Melco Audiophile NAS

[simoncn]

It is helpful for us all to share our experiences. I have never tried a setup like yours. Perhaps the Cisco 2960 is providing some benefit. (I have a different Cisco model.) I have heard good things about the 2960.

One more thought: as a "fair test", could you try the following:

Synology 918+ (without LPS) -> ethernet cable -> Cisco 2960 -> ethernet cable -> ethernet input Weiss DAC502.

Melco N1Zh/60 -> LAN port -> ethernet cable -> Cisco 2960 -> ethernet cable -> ethernet input Weiss DAC502.