We’re proud to announce the official launch of the QNET7, our high-fidelity Layer-2 network switch!
In the pursuit of perfect sound, every detail counts. If you’re striving to extract every last nuance from your digitally sourced system, your network switch is a linchpin in achieving that goal. Engineered from the ground up, not adapted from pre-existing consumer-grade hardware, the QNET7 is the ultimate hifi network switch solution. The QNET7 minimizes the noise introduced in high-speed digital transmission, reduces jitter, and delivers uncompromised sonic performance. This is not just a switch; it’s a foundational component in any high-end digital setup.
The QNET7 offers compatibility as well as performance with its seven, purpose-specific ports, each tailored to a distinct role within a digital audio environment:
Ports 1–5: Auto-negotiated 1000BASE-T (1 Gbps) ports for high-speed connections to routers, NAS drives, and other network devices.
Port 6: Auto-negotiated 100BASE-TX (100 Mbps), optimized specifically for audio performance with added noise control—ideal for connecting streamers, servers, or DACs.
Port 7: Is compatible with 1000BASE-T (IEEE 802.3ab) and 1000BASE-LX/SX [802.3z-1998 (CL38)] SFP transceivers / modules, allowing it to be used as either an aftermarket RJ-45 or optical port, as needed.
Internally, the QNET7 houses nine ultra-low-noise, independent power supplies, to eliminate cross-contamination and interference between components. The result is enhanced clarity, precise imaging, and a noticeable increase in musical fidelity and realism.
Like all QRT products, listeners will enjoy optimal performance from the QNET7 when paired with other Nordost devices. When set up in a system with Nordost’s QSOURCE Linear Power Supply, QRT Stand Mounts, and Sort Kone resonance control devices, the QNET7 offers outstanding transient response and an improvement in sound staging.
The QNET7 Network Switch is a major foundational upgrade to any digital system that brings new dimensions to your streamed or stored music.
In this month’s Dealer Spotlight, we sit down with the passionate new owner of Executive Stereo, Blair Babineau. From tearing apart computer speakers at the age of 12 and exploring their inner workings, to now running a store that represents decades of hi-fi legacy, his journey into audio has been one driven by curiosity, craftsmanship, and a deep love for music. With a background in music performance and a vision for preserving the Executive Stereo brand while evolving with the times, he shares how he’s bringing a fresh energy to the showroom while staying true to the store’s roots!
Nordost: How did you get started in/become interested in hifi?
Blair: I got into hifi/audio systems when I was around the age of 12. That’s when my dad got me my first pair of speakers to use with my computer. I developed an interest in taking things apart and figuring out how they worked. I ended up tearing that pair of basic computer speakers apart to see the circuitry and components inside. I think that’s what really sparked my interest.
Nordost: What is your mission or philosophy for Executive Stereo?
Blair: My mission for Executive Stereo is to keep its legacy as one of the longest standing Hifi stores in the Toronto area, and to continue to provide our customers with the same level of attention and care that Ed has shown them for years. I also want to keep a selection of high-quality components for our customers to choose from while adding a few new product lines, without deviating too far from what the store is known for: high-end, high-quality products with great customer service.
Nordost: What was important to you while designing your new showroom(s)?
Blair: We have a new location, so we really had a lot of leeway. The most important thing for me was to create a welcoming environment for customers, especially on the main floor, where they walk in. The space is well lit, with warm lighting, and an overall fresh perspective. In the upstairs area, which contains our dedicated sound rooms, acoustics was the primary focus. I designed the system layouts and acoustic treatments primarily focusing on sound quality, but also ensuring that the rooms aren’t overly treated, in order to mimic a situation that someone may have in their own home. This ensures that my customers can hear the systems at their best, but also in a similar way they would hear them at home, without the need of excessive treatment.
Nordost: What is your favorite track/artist right now?
Blair: This one is tough, I find that it changes quite often. But right now, my favourite track and artist is probably Hat and Coat by Patrick Leonard. People will know him from his collaborations with Pink Floyd, Madonna, Elton John, and many other big names.
Nordost: What kind of music do you prefer to use for personal listening and demonstrations?
Blair: For personal listening, I tend to listen to any genre, be it rock, jazz, pop, or r&b. But I am quite specific with which songs/artists I listen to. For demonstrations, I mostly use more “well-known” songs just for consistency’s sake. I still like to mix it up once in a while, though. This past week, I have been using a song called “Mumbo Jumbo” by Brent Lewis, which is a percussion-based track that’s very well recorded, and has a very large sense of scale and width when played on a good system.
Nordost: What’s your favorite part of working in high-end audio?
Blair: I think my favorite part of working in this business, for the short period of time that it’s been, is probably to be able to experiment with different combinations of components, cables, and speakers. I like to see how each of them sounds individually and how they affect each other. This also helps me better understand the products that I am selling, and improves my ability to give well thought-out system recommendations to customers. I also come from a music background, I’ve played piano since I was 4 along with a few other instruments as well, so music is a big part of it for me. Plus it’s also been quite interesting to meet different customers who have their own musical background!
Nordost: How do you see the hifi industry evolving in the future?
Blair: I think a new group of younger buyers, like myself, who have rediscovered physical media formats such as vinyl, will eventually get the bug to upgrade our stuff. As younger buyers grow their careers and their interests develop, I think making sure they get to experience and see what good sound is like is very important. That’s why I try to give everyone that visits my store the same experience, no matter their age, because that initial impression of “wow that’s what I could have” is very important. You never know, they may come back to you down the road for exactly that.
Nordost: What do you think the next big innovation in hifi audio will be?
Blair: I think the next big innovation in hifi is probably going to be the integration of AI into DSP systems and room correction. We have seen what AI is capable of in different industries, and I think in high end audio, the ability to dynamically adjust your system’s response to the exact song you’re listening to (and not only just the room) would be quite transcending.
Nordost: What components would make up your dream audio system?
Blair: This is another tough one. But from what I’ve experienced so far, and based on my sonic preferences, my dream system would consist of: KEF Blade 1 Meta speakers, Transrotor Dark Star reference turntable with the TRA 9 tonearm and a Benz micro LP cartridge, MOON 891 streamer/preamp, dual MOON 861 power amplifiers bridged into mono, dual REL Carbon Special subwoofers, and Nordost TYR 2 cabling.
Nordost products are designed to allow you to enjoy your favorite performances as they were intended to be heard. All of us here are passionate about great music, and want to share our passion with you. Each one of us has our own style… We listen to a wide variety of artists and genres but, in a way, we appreciate them all. We thought that we would share a few of the songs on our own personal playlists with you each month. Some may be classics, some may be brand new, some may not even be to your tastes, but we hope that there is something here for everyone.
Here are some of the songs that we will have on rotation this August.
You can now listen to our monthly playlist here: TIDAL | SPOTIFY | QOBUZ
Paper Wings – Gillian Welch – Revival
St. James Infirmary – Baba Blues – Glimmer of Gold
No Children – The Mountain Goats – Tallahassee
Affirmation – Live – George Benson – Weekend in London (Live)
Columbus & 89th – Sarah Jarosz – Polaroid Lovers
Dancer – IDLES, LCD Soundsystem – TANGK
Whiskey And You – Chris Stapleton – Traveller
Perfect Darkness – Live from Union Chapel, London – Oct 5 2011 – Fink – Wheels Turn Beneath My Feet
At Nordost, we love working closely with our retail partners and hosting musical evenings for their clients. These events are enjoyable for everyone involved, and it’s always interesting to hear how a listener’s system evolves over the years. Learning about someone’s system helps us offer more relevant, bespoke advice on which Nordost products will be the most effective in improving system performance.
Some of these recommendations can be short-term improvements, while others might be mid- or long-term upgrades. A phrase that we often use at Nordost is “unlock the potential of the system you already love”. Someone may already own their dream amplifier or loudspeakers and simply want them to sound as good as possible. This is where Nordost can help–and in so many different ways! Often, that’s by identifying improvements to a part of the system that hasn’t been addressed yet, such as power cords, or in the case of the study below, resonance control.
I recently used a Lumin T3 streamer for a Sort Kone demonstration during an event with a Nordost retailer. Three TC Sort Kones dramatically lifted the product’s performance. The T3 retails for $5000 USD, so three TCs are an ideal upgrade, especially if the T3 is the primary source in the system.
The demo system that we used consisted of the Lumin T3, Accuphase E-700, Sonus faber Olympica Nova III and a loom of Tyr cables, all underpinned by a QBASE Mark III AC Distribution Unit. And the principal demo tracks that night were Leonard Cohen’s ‘Nevermind’ and Nick Cave’s ‘Red Right Hand’.
The benefits of the Sort Kones were immediately apparent: a more believable soundstage, greater energy and presence, better decay time, and it was easier to place individual instruments in the space. The reactions in the demo room said it all– they had expected an improvement but were blown away by the performance they heard! Most of the sonic improvements held up well when we switched to three AC Sort Kones, too. But, as expected, TC outperformed AC. That said, three ACs were still much better than none!
The T3 also proved to be useful for demonstrating the effect of substituting a TC or AC for a BC under the power supply. As expected, this introduced a bit of top-end ’rounding off’–which might be appreciated in a system with more forward balance.
As always, the most persuasive part of the demo was the deconstruction. We removed the Sort Kones from both set ups and in both instances, the system suddenly sounded flat. It’s amazing how quickly you can get used to something! Deconstructing also gives you a more rounded demonstration–some listeners notice performance improvements more when they are added, others when they’re taken away.
The red dots in this picture illustrate the optimum placement for each Sort Kone. This is where a Google Image search can be your friend. Simply type in your source or amp model (with the lid off) to help identify ideal Kone placement. Areas you want to pay attention to are typically under toroidal transformers, densely populated circuit boards, or in the center of CD transport mechanisms. Like with speaker placement, finetuning your Sort Kone placement is key. In both instances, the improvements can be more than you might expect and all it costs you is your time!
So, where should you add Sort Kones in your system first? That depends. If a streamer or CD player is your only source, start there. If you use multiple sources, placing them under your pre-amp or integrated amp may give you improvements across the board. Though, in practice, listeners eventually place Sort Kones under most components in their system over time, since the benefits are cumulative.
Remember, audio components all contain parts that vibrate. The mission of a Sort Kone is to dissipate these unwanted vibrations by acting as a mechanical diode. So, whether you’ve spent $1,000 or $25,000 on a component, Nordost Sort Kones will help you achieve a higher level of performance from what you’ve already invested in.
