iFi LAN iSilencer connection

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.