iFi LAN iSilencer connection

I'd suggest as close to your playback system as possible.

@erik_squires thanks I will try that now

Won't make any difference. Ethernet does not lose any bits. Stream goes literally via hundreds of switches, converters, routers, coax, fiber, satellite links and nothing ever gets lost.

@mikhailark 

Here we go again, commenting without a clue, neither tried it nor took enough time to research predetermined opinions thoroughly. I kindly suggest you sh** up.

I hope you have better results than I had with the iFi Lan Silencer. It made no difference in my system and was returned.  My ethernet goes through optical to filter out noise so that may be the reason.  I ordered a returnable SmoothLan filter and will see if that has positive results.  🤞

@tksteingraber

+1

(1) it made absolutely no difference where you plugged it in.

(2) Regardless , the iFI LAN Silencer is an enticing marketing gig and I regrettably drank its KoolAid . It was a total bust compared to first upgrading with installing high-end quality build Ethernet CAT 7 cables; , and then installing a quality build external power supply mated to a Silent Angel audiophile network switch

In hindsight, it’s no great surprise . The IFi LAN Silencer is enticingly cheap to buy hoping for an audio improvement, but it is just a cheap quality build tweak made to its pricepoint .

there are other peer tech like options out there to boot …it ain’t no landmark technology here.

It's been long proven that electrical interference can happen in ethernet in certain cases. While the data may be ones and zeroes, it's carried by an electrical signal and the cables are subject in interference from other devices and power cables.  Attach to the device at point of use, not at the source (router). High quality well shielded cables reduce but not eliminate the issue, and for many, the bundles of wires at the stereo can be a huge source of interference. That said, I would not buy one unless I had a proven issue that could not be resolved with proper cable management first.

My impression so far is there is a very subtle improvement in tone (slightly smoother highs and a bit tighter bass) and separation of instruments.

I have a DH Labs ethernet cable but it’s coming directly out of a Cox cable router and I am sure that if I used an optical or other decent switch it would make zero difference.

I’ve ordered a SmoothLan and will compare.

Lastly, I had no expectations but it is a zero risk tweak that I can return and then say it did or did not work for me in my system.

@mikhailark

Even if you are skeptical, which everyone should be really, you could start by understanding what these products "claim" to do - which in this case has zero to do with recovering lost bits.

@antigrunge2 I well understand now networks operate. I don’t need “opinions”. If there is benefit, it should be described properly, as in what exactly the device does and how does it benefit the unit hardware and software in terms of network operation. I am yet to hear that.

And it is a free country. 

@dean_palmer of course it does. This is why the network is designed with recovery. Surely, if you unable to own files from cloud or Netflix is broken, then yeah, time to check cabling and equipment. It is a pretty trivial test - like copy large file few times to cloud and back. Is there a performance degradation? File comes corrupted? No? Then you are good.

Yep these devises are all about reducing noise not recovering lost or corrupted bits. I also tried the Pink Faun Lan filter and it didn’t make a difference on my main system but it did slightly improve my second system which also had optical filtering. Go figure, doesn’t always make sense logically and that is why you have to listen to one for yourself on your system. Especially if you are going to comment on a forum!

Next up the Smooth Lan per ozzy’s recommendation.

@tksteingraber 

Next up the Smooth Lan per ozzy’s recommendation.

Ordered mine Friday. 

@mikhailark

I don‘t think you know enough about network specifics in an audio setting and hence I suggest you read up on ground level as well as RMI/EFI borne noise travelling along the bits. Or benefits of galvanic isolation. Or even better: try it out. Over and out.

@antigrunge2 so educate me. RF noise affects all types of data. If that is the case, transmission of plain test files would be affected. You do know that no stream is transmitted point to point or as a complete file. Everything on the net is sliced, diced, and send in packets possible routed via different servers and switches. Noise may affect contents but then data is discarded and retransmitted. In no way receiver ever gets different bits than stored on the server.

Router does not know if data is music, your kid game stream or your wife web browsing. Or should Amazon place an order for millions of silencers, cryogenic Ethernet cables for their data centers? They handle lots of music you know. That Tidal does not run its own servers. Amazon, Microsoft, Google. All on 1 cent Ethernet cables… how do they manage?

Trivial experiment. Copy a music file to a cloud of your choice. Now copy it back 1000 times. Did any copy came back different?

Circular, pointless argument. It's my post...please end it here.

Thank you to those that contributed.

@macg19 

👏🏻

I have a couple of these and have been using them for many months. I plugged one on the line that feeds into the switch from which all my audio gear is connected, and another into the NAS that stores my files.

It was not a revolutionary experience but to my ear did no harm and I thought the overall presentation of the music was better with them in play. I might agree with your description you posted above regarding tone.

For the modest cost of these I don’t feel taken and happily continue to use them (along with my AudioQuest Jitterbug and Emotiva DC blocker) while enjoying my system.

Plug the LAN silencer directly into the ethernet port on your streaming device.

Run a good ethernet cable (Axxess, audioquest, etc) from your router or preferably a FMC decoupler to the isilencer.

@macg19 I have my ifi LAN iSilencer plugged into the eero node (I tried it into streaner as well). Then 1m Purist Ethernet cable from it to the Aurender N200. Thought process is get the dirt out before it hits the 1m cable run. Right, wrong or different it makes sense to me and that’s how I have it.
I can tell the difference between Ethernet cables with this streamer although it’s not night and day. I really don’t think I can tell if the iFi is in the chain, before or after the Ethernet cable, or not there at all, even if my life depended on it. Try it and see. It doesn’t cause harm at least that’s good news.

@audphile1 I'm "upgrading" my opinion from "very subtle" to "subtle" improvement after a few more hours of listening to some very familiar HR Jazz recordings via Qobuz.

I'm learning that sometimes when you a/b test and focus on trying to hear changes, there isn't much/any. Then when you are not paying attention, something makes you pause and take notice. That's what happened today.  

I'm looking forward to hearing the SmoothLAN next.

FWIW the main reason I'm not trying a switch is I don't have any spare outlets. Lastly I have no doubt if I had a better streamer like an Aurender I wouldn't hear any difference. I'm just messing with low-cost, zero risk tweaks atm.  

@macg19 yup same here. I thought I heard the difference on some tracks and had that moment where I thought it sounded different and it possibly did. But man 99% or the time I can’t tell. I’ve had very audible impacts to sound quality of the Aurender by swapping power cords and that didn’t require straining my ears to hear it.
So this Ethernet stuff is most likely the last thing anyone should screw around with - in my opinion components, room and other cables are way more impactful. Cheap tweaks is cool just don’t go nuts with switches, linear power supplies for all this ethernet crap, fiber to optical FMC conversion modules etc…it ain’t worth it.

@audphile1 Agree 100%