Anyone using a LAN isolator?

I use an ENO ethernet filter, passive, from Network Acoustics. It is wonderful.

I'm using an UpTone Audio Ether Regen with an After Dark Emperor Clock.  Sounds great to me.  I heard a definite improvement in the microdynamics and imaging of my favorite recordings since adding these two items.  Music became a bit fuller, more detailed and believable.

I have experimented quite a bit with LAN isolation. I am currently using two of these: https://ediscreation.com/product/silent-switch-ocxo/

Are there other passive options for LAN isolation that are still effective at reducing noise?

@thyname - Where did you purchase your SILENT SWITCH OCXOs?  Did you find a seller in the in the USA or did you need to order them from Hong Kong/Asia?

There is no seller in US. Direct by the manufacturer in Hong Kong

Thanks.  Was it a smooth transaction/good seller? 

How about the switch, can you hear any difference between the OCXO clocked silent switch and others like Bonn or English Electric?

You should read this thread:

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/cheapest-way-to-enhance-sq-with-digital-streaming

Since the cost was <$100 I tried it. I felt there was a very small change in sound quality. Not zero, but nothing to get excited about, but I imagine it might depend on the specifics of your system and network.

Hi @mitch2 . Everything worked out very well with the manufacturer direct. As for impressions and comparison with other products, you can read below. Same username I have here and there. It’s a long thread that someone else started, you will notice my posts starting from #36 on March 2021:

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/good-mid-price-audiophile-switches.32122/page-2

@thyname 

I enjoyed reading your review on page #3. I can totally relate to your experience, it’s easy to discern the ‘naturalness’ and better separation along with drop in noise from a high quality switch. What was your observation once you grounded the Edison Silent OCXO switch to your Shunyata Everest CGS port? 

Thanks @lalitk .

As for the grounding to my Everest, I did not experiment much. Everest is there, along with extra port and extra grounding cables I had, so I put it there as it was from the start (simply replacing the previous switch with the new switch)

@thyname

Thanks! I was curious as few others have reported positive results by grounding the Ethernet switch.

@zavato 

Try Acoustic Revive RLI-1GB-TripleC isolator and report back your results.

@steakster : analog terminology and practice scares me a lot more than digital. One of the reasons I presently don’t own an analog setup at all. 😫 . The others being space and money.

But, I fully acknowledge that we all process information and application differently, we all have our strong and soft spots. We all have different, varying levels of comfort.

@steakster

It’s a whole new world - Indeed!

As much I enjoyed spinning vinyl and CD’s, I am done with all that. My digital has transcended both vinyl and CD playback. 

No reference streaming setup at this point, as with all of audio, likely never will. With all the choices available one can choose to get frustrated, insist they're setup is ultimate or learn from experimenting and experiential learning. I choose the later.

I tried a medical grade passive isolator and it did a little. I got an EtherRegen from the very first shipment and have heard what it can do in two different ethernet based systems. One just below $10k and the other well above $100k. Fantastic results from the EtherRegen plugged into an power conditioner.

EMO en-70 HD Isolator plus DX Engineering DXE Iso Plus filter to start, ultimately you will likely end up with an Etherregen. The latter benefits significantly from an Ocxo clock and LPSU. For further improvements consider a good Ocxo clocked swith in front of the Etherregen

…and having an Acoustic Revive RLT1 in a spare ethernet port on the streamer helps as well

@antigrunge2 

What does one expect to hear with Acoustic Revive RLT1? 

yes - ether regen... makes a difference in my rig i believe

@Lalitk

On my Innos Zenith Mk3 it increases smoothness and attack, YMMV

@antigrunge2

Thanks for your feedback! I wonder if a device like RLT-1 would yield any improvement in front of a switch like Telegartner M12 Gold :-)

I have had it on the Etherregen directly in front of the server: positive but less so

@tump350 can you elaborate what adding the clock did to the EtherRegen?

@emaillists, adding the AD Emperor Clock to the EtherRegen, in my system, added greater subtle detail (microdynamics) to the music such that imaging, sound stage and the emotional impact of the music was greatly improved. I listen mostly to acoustic Jazz Trios and guitar. At half volume the illusion is complete and the performers seem to be present.

However, in my case it is difficult to ascribe these benefits to one componet/tweak only. I added the ER, the Clock, a TWL ethernet cable, a Silnote BNC cable, an After Dark LPS for the ER & Clock, a Zafino power cord, two AudioQquest NRG power cords and an Acoustic Zen Krakatoa power cord, as well as an ancillary Supra Cat8 cord from the jack to the ER all around the same time. I can say that SQ improved incrementally with the addition of each component over the course of the two weeks these pieces were added -- the ER first, then the TWL & Supra, then the clock, then LPS, then power cords, then two weeks for all to settle/burn-in. I did not, however, perform a detailed evaluation of each addition separately.

During this process I could definately hear the improvement brought by the Clock and a proper BNC cable (I used a generic BNC cable for a couple of days before getting the Silnote).

@tump350 

You're like me with additions (if they come in at the same time). Can be hard to know what effect each individual item has.

When I get my system running again I will be evaluating; new streamer, ethernet cables, modded network switch, linear power supplies, DC cables, fuses, recapped amp, footers, and grounding box. Which piece makes which difference? Hmm...

@lalitk 

I took your suggestion and now have an Acoustic Revive RL1-1GB-Triple C Lan Isolator connected to my ethernet cable which itself (the Acoustic Revive) is connected my Auralic Aries G1. I have listened less than 2 hours so far, and everything I've heard sounds quite nice. I won't say it's a night and day difference- because it's not, and I'm not yet at a point where I can adequately describe what I am hearing, but so far it's thumbs up- 

@zavato 

I'm looking at one of those Acoustic Revive RL1-1GB-Triple C Lan Isolators.

Interested in your impressions, as they develop.

@jerrybj 

@lalitk 

Early impressions- all positive- rounder tone but with no loss of details. I can only surmise that although I did not perceive any noise in my system, the RL1-iGB-Triple C must suppress whatever noise there was which overlayed the music itself. 

For  a resolving system the Acoustic Revive LAN Isolator is well worth it. 

@zavato

Glad to hear you liked the improvements by RLI-1GB-TripleC isolator. Strange as it seems, these devices do enhances our listening pleasure. To what extent or degree; that greatly depends on rest of your system. BTW, your system is a very nice blend of vintage and modern components.

this thread makes me wonder

- acoustic revive is the same brand that does the schumann resonator no?  (subject of a recent infamous thread here)

- have read some discussions on other boards saying these things sold on ebay are often 'fakes'...  he he... 

@lalitk - thanks- I love my older gear! The newer stuff too- 

@jjss49 

You’re correct, Acoustic Revive did make Schumann Resonator. I own their previous generation resonator, RR-777. Very effective! About eBay counterfeits, no idea brother; I always bought my AR products from a US dealer. The Lotus Group is the US distributor. 

Just bought an Acoustic Revive RL1-1GB-Triple C Lan Isolator.

@jerrybj where did you buy the AR RL1-1GB and can I ask how much?

I kind of am but only for lightning protection at the cable modem / wifi router junction.

Keep in mind that Ethernet is inherently balanced and galvanically isolated. There's no metal to metal path thanks to the use of ICs with built in isolation (not sure about PoE).  

Wish USB was like this.

If you wanted to try this, use this:

@rsf507 

From Ebay US$225.

There have been faint murmurs of copies, but there seems less chatter on this product.

Where do I place my LAN Isolator?

Options are:

Between ethernet wall socket and modded network switch

Or from network switch to streamer.

@jerrybj 

Try both options and see if you can decipher one position over another yields better sound improvement. My recommendation would be to plug the LAN pig tail into streamer and the LAN cable from network switch into ‘isolator’ box. 

in principle, the lan isolation is best and most critically applied at the ethernet inlet to the audio streamer where the signal is created to be sent to the dac/renderer -- sometimes the streamer and dac coupled in the same unit...

That's what I thought would make more sense, from switch to streamer.

@jjss49 

+1, just ahead of the streamer, or Etherregen in case you have one

Have bought a second LAN Isolator from Pink Faun.

@antigrunge2 

I'm still interested in your Meicord Opal 😀

Sorry, using it in another system, not for sale

@jerrybj

You might as well wait and get Opal II, currently in development. 😊