Network Acoustics Muon ethernet filtering system - Improving streaming sound quality
Network Acoustics recently rolled out a new top tier ethernet filtering system named Muon. It betters their already highly effective ENO offering which I purchased some 18 months ago. I posted about the ENO filtering system back then and you can read it at the link located at the bottom of this member review.
Everything I said about the ENO filtering system also applies to the new Muon system. However, the Muon system offers even better sound quality by removing a greater amount of electronic and RFI/EMI noise. The Muon filter is a passive device so their is no need for a power supply or power cord. That’s great!
Like many of my fellow Agoners, I have come to depend on Qobuz and Tidal streaming for my music playback. I have not used any physical media in over 5 years, but also realize today’s servers/streamers can all benefit from digital noise blocking systems such as the Muon. From high end audio switches to high quality ethernet cables I have learned they can all improve the sound quality of our streaming front ends. I have tried going the fiber optic route and used other products such as the EtherRegen and while they do improve sound quality I find the MUON system more musically engaging and compelling. Here is my current digital front end:
(Netgear NighHawk modem/router powered by an LPS > Network Acoustics ENO ethernet cable> English Electric 8Switch powered by an LPS > Network Acoustics MUON ethernet cable > MUON ethernet filter > Innuos Zenith III > Tchernov Ultimate USB cable -Mojo Audio Evo dac)
The MUON system is made up of the MUON filter and Muon ethernet cable. You can buy these separately, but you’ll receive a nice discount by buying both as a system package. Here is a link to the Network Acoustics Website:
https://www.networkacoustics.com
I purchased the MUON system and have been enjoying it for several months now. I feel it betters the ENO range in several important sonic ways. The noise floor is further reduced revealing more inner detail of instrument and voice. This increased inner detail reveals subtleties previously lost. In the end my music sounds more real and less reproduced. For me, improving realism is everything!
With streaming it seems more difficult to obtain a nice 3D presentation as compared to a high end CD spinner. Sometimes streaming can sound relatively flat compared to CD playback. I found the Muon filter system delivered a more immersive experience due in large part to improving the 3D performance.
For me the Muon filter is well worth the asking price as it made my listening sessions even more enjoyable. The rest of my system includes a Circle Labs A200 integrated amp, Fyne F704 speakers with upgraded crossovers and internal wire, and both Hijiri & Tchernov cabling.
@lalitk have your received the Muon and Rubicon? Love to hear how they sound in your system. Thanks! |
Thanks @tuberist Your listening room is beautiful! Let me know if you end up trying the filter and what you think.
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@lalitk and all reading this thread. The Muon ethernet system combined with the Network Acoustics Rubicon switch has me transfixed in so many ways. The combo deliverers a fluidity of sound that is so pure and enjoyable. Instruments and voice sound so pure and real. Now my music has more dimension to it. This combo has finally made me forget about high end CD transports because I now know my streaming is on par or better based on my listening tests. I understand the Muon system and Rubicon switch represent a significant financial investment. For me the two pieces are indispensable as they provide the rest of my system with the opportunity to sound magnificent. I invest too much listening time and money in my system to not feed it with the best digital signal possible. It all starts before your server or dac and great sonic improvements can be realized here. The Rubicon switch can only be special ordered right now as they are gearing up for more production as I understand. Yes, I am completely thrilled with my system and music as the Muon ethernet filter and Rubicon ethernet switch have increased the fun and engagement level of my listening sessions. I use these products with an Innuos Zenith 3 server/streamer. I no longer use my lifetime Roon membership because the Innuos Sense software sounds so much better to me. Not even close right now. This is true for Innuos gear and may not be the case on non-Innuos servers. I am sure Roon can and does sound fantastic on other platforms. |
I see. I used an Ifi Elite power supply with Nogami power cord on it. I need to repair a Keces P8 LPS I purchased used that was damaged in shipping. I use it on my modem, but the second output was damaged.
I am also making my own upgraded DC power cords to power the switch and modem. They are also very, very important. |
Hi @mitch2
I am actually using the Muon with the Rubicon! Sold the EE 8 switch. I had to have the Rubicon as it was much better. Oh well. I still have my Mojo dac as I could not spend the $17,000 on the Tron 😕. Maybe some day?
I compared three cords on the power supply. My DIY power cable made with Duelund 12 gauge conductors sounder better than a generic. Unfortunately, the Nogami sounded better than my very good DIY PC and made it clear to me that the power cord matters greatly on LPSs. I wish it were not so. It was apparent within a handful of notes. Try it yourself and find out in your system.
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Tron makes some very special gear. I have had the opportunity to hear their Atlantic dac, Atlantic 300b Int amp, and Converence preamp and stereo amp. All of these pieces have a special purity which is unmatched in my experience. Tron is all about purity and realism and all his designs share this magic. |
Happy for you @maurice89 ! Network Acoustics makes wonderful products that really work. |
The SR Purple fuse may be the single biggest sonic improvement I have heard in my streaming front end. No kidding. Certainly on par with the Network Acoustics, LPSs and switch upgrades I have made. That is my experience with my Innuos Zenith 3. All sonic parameters were greatly improved. All of them. Improved realism, stage size, separation of instruments, noise removal, dynamics improved while sense of ease also improved. Also, the sound is more removed from the speakers and spread out before me to enjoy while my speakers disappear far more! Now, will you get this same improvement with the Grimm? Don’t know. I do know that fuses are part of the power supply and power supplies are immensely important in our digital front ends. I have owned many brands of fuses from QSA, Audio Horizons, Create, AMR, Furutech and HiFi Tuning. None of them came close to what the SR Purple delivered in my Innuos Zenith. Just stunning. The SR fuses are adding nothing, but in reality they are removing noise riding in on the AC into the power supply and ultimately into the signal path. Noise that does end up in the signal path causing blurring and all manner of digital artifacts along with the music. Fuses are a bottleneck point in the power supplies of our gear. No doubt about it. We have all these massive and expensive chokes, filtering caps, trannys, and rectifiers, yet the fuse is also an important part within the power supply and is all to often overlooked. Fuses are not just overlooked, but the notion of better quality fuses is labeled as snake oil by some. Too bad. I have also put the SR fuses in my Circle Labs A200 Int amp with astounding results. Next will be my Tron dac. I am thrilled with the Purple fuses. You must let them run in for 24 hours before making any assessments. At first I was not thrilled, quite the contrary. However, after 24 hours I was thrilled! Total burn in time is some 200 hours, but 24 hours will be enough to judge their impact? 30 day return policy so they are easy to try? The NA filters, like your new one, also remove noise that ultimately perverts the signal going into your speakers.
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I just upgraded to the newer Network Acoustics Muon Pro ethernet filter and streaming cables. I continue to be very impressed with these Network Acoustics digital streaming products. My wife and I immediately heard the music fill in much more between the speakers. I did not expect that, but it was easily heard. We also enjoyed even greater realism of voice and instrument. Voices were now connected with bodies increasing the realism of vocals wonderfully. More “stuff” was removed from the signal helping us hear much further into recordings. Smearing or blurring of instruments seemed to vanish as we could hear separate instrumental lines previously hidden. Yes, resolution was improved nicely, but the tonality remained natural and not presented as hyper detailed. Nice!
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