Among Nordost’s system enhancement products, the QNET switch appeared a few years ago, and could be upgraded by adding a QSource power supply. Today, the renowned American cable manufacturer’s catalog is expanding with the QNET7 version, which, as its name suggests, has seven Internet connection ports.
Moving away from the round shape of the QNET, the QNET7 features a rectangular chassis similar to the QSource, to which it can also be connected. Its RJ45 8P8C Ethernet ports 1 to 5 now offer the standard speed of 1000BASE-T (1 Gbps), while the sixth port remains at a more modest 100 Mbps. But to enter the modern era of new fiber streamers, the QNET7 adds a 7th SFP port. This makes it possible to exit the box via RJ45, enter the switch via this connection, and then exit via fiber, in which case there is no electricity in the optical signal, resulting in a drastic reduction in noise. Jitter is also minimized thanks to the device’s new circuitry.
Like other products in rectangular chassis, the QSource and especially the QB8 MkIII power strip, the QNET7 can also further reduce vibration with the addition of Stand Mount feet. By screwing them onto the underside in place of the rubber feet, four decouplers with ceramic balls and aluminum (AC), bronze (BC), or titanium (TC) bases can then be added.
We currently have a QNET, and we will also request a QNET7 to compare the sound quality of the two versions, in addition to testing the latter on its SFP fiber port. As the quality of the product suggests, the price obviously exceeds that of the smaller model, with the QNET selling for 3 700 € (3 799 $) and the QNET7 for 5 400 € (5 499 $).
10/09/2025
