DELA S50 Network Switch

Introduction

DELA, the Japanese hi-fi brand closely associated with the former Melco, specialises in network solutions that reduce electrical noise, particularly audio switches and libraries. It has arguably led the field.

The S50 builds on DELA’s popular S100 and S100/2 switches, using a compact half-width chassis and an integrated power supply derived from Melco’s N50 digital library.

Design

The DELA S50 is an audiophile-grade data switch designed specifically to minimise noise, jitter, and electrical interference in high-resolution audio streaming networks.

It offers exceptional network connectivity: 3 SFP+/SFP ports (10Gbps or 1Gbps, compatible with DELA “C1” cable) and 6 RJ45 LAN ports (1Gbps, 100Mbps, or 10Mbps, compatible with their DELA “C100” cable). The S50 inherits the well-received 100Mbps ports from the S100, and now all RJ-45 ports can be freely configured to OFF/10M/100M/1G.  The LEDs are arranged in order from the rear inputs, which is clever and intuitive.

Additionally, the S50 includes a USB power output port for accessories. (not for data transfer).

Unlike previous designs that required external power bricks, it integrates DELA’s Clear Dynamic Power Supply internally (inherited from Melco’s N50 digital library) and uses a standard rear IEC inlet.

Quality

The half-width box is highly functional and looks classy. It matches my Melco N100 library.

The S50 features Mixed-Metal Shielding: The top and side panels are machined from sleek brushed aluminium. The rear panel is stainless steel, creating a fully enclosed electrical shield against RF noise ingress.  There is a massive steel base.  The assembly rests on a robust 3mm-thick steel base plate. This adds critical mass to effectively damp mechanical micro-vibrations before they reach the internal clock or circuitry.  The S50 features gold-plated premium RJ45 ports arranged symmetrically with their corresponding configuration LEDs for clean signal paths and high physical durability.

Specification and Price

Performance

Review Equipment

I’m using the HF&MS Reference System, with the Eversolo T10 streaming transport to the manaDAC.

I have a very revealing system; therefore, the Tellurium Q cables, in place of the Atlas Mavros cables, are key to this review, letting everything through, one could say, to a fault.

The S50 replaces an iFi Audio Omni Lan; it is an early version, before Silent Power became a thing with iFi Audio. Broadly, the Omni Lan is excellent for the price, and I have few complaints, until now!

Physically

I have the S50 configured as follows. I have the RJ45 Port 6 (for no particular reason) connected to the T10 transport set to 100Mbps because even a massive, uncompressed 24-bit/192kHz studio master audio stream only requires about 9.2 Mbps of bandwidth. A 100 Mbps port provides more than ten times what is strictly needed. In addition, this 100 Mbps port uses far less power, runs cooler, and drastically reduces that electrical noise.  RJ45 Port 9 connects to a Melco N100 Library at 1000 Mbps with nearly 4 TB of tracks. I’m using Melco Ethernet shielded cables (model C100) from the S50.

I have the SFP Port 2 input from an ADOT Optical data switch for the lowest networked noise.

This would have been a good opportunity to use the DELA C1 cable, an audiophile SFP+ direct-attach copper cable designed to bypass standard RJ45 and optical-to-electrical connections, in this case, to the transport. It’s all about signal integrity!

I disabled all unused ports because electrically shutting down empty ports prevents them from capturing or radiating stray RF interference. I also turned off the LEDs after sorting out the settings. This selection process is easy, with the front buttons shutting off ports that turn red.  These LEDs then turn off completely until you turn the LEDs back on.

iFi Audio Omni Lan

The existing Omni Lan switch lacks the lower data setting that is a key element of the S50, so the S50 has an immediate advantage in its ability to reduce the noise floor.  However, the Omni Lan costs a quarter as much, and if you’ve ever used a basic Netgear Gigabit switch (~20 quid), you’ll know the Omni Lan (~£799) is a top investment for improving a mid-range audiophile system.

Mohabbat

I’ve chosen Arooj Aftab’s beautiful Mohabbat (on the album Vulture Prince) for the harp strings’ trailing decays and the subtle breathing in Aftab’s voice in the intro, to hear the switch’s influence on the system.   Similarly, I’m also listening to the intro to Dire Straits’ Private Investigations (Love Over Gold) for the ultra-quiet room ambience, faint acoustic guitar picking, and subtle foot scrapes against the blackness.

I’m swapping between the switches, which is a bit intense, but it’s a life.  In my system, the S50 is a clear winner, delivering a blacker background and improved transients, for example, with the harp in Mohabbat or the glass shattering in Private Investigations.  The dynamic jumps also feel cleaner and attack more with the S50. It is a worthy upgrade for sure.  Although I am in a dedicated audio room, free of typical home RF and EM noise, I still feel the benefit of this upgrade.

1000Mbps v 100Mbps

Concentrating now on the speed throttling offered by the S50.  This is niche and honestly quite difficult to hear. I’ve been using the menu buttons to toggle between the 1000Mbps and 100Mbps options.

I’m attempting to be as objective as possible, listening to the same tracks over and over, my conclusion is I do prefer the 100Mbps setting to the transport, but can I hear the difference?  Only marginally; I think I’m trying too hard at this point. It does work, though.

Playlist

These are the tracks used in the review.

Thoughts

Having just marvelled at the Degritter Mark II ultrasonic record cleaner, this S50 feels like a digital Degritter! If you have a decent digital solution, this is basically the definition of a digital audiophile setup.  Like the Degritter, the S50 is expensive, but in the right setup, it borders on essential.  The element I like about it is that you can set and forget; you know your digital input is optimised and as good as it can be.

What Three Words

Audiophile – Dark – Set/Forget

Overall

The S50 switch is an effective upgrade for high-end digital audio systems. Its ability to significantly lower the noise floor, refine transients, and deliver a much blacker background makes it a worthy investment, bordering on essential in a system like this.

Love 

• Functional
• Set and forget
• Sleek
• Digital Degritter

Like 

• Black
• Brush Aluminium casework
• Weight
• Power Supply

Wish

• For nothing more