for us all :smiley:

My early positive reviews of a footer helped generate a ton of sales, and I even got a free set of footers as gift. But that will not stop me from giving a fair review though. :laughing:

The new tariffs will be 55% for China according to the latest rumor. Does that mean all goods manufactured in China will be subject to the same tariffs? I hope not. You may want to put your order in sooner. :thinking:

2 Likes

The UPS label for my LHY SW-10 Pro was created four days ago, and it still shows the tracking info. is not available. Looks like it got stuck in Asia still.

The good news is that Gryphon D333 will arrive at the dealer on June 18th. It will take a few more days to arrive in the Bay Area. I hope I will not receive both of them in the same week, which will be very troublesome. But in case they arrive in the same week, SW-10 Pro will stay in the box for a few days, because there is no way I will let D333 sit around first. :grin:

4 Likes

my AS-6 seemed ‘stuck’ west of Hong Kong a couple days

As winter rolls in I finally found some time over the weekend to have a play ..

First test Replacement of S6 to A8 Pro – same fiber / SFP connectors

Overall an improvement in resolution in certain instruments and depth around vocal not massive but certainly there. Kd Lang track Air that I breath had a little cleaner sound to it, Hausser – River Flows in you the cello just sounded better in places thru this track. Overall from about 4 test tracks can confirm that this switch is a step up from the previous switch mainly on resolution.

Test 2 - A8 Pro – earthing – in my system –lifted v earthed- lifted collapsed a number of things I was quite surprised by what happened - wife verified as a strange event. This wasn’t a small difference and was very noticeable so definitely earthed for me

Test 3 grounded to the Syn SX block also improved depth but this is probably more due to the quietness – was noticeable on guitar strings in Mary Black and Shane Howard Don’t Explain – I really don’t want to like the Syn gear but no matter what one thinks about Ted gee there stuff is good – but in this comparison the HD Ground to the A8 Pro post was a winner

To be honest surprised that the earthing played around with the sound to the level it did

Test 4 Fiber – never enough in one’s diet – So we had SFP ubiquiti modules Com 2 Fiber / Enterprise Cisco Switches these bad boys rate to 100km+ distance from my switch to Hi-fi 25m so this is not a problem these are really well built units with Com 4 corning Gold.

My going in thought was this was a waste of time test sure the cisco sfp switches are $$$$$ and there seems to be a-lot of talk on the web around the corning gold cable in audio afterdark where pushing it big time 12 months ago . I would never spend the money on these sfp modules but when they come free one should have a listen. Well the improvements where there the clarity across the top was noticeable and the whole soundstage seemed to move a little more foward - listened to my standard few tracks and then just keep going with a smile. I am not one to rave about the massive difference we hear unless changes are equipment changes all we are doing is changing the sound signature or improving the flow of the system these changes this test really improved what i was hearing in my system I wasnt expecting it but i am certainly happy with the change

Test 5 fuse OK i found a old spare purple - i decided a while ago to stop on the fuse merry go round but when i was looking for my spare grounding cables just happened to be the right one for the a8, away for work for next couple of says so i put it in and will report back

Final notes – When I swapped out the Switches, I broke a clip on the Moun – what I did learn from this exercise is the Muon and Muon cable are adding considerable value to the digital network you really don’t know until its not there

What did I settle for

A8 Pro is a good update for $1400usd

Ground thru HD cable to Syn sx grounding block gave the cleanest lowest noise floor

Fiber/switches and cables do make a difference to what is presented for me this was really positive

these LHY switches are really quiet good and the new ones are an improvement

Foot note Sold my LHY sw6 to a guy in Australia and he keeps pinging me how happy he is with it and how much its improved his digital footprint- circle of life in Hi-fi is always nice to see

10 Likes

Absolutely awesome review @Gareth !!

I haven’t done anything with earthing etc. heading away, so playtime when I get back!

2 Likes

Great to hear your enjoying the AS8-pro. The SR Purple should add a little extra too.

What way do you have the AS8 connected, as I understand it essentially has 2 separate sections of inputs/outputs.

ahh that’s an interesting question and something i forgot to go back and recheck..

for all these Tests i was on the audio side

When I plugged it in, I plugged the SFP into the data side of the Switch and the audio side never fired up but when i plugged the sfp into the audio side both sides fired up.

i assumed this was based on the specs telling me
1x SFP+ optical fibre connector
1x Isolated SFP optical fibre connector

But you have me thinking and i will have a play when i get back home if its feeding on the audio side is the data side limited in speed do i need to take another sfp down if i want 10GB on the data side or is it passs thru 10GB to the data side

the guide for the A10pro doesn’t really address the SPF side

2 Likes

UPS latest tracking shows that my LHY SW-10 Pro will be delivered on Saturday. That’s a pleasant surprise. I hope they don’t revise the schedule.

4 Likes

Does UPS have to drop it on the 18th hole? Lol

3 Likes

That’s too dangerous with the golfers I’m playing with.

1 Like

That’s what I hear too when I gave the Muon to friends for some time to test.

SW10-Pro is out for delivery for me. Excited!

2 Likes

Hello. I have a LHY SW 6 and have ordered an AS 8 Pro. I have a router who has only normal LAN ports.
I want technical the best solution. Should i keep the SW6 and from there go out with Fibre to the AS 8 and form the AS 8 with normal LAN cable to the streamer ?
Or should i go from the router directly in the AS 8 Pro with normal LAN cable? My streamer does not have fibre input. I this case i can sell my SW 6.
Or is there a better option with this components? All components are near 2M distance.

Thanks Andy

1 Like

Sound like you are the one who should tell us which way is better.

I have a SW-6 that I can pair with SW-10 Pro too, but I doubt I will need to do that with the Pro’s internal FO isolation. But you never know.

1 Like

Try both options and keep what sounds best.

Looking forward to your review

Found an interesting thing out last night before i ducked out for Friday night football..

So the A8 Pro/A10 Pro have two SFP inputs one is marked 10Gbps the other is 1Gbs

So if i Connect SFP to

  • The 10Ggb zone - the audio zone is isolated and so the streamer in the audio zone doesn’t receive data which makes sense
  • The 1Ggb Audio zone the audio zone and data zone both come active
  • if i run to both sides of SFP the audio zone wins

Now the question is if I’m coming thru sfp 1gb zones what speeds are running in my data zone ?

also as the zones are connected by fibre in the unit if i disconnect internally can i run two feeds separately to the zones ?

see this the problem when you go thru Aliexpresss no nice salesperson to answer these question and not right to ask Alvin although this is probably the quickest way to find out - happy if someone has purchase from him to ask :slight_smile: or maybe i’ll find time this weekend to set up a speed test .. and move the nas down to this side of the switch as another test.

1 Like