Ungnoi UNio Poki silver

In a network-driven hi-fi chain, the Ethernet link long remained a blind spot. Ungnoi, a Hong Kong manufacturer specializing in vibration and electromagnetic interference control, has opened a digital division called UNio, whose first product is presented here. More than a year of development went into this 2.5 Gbit/s switch, designed to clean up the network signal before it reaches the streamer or DAC.

A monoblock chassis carved from aluminum

The Poki adopts Ungnoi’s visual signature, with its Rose Cutting-style beveled edges. The chassis is machined from a single block of aluminum alloy, a construction that stiffens the whole assembly and limits vibrations likely to color the signal. At the base, blue ambient lighting accompanies the upper shielding, while front-panel indicators provide information on the clock status. Expect 3.5 kg on the scale for a compact format (270 × 168 × 48 mm) that fits onto a hi-fi shelf without requiring a rack. A grounding terminal at the rear accommodates the connection of a grounding box for those who want to push noise treatment further. The Poki comes in gray or black.

Four Ethernet ports and a fiber link

Four RJ-45 ports provide 2.5 Gbit/s transmission, a speed higher than that of most consumer switches still capped at 1 Gbit/s. Next to them, a port called Zen Zone is deliberately limited to 1 Gbit/s, but benefits from an independent isolation zone within the circuit: this is where the main streamer is connected, away from the other traffic. The SFP port changes the game. Inherited from the professional world, it reaches 10 Gbit/s (or 1 Gbit/s) and accepts a fiber-optic module for an electrically isolated link, without a ground loop. UNio recommends fiber rather than copper: metal SFP cables of the Direct Attached Cable type are not supported at this time. This interface opens the connection to a Stream DAC, another switch, a router, or streamers such as the DELA S1 and S5, a Lumin, or an Eversolo A10.

A clock selected from around twenty

The Poki features an in-house ultra-low phase-noise clock called CHRONOS Class. Its manufacturing is as much about selection as electronics: out of an average of twenty high-end quartz oscillators, only one is chosen, after a three-hour qualification test in a constant-temperature environment. The goal is to guarantee timing precision and stability at all transmission speeds. For systems already equipped with a reference clock, a BNC input accepts an external 10 MHz signal, with 50 Ω impedance, in sine-wave or square-wave form.

Carbon shielding and filtered power supply

Background silence is worked on inside. UNio includes shielding made from carbon fiber imported from Japan, its signature, to contain electromagnetic interference and tighten sound density. The power supply follows the same compartmentalization logic. Input is via 12 V DC (3 A, 5.5/2.1 mm connector), then a dedicated branch distributes current to four independent voltage filters, calibrated at 0.95 V, 1.1 V, 3.3 V, and 5 V. Each powers a section of the circuit while keeping at a distance the interference that the stages could transmit to one another.

Place in a streaming setup

The Poki fits between the internet box and the connected devices in the living room: streamer, network DAC, server, media player. Its function is not to speed up useful throughput, but to present a cleaner, more stable signal to sensitive components by reducing jitter and digital noise. The 2.5 Gbit/s tier leaves headroom for 4K or 8K video streams and high-resolution libraries. It remains a niche component, one that makes sense in an already refined and carefully connected system: the grounding terminal, the Zen Zone port, and the fiber link then form a coherent whole, whereas an entry-level network will derive only marginal benefit from so many precautions.

Technical Specifications

Overview

• Poki network switch, the first product from the UNio digital division (ungnoi group)
• Next-generation network switch with high-speed 2.5 Gbit/s transmission
• High bandwidth for enhanced stability and long-term compatibility
• Recommended applications: professional audio systems, high-fidelity audio streaming, complex network environments
• Optimized data transmission efficiency with significant reduction of network jitter and interference

Design and chassis

• ungnoi brand aesthetics with Rose Cutting edge design
• Chassis machined from a single block of high-quality aluminum alloy, reducing sound distortion caused by vibrations
• Blue ambient lighting on the lower section, complementing the upper shielding
• Dedicated grounding terminal for connection to a grounding box
• Zen Zone design: independent isolation zone minimizing interference

Shielding and interference treatment

• Internal shielding in carbon fiber imported from Japan, ungnoi signature
  • Reduced electromagnetic interference
  • Enhanced sound density
  • Improved background silence

Internal clock

• Proprietary UNio CHRONOS Class clock with ultra-low phase noise
• Rigorous selection: only one precision clock retained from an average of 20 high-end quartz clocks
• 3-hour qualification test in a constant-temperature environment
• Guaranteed precision and data silence at all transmission speeds

Power supply and filtering

• DC input: 12 V - 3 A (5.5 / 2.1 mm connector)
• Specialized DC power bypass design
• Four independent DC voltage filters to minimize mutual interference
  • 0.95 V
  • 1.1 V
  • 3.3 V
  • 5 V

Network connectivity

• Connector: 8-pin RJ-45
• Data transfer rates:
  • LAN ports 1 to 4: 2.5 Gbit/s
  • Zen Zone LAN port: 1 Gbit/s
  • SFP port: 10 Gbit/s or 1 Gbit/s
• Specially designed SFP port, recommended for use with SFP fiber optic cables for optimal sound quality
• Supports SFP from 1 Gbit/s to 10 Gbit/s for connection to a Stream DAC, a network switch, a router, and other HiFi equipment (DELA S1, DELA S5, Lumin Streamer, Eversolo A10, etc.)
• SFP metal cables (Direct Attached Cable) are not currently supported

External clock input

• BNC connector
• Frequency: 10 MHz
• Impedance: 50 Ω
• Signal: sine wave or square wave

Dimensions and weight

• Dimensions (W × D × H): 270 × 168 × 48 mm (10.6 × 6.6 × 1.9 in)
• Weight: 3.5 kg