Audio T Verdict
Network switches are not normally the most exciting things in a Hi-Fi system. Most of us hide them behind the router, plug everything in and forget they exist. English Electric's 8Switch takes a rather more obsessive approach.
Developed specifically for high-performance music streaming, it combines eight Gigabit Ethernet ports with a highly accurate 0.1ppm TCXO clock, dedicated electrical-noise isolation, EMI absorption, a machined aluminium enclosure and resonance-damping feet.
Importantly, this is still a proper network switch. It doesn't require proprietary software, won't change how you use Qobuz, TIDAL or your NAS, and can sit within a normal wired home network. The difference is that its internal design has been engineered specifically with the electrical environment of a revealing streaming system in mind.
If the whole idea of an audio network switch sounds a little questionable, that's fair enough. Don't buy one on faith. We can demonstrate the 8Switch so you can compare it with a conventional network switch and decide for yourself.
English Electric 8Switch
The English Electric 8Switch is an eight-port Gigabit Ethernet switch developed specifically for high-performance music-streaming networks.
English Electric is a Chord Company brand focused on network products and reducing unwanted electrical noise within streaming audio and video systems.
The 8Switch combines:
- Eight 100/1000 Base-T Gigabit Ethernet ports
- Customised 0.1ppm TCXO clock
- Dedicated electrical-noise isolation
- EMI absorption
- Machined aluminium enclosure
- Resonance-damping feet
- AV-grade low-noise power adaptor
- Front-panel link and speed indicators
Eight Gigabit Ethernet Ports
The 8Switch provides:
Eight 100/1000 Base-T Ethernet ports.
English Electric labels these as one incoming network connection and seven further ports for compatible network devices.
This provides enough connectivity for a typical wired streaming system containing products such as:
- Music streamer
- Music server
- NAS drive
- Network-enabled amplifier
- Smart television
- Other compatible network audio or video equipment
Simple Network Setup
Connect the port marked IN to your existing router or network infrastructure, then connect your streamer, server and other wired devices to ports 1-7.
No specialist control software is required for normal switching operation.
100/1000 Base-T Ethernet
Each network port supports:
- 100Mbps Ethernet
- 1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet
The front-panel link indicators also show the negotiated connection speed.
Designed for Music Streaming Networks
The 8Switch was developed specifically around the requirements of network audio rather than as a general IT switch subsequently given a Hi-Fi case.
English Electric's work focuses on the electrical noise accompanying network connections and the environment surrounding sensitive audio equipment.
0.1ppm TCXO Clock
At the heart of the 8Switch is a customised:
Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator, or TCXO.
English Electric specifies its accuracy at:
0.1ppm.
The clock is used to generate the network timing within the switch and forms one of the product's principal differences from a conventional low-cost network switch.
What Does TCXO Mean?
A Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator is designed to maintain more consistent frequency accuracy as operating temperature changes.
English Electric selected and customised the oscillator specifically for the 8Switch rather than relying on a basic crystal clock implementation.
Reduced Jitter Measurements
English Electric reports that its 8Switch measurements indicate:
Up to 90% improved jitter performance compared with the conventional network switch used for its comparison.
What Does the 90% Figure Mean?
It refers to English Electric's measured network-signal jitter comparison during development.
It should not be interpreted as meaning the 8Switch will make a Hi-Fi system sound "90% better". System performance and audible differences depend on the complete network and audio setup.
Electrical Noise Isolation
The 8Switch incorporates electrical-noise isolation within its:
- Power-supply circuitry
- Clock-generation circuitry
English Electric's aim is to reduce both low and high-frequency electrical noise associated with the network environment.
EMI Absorber
An internal:
Electromagnetic Interference absorber
is used to further reduce noise generated by the digital circuitry.
Why Worry About Network Noise?
A home network can contain numerous electrically noisy devices, including:
- Internet routers
- Wi-Fi access points
- Computers
- Network storage
- Smart televisions
- Switch-mode power supplies
- Smart-home devices
The 8Switch is designed to provide a carefully engineered network connection for the streaming equipment within that environment.
Machined Aluminium Enclosure
The electronics are housed within a:
Machined aluminium enclosure.
English Electric uses the case to provide physical protection and help shield the internal electronics from both acoustic and electrical interference.
Resonance-Damping Feet
The 8Switch also incorporates:
Resonance-damping feet.
These are designed to help decouple the enclosure from unwanted mechanical vibration.
Front-Panel Indicators
The minimalist front panel provides:
- Power status
- Alarm status
- Link and activity indication for each port
- Connection-speed indication
Link-Speed Colours
- Green: 1000Mbps connection
- Amber: 100Mbps connection
AV-Grade Power Adaptor
The current English Electric specification includes an:
AV-grade external power adaptor.
It has been selected to reduce electrical noise from the AC supply while still providing the fast power delivery required by the switch circuitry.
Why Not a Linear Power Supply?
English Electric states that the switching circuitry requires a fast power supply and deliberately chose a high-quality external switching supply rather than a conventional linear design.
The supplied adaptor is therefore part of the intended 8Switch design rather than simply a generic wall supply.
5V DC Power
The 8Switch itself requires:
5V DC at up to 1A.
The DC input uses a centre-positive 5.5mm x 2.1mm connection.
Do Not Substitute Random Power Supplies
Only use a correctly specified power supply with matching voltage, polarity and connector.
The supplied AV-grade adaptor forms part of the intended product design. Contact Audio T before considering an alternative supply.
Power-Supply Protection
English Electric specifies protection against:
- Short circuit
- Overload
- Over-voltage
The adaptor also has a published no-load power consumption below 0.075W.
Streaming Services
The 8Switch does not depend on a particular streaming service.
It can form part of a network used for services such as:
- Qobuz
- TIDAL
- Spotify
- Amazon Music
- Internet radio
- Other services supported by your streamer
Service compatibility is ultimately determined by the streamer rather than the network switch.
Using a NAS Drive
English Electric specifically confirms compatibility with:
Network Attached Storage devices.
A NAS can therefore connect to the 8Switch alongside the streamer, allowing locally stored music to be accessed over the network.
Using a Music Server
Dedicated music servers from manufacturers such as Innuos can also connect through the 8Switch where standard wired Ethernet networking is supported.
The exact arrangement depends on whether the server is being used as storage, server, streamer or a combination of these functions.
Using the 8Switch with a Network Streamer
A typical arrangement is:
- Router or existing network
- English Electric 8Switch
- Music streamer
- DAC or amplifier
Where the streamer includes its own DAC, the final two stages may of course be contained within one product.
It Is Still a Normal Ethernet Switch
Despite its audio-specific construction, the 8Switch still performs normal Ethernet switching duties.
Compatible non-audio network products can therefore also be connected if required.
No App Required
The 8Switch does not require its own music app, account or subscription.
You continue to control playback through your normal streamer, music-server or streaming-service software.
It Does Not Store Music
The 8Switch is not a music server or NAS.
It routes network traffic between compatible devices but does not contain internal storage for a music library.
It Does Not Replace Your Router
The 8Switch is normally connected to your existing home network rather than replacing the broadband router.
The router remains responsible for internet access, IP addressing and the wider home network.
It Does Not Provide Wi-Fi
The 8Switch is a:
Wired Ethernet switch.
It does not create a wireless network or act as a Wi-Fi access point.
8Switch and English Electric EE1
The English Electric EE1 is a separate passive network-noise isolator that can be used alongside the 8Switch.
For example, an EE1 can be placed between the 8Switch and a compatible music streamer.
View English Electric EE1 at Audio T.
8Switch and EE1 Plus
EE1 Plus is English Electric's higher-level passive network-noise isolator and adds Chord Company's ARAY technology within a precision-machined enclosure.
View English Electric EE1 Plus at Audio T.
A Real Audio T System
Our Portsmouth team has used the English Electric 8Switch in a revealing Naim 300 Series system with Dynaudio Confidence 50 loudspeakers.
During that demonstration, the team also added an English Electric EE1 between the 8Switch and the Naim NSS 333 streamer, allowing the contribution of the network-noise products to be assessed in a familiar system.
Read: Chord Strikes the Right Notes with System Upgrade Options
Audio T Visit to Chord Company
The Portsmouth team later visited Chord Company's Amesbury headquarters and explored the company's approach to cables, networking and noise reduction in greater detail.
Read: Cable Guys for a Day - A Visit to Chord Company HQ
8Switch Versus 16Switch
English Electric also manufactures the larger 16Switch for more complex network installations.
8Switch
- 8 Gigabit Ethernet ports
- Single 0.1ppm TCXO
- Electrical-noise isolation
- EMI absorber
- Machined aluminium enclosure
- Compact domestic design
- Single external power supply
16Switch
- 16 Gigabit Ethernet ports
- Two independent eight-port zones
- Two customised 0.1ppm TCXOs
- Independent power supplies for each zone
- 1U steel enclosure
- Rack-mounting capability
- Designed for larger installations
For a conventional domestic streaming system, the compact eight-port model will usually provide ample connectivity. The 16Switch becomes more relevant where a larger network or rack installation is required.
Award-Winning Design
The 8Switch received the Hi-Fi+ Accessory of the Year award in 2020 and remains in English Electric's current range.
Demonstration Recommended
A network switch is exactly the sort of product that can provoke strong opinions, particularly because normal Ethernet data transmission is designed to be robust.
Rather than debating it in theory, we'd suggest trying the 8Switch in a revealing streaming system and comparing it directly with a conventional switch.
Contact your local Audio T store to arrange a demonstration.
Key Features
- English Electric 8Switch
- Chord Company brand
- Designed for music-streaming networks
- 8 Ethernet ports
- 100/1000 Base-T support
- Gigabit Ethernet operation
- Customised TCXO clock
- 0.1ppm clock accuracy
- Dedicated electrical-noise isolation
- Clock-circuit noise isolation
- Power-circuit noise isolation
- EMI absorber
- Measured jitter improvement of up to 90% in English Electric testing
- Machined aluminium enclosure
- Resonance-damping feet
- Front-panel power indicator
- Front-panel alarm indicator
- Link and activity indicators
- 100Mbps and 1000Mbps speed indication
- AV-grade external power adaptor
- 5V DC input
- 1A maximum power requirement
- Short-circuit protection
- Overload protection
- Over-voltage protection
- Suitable for streamers
- Suitable for music servers
- Suitable for NAS devices
- Compatible with normal wired home networks
- No proprietary app required
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the English Electric 8Switch?
It is an eight-port Gigabit Ethernet switch developed specifically for wired music-streaming networks.
Is English Electric part of Chord Company?
Yes. English Electric is a Chord Company brand focused on network products for audio and video systems.
Is the 8Switch still current?
Yes. It remains listed by both English Electric and Chord Company as a current product.
How many Ethernet ports does it have?
Eight 100/1000 Base-T ports.
Is it Gigabit Ethernet?
Yes. The ports support 100Mbps and 1000Mbps connections.
Which port connects to my router?
English Electric labels one port IN for connection to the existing LAN, with ports 1-7 intended for compatible audio, video and other network devices.
Can I connect my streamer to it?
Yes, provided the streamer has a conventional wired RJ45 Ethernet connection.
Can I connect an Innuos server?
Yes, where the Innuos product is being connected through a standard wired Ethernet network.
Can I connect a NAS?
Yes. English Electric specifically lists Network Attached Storage compatibility.
Can I use it with Qobuz or TIDAL?
Yes. Streaming-service compatibility is determined by your streamer rather than the switch itself.
Does it replace my broadband router?
No. It normally connects to your existing router or network infrastructure.
Does it provide Wi-Fi?
No. The 8Switch is for wired Ethernet connections.
Does it need an app?
No. It operates as a network switch and does not require a dedicated control app for normal use.
What is the TCXO specification?
English Electric specifies a customised Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator with 0.1ppm accuracy.
What is the 90% jitter figure?
English Electric states that its development measurements showed network-signal jitter performance improved by up to 90% compared with the general network switch used in its testing.
Does that mean it sounds 90% better?
No. The figure relates to a measured jitter comparison and should not be interpreted as a percentage improvement in sound quality.
Does the 8Switch have noise isolation?
Yes. English Electric specifies electrical-noise isolation in both the power-supply and clock-generation circuitry, together with an EMI absorber.
What is the case made from?
Machined aluminium.
Does it have isolation feet?
It has resonance-damping feet designed to reduce unwanted mechanical vibration.
What power supply does it use?
The current English Electric specification includes a low-noise AV-grade external power adaptor.
Is the power supply medical grade?
Older descriptions use that wording, but English Electric's current product specification describes the supplied adaptor as AV-grade.
What DC power does the 8Switch require?
5V DC at up to 1A, with a centre-positive 5.5mm x 2.1mm connection.
Can I replace the supplied power supply?
Only use an alternative supply if its specification and suitability have been properly confirmed. The supplied AV-grade adaptor forms part of English Electric's intended design.
Can I use an EE1 with the 8Switch?
Yes. One common arrangement is to place the EE1 between the 8Switch and the music streamer.
What is the EE1 Plus?
EE1 Plus is English Electric's higher-level passive network-noise isolator and incorporates Chord Company ARAY technology.
What if I need more than eight ports?
English Electric also manufactures the 16Switch, which provides two independent eight-port network zones and a total of 16 Gigabit Ethernet ports.
Can Audio T demonstrate the 8Switch?
Yes. Contact your local Audio T store to arrange a demonstration and compare it with a conventional network switch in a suitable streaming system.
Related English Electric and Chord Company Products
Why Buy From Audio T?
- Help planning a wired music-streaming network
- Streamer and music-server setup advice
- Network switch positioning guidance
- English Electric EE1 and EE1 Plus advice
- Network-cable recommendations
- NAS and music-library setup guidance
- In-store demonstrations where appropriate
- Home demonstrations where appropriate
- Ongoing after-sales support
Contact your local Audio T store if you would like to demonstrate the English Electric 8Switch or discuss the best way to integrate it into your streaming system.