Running In
I was advised to grant the Switches plenty of running in, and thanks to my currently extra-busy schedule, the units have been sipping power for many weeks.
An important thing to note is that one should not judge the influence of an Ansuz Switch just by re-routing the RJ45 connections. Even when the Switch’s outputs are not connected, the Tesla Coils will provide feedback via the mains power, which benefits the other components in the system, skewing the listening impressions compared to actively using the Switch. Thus, the only way to compare the influence of these switches is to disconnect them from the power when not in use.
Review Context
The PowerSwitches will be listened to in the main system using Roon on various Music Servers, including the Antipodes Oladra G4 and Grimm MU1. The rest of the system comprises the CH Precision C1.2 DAC, CH Precision L1 preamplifier, CH Precision A1.5 power amp, and Magico S1 MkII speakers.
All digital sources are supported by HRS EXR Racks while the CH pre-amplifier and DAC are supported by an Artesania Exoteryc rack with Carbon Fiber Linear Arms. The CH power amplifier is supported by an Artesania Aire rack with Carbon Fiber Linear Arms and KSH2 Krion shelves. The PowerSwitches, finally, will be reviewed on an Aire rack, with and without Ansuz Darkz Resonance Control footers.
Listening
After listening to a range of selected tracks on the system with my usual el-cheapo Cisco switch, I connected the Ansuz PowerSwitch X-TC3 to power using a standard Belden power cable and standard Cat.6 ethernet cables.
For this first acquaintance with the X-TC3, I placed it directly on the Artesania KSH2 Krion shelf of the Aire platform. I’m using a basic setup at this stage, so I’ve not yet added Darkz Resonance Control footers because I want to see what the switch brings to the table all by itself.
X-TC3 PowerSwitch
Even without giving it time to settle, the X-TC3 makes an immediate and very clear difference. The soundstage becomes considerably wider with more separation while the images within it remain clear, crisp, and fully focused. This has the effect of increasing the apparent resolution, most notably from the midrange up and especially in the treble, which is now airier, more agile, and more fluid.
Some high-end switches I had previously heard acted like smooth-makers, providing an alluring easy-going sweetness at the expense of rounding off transients and adding thickness and warmth in the process. While I won’t say this cannot be helpful in certain situations, once you start considering a network switch costing several thousands, chances are that the audio system is already well-balanced, and you will want that balance to remain intact. Fortunately, the Ansuz X-TC3 is very neutral. Dynamically, it poses no restrictions and in terms of tonality and timbre, it incurs no changes. In this sense, the switch is very transparent, and its contribution is entirely beneficial. However, the switch does change the bass behavior, which may divide opinion. Interestingly, I heard this effect as soon as I connected the Switch to power, without any other connections, and still listening to my own switch. What happens is that the bass becomes fuller but slightly rounded and less incisive. The feeling is of a more relaxed performance, not slower, but less tight and urgent. Other than this, I noted no changes in this scenario. All in all, you can say that the X-TC3 has a gently luxurious touch to it, making the system sound smoother, airier, more charming, and more fluid while painting a grande, more fascinating soundstage.
So far, I’ve only used the X-TC3 with standard ethernet, standard power cables, and no footers. These can have a very large influence, so naturally, I will further explore this. But first, I want to see how the X-TC3 compares to the D3 under the same basic circumstances.
D3 PowerSwitch
Moving up from the X-TC3 to the D3 under identical circumstances, so, still with basic power cables and ethernet cables, to be honest, I was not ready for what I was about to hear. Not only does the D3 make the bass tighter and more articulate than with the X-TC3, but the entire performance is now considerably more energetic. The X-TC3 was not slow, and the D3 is not faster, but it does feel more incisive and propulsive and behaves more impulsively. Undoubtedly, that’s a tangible result of its more extensive noise suppression. Meanwhile, the resolution is sky-high but without hardness or edge. Perhaps there’s still just a hint of luxuriousness compared to a standard switch (or you may feel a standard switch is very lean and matter-of-fact), but I would not say the D3 verges toward being relaxed or voluptuous. What also surprised me was that the soundstage appeared higher! It’s as if my speakers have suddenly become 30cm (1 foot) taller. Now, I must confess to rarely hearing very large differences in terms of soundstage height, so for this to happen now, it must be substantial.
Ansuz Darkz Resonance Control Footers
Like other Ansuz products, the PowerSwitch footers are fitted with round slots to create ideal circumstances for adding Darkz Resonance Control devices. From earlier experiences, I know Darkz have a large and hugely beneficial effect on any component placed on them, and I have no reason to think a Switch would be any different. And indeed, I quickly found it is not. I normally use Darkz without balls, but for Ansuz equipment, they come highly recommended. For this review, Ohm Audio sent me a set of Tungsten balls. At ~100 euros per set of 4, they are not cheap but much better than the Titanium versions, and even with the X-TC3, they are well worth it.
Maxing out the X-TC3 PowerSwitch
As much as I was excited about the D3 switch and wanted to continue discovering the extent of adding Ansuz Darkz, ethernet cables, and TC Linkz, let’s first step back to the X-TC3 to see how much extra performance can be extracted from it.
Adding Darkz C2T
Oh, yes, this is a no-brainer addition! At 1.120 euros for four, the C2T’s provide a (for Ansuz) cost-effective yet very clear benefit with cleaner and tighter bass and more resolution and expression overall.
Darkz S2T
The S2T Darkz are double the price of the C2T, but their additional benefit is unmistakable with a decidedly more robust bass, more realistic timbre, and an overall remarkably solid and weighty sound. These footers are highly recommended, especially if your system leans toward the lean side.
Within the Darkz range, there are three more tiers above, with, as I know from repeated experience, ever-increasing performance. However, while, for instance, the T2 Darkz will be even better, their pricing exceeds that of the X-TC3 PowerSwitch itself. In that case, I think the budget might better be allocated to better cables, which is what we will investigate now!
Ansuz Ethernet Cables
Now, it was time to further up the game by swapping my OEM Cat.6 cables for the Ansuz Digitalz X2 ethernet cable. To keep it fair, I removed the Darkz again to assess precisely what the cables could do for the sound all by themselves.
Swapping to the Digitalz X2 from the OEM Cat.6 cable again makes a very noticeable difference. The cable adds a considerable amount of weight and substance to the bass and tonally fills out the midrange with more body and saturation. Despite the richer and slightly less incisive presentation, the resolution does not decrease, rather, the treble becomes more fluid and refined. At 640 euros, it is an easy recommendation if you are looking for a big, ballsy, and luxurious sound.
Leaving the Digitalz X2 and adding the Darkz C2T footers back in, the combination costs 4.155 euros. Not pocket change, but still relatively good value if you consider that the D3 PowerSwitch costs 5.795 euros with no extras.
A last recommendation I can make is for the power cable. I found that the GigaWatt LC-2 EVO worked better than the Belden at increasing the precision and level of detail while tightening the bass. The LC-2 does have a rather controlled sound, which is not for everyone. The best alternative in its price class would be the GigaWatt PowerSync ULTRA, which further enhances the X-TC3 in its most notable inherent characteristics, such as wide sound staging, ballsiness, and flow while adding a subtle organic touch without straying from neutrality. While there is no denying that the power cables also do much, I must emphasize that the Switch itself has a larger effect. So, for maximum sound quality and no budget restraints, by all means, go and get a great power cable and add T2 Darkz while you’re at it. But for the best bang for the buck, the money for power cables is likely better spent elsewhere… for instance, by procuring some more funds and stepping up to the D3.
Next: Maxing out the D3 PowerSwitch and Conclusion
Great review, txs! I totally echo your findings… question: did you try to combine the PowerSwitch with the Muon ethernet filter? As reported, it should by pure magic!
Hi Vincent, I did not try the Muon with the Ansuz switches.
Ansuz PowerSwitches with a Taiko Extreme Router
Hi Christiaan,
I enjoyed reading your review of these fascinating Ansuz switches. You have understandably excluded Taiko Audio products from the review context, but have you done any personal experiments with the Ansuz PowerSwitches upstream of the Taiko Extreme Router? I am so very curious to learn how the isolation provided by the Taiko Router would affect your view of the efficacy of SOTA switches like the Ansuz pair or the Network Acoustics Tempus, or of network filters like the Muon Pro. Will these upstream noise killers remain effective in a Taiko Router/Taiko Switch audio network, will their effectiveness be reduced or will they perhaps become unnecessary?
Hi Lee, alas, since I also work for Taiko, I cannot provide direct comparative comments involving their products. What I can say is that from my experience with switches so far, I know that all products in this category try to achieve similar things. There is an overlap for some of the improvements noted (wider staging, more refinement, more flow) but also rather large differences. Besides the cleaning process, most switches have a sonic footprint, a certain character, that can be a large differentiator.
User preference aside, within a complete Taiko ecosystem, it does not make sense to add an extra switch in front of a Taiko Router and Switch. That would be unnecessary doubling up. The filtering and other mitigation of noise by the Taiko Router and Switch negate the need for another switch that has the same purpose. That is not to say another switch will not work with a Taiko server. But the Taiko switches and Routers have been tailored to suit an intended purpose and if you’d append or replace them with another switch, you will steer the sound in a different direction than intended. But ultimately, it’s up to the user to decide whether that other direction is preferable or not.
In recent years, my priority has been noise reduction and sometimes it seemed endless; there was always more to be done. If the Taiko Router (on order) in concert with the Taiko Switch + NIC can win that battle, making further network NR measures unnecessary, that would be very significant. Looking forward to moving my focus elsewhere.