Completion and conclusion
Contents
Once again, for us, it turned out that a network has an audible influence on reproduction. Noise in the network causes unrest and also a less large and refined stereo image.
The English Electric EE1 measurably lowers noise and also shows that there is more quietness in playback. English Electric is not the only one making filters, however. IFI also has one (not covered, but popular), Pink Faun has a filter and in the “pro market” also Delock and a “Medical Grade” MI 1005.
English Electric asks 299 euros for the EE1 filter. That’s hefty in our opinion. Especially considering the competition is between 90 and 180 Euros. Yes: the EE1 is beautifully made. But a price of 199 Euros would be more appropriate, considering its performance, finish and competition. Anyway: that’s our opinion. The fact is: it works … and sounds good.
Conclusion
The English Electric EE1 is a solid network filter. The effect is both measurable and audible. Now the effect of the filter does depend on the environment. Just like power conditioners, by the way. If the network is already in good order, the EE1 has little or no effect. If you play from your standard router, then the effect will certainly be audible in a decent hi-fi system.The question is, of course: will you spend the 299 Euros the EE1 costs on one filter or will you put the money into a decent switch with nice, quiet power supply? We can't answer that question. And the fact is: switches also introduce noise again: the EE1 does not. So the application is different. It's up to you to see where the solution lies for you.
Has anyone tried the Acoustic Revive RLI-1 LAN??
Does it matter where in the network chain where you place these network Isolators?? I had a Pink Fawn and had it running into my streamer, there was a slight improvement. I have 3 ethernet cables in my system, was wondering if it would make sense to put a LAN isolator on the end of each ethernet cable? I would so to speak isolate my incoming fiber converter, router and switch. Or should i just go with the AA spirit and test all 3 for shits and giggles 🙂
The iFi is an affordable way to improve very noisy situations like my Intel NUC’s RJ45 port. Used with Cisco switches which are given quality power or a good singlemode fiber segment (I recommend Finisar FTLX1475D3BTL transceivers), however, this device doesn’t do so much in my system.
Thank you for your continued focus on the importance of the network to sound quality.
I have to agree on the Ifi LAN iSilencer. I already had the Netgear gs105 and the Ipower X power supply and then added the LAN iSilencer into my very noisy WiFi extender, before the switch.
Wow, it was the biggest improvement so far, which was not expected.
I hear on many forums that the LAN iSilencer seem to do an excellent job plugged into very noisy sources, as the starting point of a clean ethernet signal. Not so much if plugged in later in the signal chain.
Hi Jaap, very interesting! I have the same Netgear switch (on your advice) with Chord C-stream (in) and Chord Shawline (out) ethernet cables connected to my new Lumin D3 streamer.
I just bought an IFI Audio Ipower X for it. Is that right first upgrade path or would you go for a filter like the English Electric EE1 or the IFi just mentioned ?
regards Fransbert
What a pity the iFi LAN Silencer was missing.
And of course would be great to see the pioneers in this field, Network Acoustics with an Eno/Muon Pro.
Wow Nice! I just bought an IFI Lan isolator. The Ifi is supplied with an isolation transformer and filter ceramics. The price is below 100€. In the past I had 8 Pink Faun Lan isolators, which I used for a test. I sold 7 of them last year.
Hopefully I don’t take position of the wrong chair :-), but for the last 3 weeks I’m running a network test again myself. So I could not resist to share my experience as well. In the test are 4 routers. 6 Switch types, 300M Lan cable of different types. 4 optic converter types of which singlemode and multimode. 3 types of high grade power supplies. 2 types of Ocxo clocks.
I have tested a solution where the router was completely isolated by fiber connections. Also with the lan isolators.
What seemed to be important is that every setup needed several days to stabilize. Before I could jump into a conclusion. For example replacing the switch mode adapter of the Netgear switch by a linear power supply it needed two days before the sound stabilized.
What I think is very interesting. Is the effect of the router on the complete network. The router doesn’t really bother when there’s only one filtered Lan cable connected. Everything in the network behind this Lan cable is stable. For example on a switch are several devices (some not audio related) connected and they don’t harm the sound of the audiosystem much, but when one or more of these devices are directly connected at the router, then the trouble begins. When the router is troubled, there’s nothing that can make the sound good, by filters, power supplies etc. So keep the router in its comfortzone. Do not connect noisy equipment directly to the router. I would isolate the WAN and 1 LAN by an ethernet isolator. From the ethernet isolator directly to a switch for even better isolation. From there the network can be built. What I never will do again is connect a fiber converter directly at a router port.
I will give the IFI another week before I can compare it with the Pink Faun isolator.
Very interesting! I too have a Pink Fawn and would love to hear the results between the IFI and Pink Fawn.
I am very interested in how it will turn out with iFi. Let me know. Thanks David
I’m curious about the outcome of your comparison Ifi vs pink faun. I’m using an Ifi and considering purchasing more for my network. Thanks in advance for your comment.
Jaap; Absolutely well done!!