ifi LAN iSilencer

@mikhailark I am loathe to step into this, but having been a software engineer for thirty five years and doing plenty of kernel work along the way, the focus on packet loss as the issue, and ignoring everything else, including user experience, becomes annoying. I am a firm believer that there is little packet loss or data corruption in streaming, the protocols do their job well and it is not the primary issue. Noise, finding its way into the streamer via an ethernet cable, is one of the primary issues addressed by products like this one.

We are not talking about file transfer, we are talking about audio reproduction, using digitally transferred files as a source. The more refined the audio equipment, the more likely it will be affected by noise in an audible, or even subliminal way. 

@zlone - good. Ah, but manufacturer claims improvements in transfer :-) so it is already subject to truth in advertisement.

Next, here is quote from the iFi site - "The LAN iSilencer removes the electrical noise that distorts the audio signal from your network." Huh? What audio signal in my CAT6? Where?

Now, if noise to streamer is an issue. First, it is a twisted pair, correct? So we are talking POOR implementation of the input analog receiver and ADC in the network hardware of the receiver. Sounds unlikely since chips and solutions are 99% standard, nothing is custom there.

So next, you may say - leak EMI from network cable over to.... where? If streamer is combined with DAC - maybe... Get a shielded cable then. If streamer is an ARM PC with USB out - unlikely. Digital to digital over controlled protocols with recovery.

Decent DAC is immune to USB noise and would have isolation at the input. In the worst case DDC like Denafrips Iris in front of the DAC would be a much better choice.

Reduced line noise could be considered an improvement in transfer. Subjective and marketing fluff to be sure, but technically probably correct. "Audio signal" is used as an understandable term for non-technical buyers. Minor stuff, this is not a technical document.

I get what you are saying about noise, how does it affect the stream? I don't know, but I do know that audio hardware manufacturers go to great lengths to reduce it and control it. 

You are railing against the marketing. For the price it is worth a try. I have not tried it myself, however I did buy the Stack Audio equivalent, as did a friend of mine. It makes a difference, I don't know exactly why. 

@zlone - they go to great lengths not necessarily for tech reasons but to be able to sell the product so audiophile community.

I love reading Nelson Pass. One of the best engineers making great gear. He obviously does not try and alienate potential customers with $$$ but he did say quite a bit about expensive power cables :-) 

If this is so important, then $79 thingy should simply be part of $2000 streamer. And it probably is....

@mikhailark couple of things here….

1. I agree with you that essentially what the iFi is doing should be part of a well designed streamer. And it probably is and hence the reason it makes absolutely zero difference in my system. However, I do not know what is and isn’t built into my streamer. If it protects against surges it’s worth keeping it in the chain for me.

2. Your urban myth about Pass. Nelson Pass is not against aftermarket power cords. He does encourage using certified cables though. I owned X250.5, XA30.8 and X260.8 mono amps and XP-12 and XP-22 preamps. I can tell you first hand that these components benefit from high quality power cords. Every Pass Labs manual has a section about power cables. It’s available online check it out. And don’t spread disinformation. You’re becoming annoying in more than one way now.

3. I owned Network Acoustics Eno Streaming System that includes a passive filter with a captive Ethernet cable as well as a separate Ethernet cable that would connect the filter to the router. It makes a difference. I happened not to appreciate what it did in my system and I sold it. But it doesn’t mean it’s a bad product or a scsm. It works. And the way it does is it throttles data transfer at 100mbps which is thought to be optimal for streamers (for some at least). Depending on the implementation it might work with some streamers and might not work with others.

Forget marketing and don’t get pissed off at companies making products that don’t align with your narrative. You’re fighting windmills. Go out there and try some of these products. If they don’t work, return them. Rather than posting theories you can’t substantiate get some real experience with this stuff.