Stack Audio SmoothLAN network filter
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ส.ค. 2024
- When Stack Audio announced their network filter at a price of £ 200 excluding tax, my immediate reaction was: that’s a great price. Let’s see if it works as good as their other products.
Contents of this video
00:00 - Intro
00:21 - Start of program
00:41 - where to use
02:40 - The outside
03:05 - The inside
03:54 - Digital problem
06:03 - Analog problem
08:22 - What about buffering?
09:15 - How tested #1
10:07 - Sound quality #1
10:28 - How tested #2
11:21 - Sound quality #2
11:45 - How tested #3
12:50 - Sound quality #3
13:24 - The wrap
Relevant videos:
Stack Audio AUVA 70 speaker isolators: • Stack Audio AUVA 70 sp...
Stack Audio AUVA 50 speaker isolators: • Stack Audio AUVA 50 sp...
Stack Audio Link streamer and network bridge: • Stack Audio Link strea...
John Swenson’s paper: cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/066...
Playlist network filters: • Network Acoustics ENO ...
About my reference setups, May 2023: • About my reference set...
If you like my work, support it through:
My Patreon page: / thehbchannel
Paypal: www.paypal.me/theHBchannel
My book: • File Based Audio aka S...
My links:
My site: www.theHBproject.com/en
My channel: / thehansbeekhuyzen
My Facebook page: / hansbeekhuyzen
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My Instagram page: / beekhuyzenhans - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
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I currently have the iFi Ethernet filter and have a SmoothLAN on order. Also have several DX Engineering ISO-Plus filters (they work great when employed correctly). I'll report back with my SmoothLAN impressions. I'm using all BJC Cat6A or JSSG360 Cat8 Ghent Ethernet cables.
👍🏼
Got the Smoothlans yet? My setup is similar to yours. One DX iso per side of each shielded cable. Ifi lan silencer plugged into my streamer. Great sound so far.
@@DrJum Just arrived earlier this afternoon. All BJC Cat6A between switch and Naim NDX2. It's def better than the iFi by a good amount. Makes sense for the price differential.....but it's an immediate, obvious improvement. No DXE Iso-Plus units on the line....yet. Gonna let the SmoothLAN run-in for a few days and report back.
@@DBravo29er How many DXE IPs are you using? I've seen setups with up to 4. Interested to hear your further findings, thx
@@usswia So far, just 2 on each ethernet run between router/switch and device. Gonna experiment with 4 on each run (gangs of 2 at each end) in a month or so.
Thank you for another great review Hans. You deserve respect for providing this level of information in this community not always willing to learn. I’d like to add that compared to the internet box from our internet providers, just a dedicated it switch like some netgear stuff can provide a great improvement for the sound quality. As well explained by Jaap from Alpha Audio. I was surprised by huge change in harshness and bass clarify just by doing this on my Node 2i.
I know. And you mean a professional ICT grade switch, I gather.
Ok Plug in local Storage & Play
Use a $ 20 network switch with low-noise or out of band power supply.
Any noise comes from the power and just use clamp on ferrite
If that makes you happy 👍🏼
I learned the use of an Oscilloscope in 1986 and power most of my audio off " Lab Grade Power" spent most of my life removing noise from sensitive electronics in Hospital's , Airports, Communication Towers.
Asynchronous Data transfers perfectly when noise is removed . the" OSI model" actually works .
Hi, I really value your deep dive into digital signal processing, jitter, and our auditory system's intricacies. Your expertise shines through. However, while your analysis is (in my opinion sound), it doesn't guarantee that the solutions like specific network filters or audio equipment enhancements will be effective. I think it's important to mention that your perceived advantages might not universally align with everyone's experience or the broader consensus within the scientific and audiophile communities. I'm not sure if all readers get the difference between the scientifically correct analysis and the somewhat "biased" obersvation on the impact of network filters that is not universal. That said, your passion for this technology is infectious ;-).
My observations are subjective. But I try to remain unbiased. I gather it might be better than nothing at all😁
Thanks for this review Hans. I have the Stack Audio Auva 100 and 4 sets of Auva EQs. Am planning to buy the Network Acoustics ENO 2 (release mid April), and was just wondering if the Smoothlan could bring the same noticeable improvements as the Auva 100 and EQ. Now I have the answer and will order the Eno 2. Keep up the thorough reviews (and don't let the ASR trolls bother you).
Sounds great!
Than you for your honesty
👍🏼
Thanks for this honest review! Did you test the similar priced English Electric EE1 network filter? And do you think that the quality of the final lan cable between the filter and the streamer could make a difference? Thanks.
I have no hands on experience with the English Electric so I can't say.
This is a topic I’m not very familiar with and would be grateful for your view. I run a Bluesound node connected to my network by a 1m Cat6 cable to an Orbi MESH wifi router satellite. Would using the smoothLAN still provide a benefit to the Node in this setup? Cheers. Gino.
The effect is rather limited. on the Node.
Bedankt!
🙏🏻
Great review, Hans! I currently use EMO en-85e ethernet isolators that have significantly increased SQ in my two systems. Curious how this would compare to the Stack SmoothLAN.
Well, if you mean the ENO, that's a choice you should stick to.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Hans, no I actually mean EMO Systems, a German company. They make in-line medical network isolators. Confusingly similar (in name) to ENO, but completely different company.
Thanks for the input. Based on this, I just ordered a EMO EN 1005+ (recommended for audio on their website) at the cost of around 130€ incl. VAT and shipment. Curious to see if that will give any sound improvements to my main system
I've had the SmoothLan for a couples months now and am very happy with it. For me imaging was slightly better and defiantly female vocals were so much better.
Thanks for sharing
I had the standard Eno...It was meh..Now I look at the pricing and it I would say it's completely over priced. If you want to truly isolate don't bother with these these passive devices. You need a switch that uses Fiber isolation that uses actual power to function.
For met the Muon is the best option, better than audio grade switches.
Hi Hans. I presume the EtherRegen is a step better again given its design and implementation. Could you say how much better though? Would your best guess be, say 25, 50 or 75% better than the SmoothLAN?
Absolutely
A link will be helpful. Thanks
I have a question I hope you would answer. If electrical noise is the issue, wouldn’t it be better to just use optical ethernet running from your router to your switch and then to your streamer (using an adapter at the streamer if necessary)? I apologize if you have addressed this elsewhere. Thank you.
It would. Most don't have SFP connections though. FMCs would still need a filter I believe.
@@Pete.across.the.street Thanks for your reply.
I second that
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Thank you.
Hi, I have a suggestion for a review. It's the Matrix Audio element S network transport. I hope you find it interesting.
I'll check it out!
I’m streaming from my MacBook Pro through Audirvana Studio. Would this device go between the router and Laptop via the Ethernet cable, and do you think it would help in that scenario?
Yes and no
You managed to avoid controversy with that answer 😅
I use Panamax power conditioners, my either net connections go through the conditioners as well so this device would be redundant for me but useful otherwise.🍻
ok
Designing a "filter" is not easy, so I've looked at Stack Audio hp for information and specifications.
What "SmoothLAN" should do or does:
- eliminate crosstalk and interference
- remove potential sources of parasitic noise
- Counteracting noise
- improving the timing of digital signal transmission
- isolate all signals with six (!) isolating circuits
- shielding to prevent interference between components
- safeguards against performance degradation caused by external vibrations
Specifications:
- Size
- Weight
- cable and cable lengh
No additional data is given... e.g. crosstalk and shielding attenuation...🤣
questions: are the RJ45 isolated from the case and if so where is the grounding screw for the case or is this not needed?
I don’t know. You should ask the manufacturer.
Wouldn't it be more likely for the SmoothLAN to improve the audio quality when connected to the WiiM Pro Plus than the much more expensive and presumably better engineered Eversolo?
A filter will be an improvement with any device because it will filter out noise and other issues with the feed. A good power conditioner will do the same thing and filter out electrical noise from your outlets as well. You just run the either net into the conditioner then out to your streamer or whatever.
@@PitchnYaw How do you know? Have you tried and listened? Or are you just parroting the ASR dogmas?
That wasn't my question. The Wiim Pro Plus had less improvement with the SmoothLAN than the Eversolo as tested in the video by Hans. It logically should be the reverse since the Wiim Pro Plus is a much "cheaper" device. @@Audiodreamer192-24
Why would that be logical?
Then if it's logical that the cheaper device would benefit more, then please explain why not, explain the converse, that the more expensive device, the Eversolo did benefit instead. @@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel
I use a Tripp Lite Isobar (no cable) plug in to filter electricity at the wall. I also add an 20mm obsidian crystal pyramid to further lower the line noise.
We're talking network filtering here????
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel
I should be talking network, but I was talking noise line filtering. Sorry to go off subject. But this works for me.
My wifi is super clean because I silverize everything including the wall coax cable and power cables.
I was able to attain 1200 Mbps.
I have the ifi ethernet filter. It works great. Very nice improvement
same here.
Thanks for sharing
Based on your research, would there be any point in using 2 Lan noise reduces between 2 components? The iFI Lan iSilencer is the cheapest option and you can easily ad one to either end of an Ethernet cable.
I have no hands on experience with the iFi I silencer so I can’t say.
hi Hans, feel curious for the LAN cable connection between my Streamer and Switch, I have already insert a SONORE-OpticalModule (use fibra cable to connect switch and turns to LAN connection to Streamer), does this little thing also have additional enhancement (between SONORE and Streamer) ?
No
I don't know if you have commented on this subject, but some info that might be of interest to you. I see the Nordost Qnet network switch recommends using the 100 Mbps Lan ports because: "At 100 Mbps it’s also possible to contain noise propagation to a minimum, compared to higher speeds" over the other 1000 Mbps ports on the switch.
100 Mbps usually has lower noise. The SmoothLan is also 100 Mbps. A top class filter can clean up 1 Gbps perfectly, like the costly Network Acoustics Muon Pro.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel I looked up another brand of network noise reducers. SOtM Audio in S. Korea. They make various products all the way up to a dCBL-CAT8M, which is a CAT-8 cable with built in filters on each end and is rated at 40GBase-T.
Why on Thursday this week?
Because I had it set wrong 😑
Excelent review.
Intelligent, concise and organized.
🙏
Is the difference measurable ?
I don’t do HF measurements. But my colleague Jaap Veenstra at alpha-audio.net/nl/ does and finds correlations.
Thanks Hans !
I use the iFi LAN iSilencer, since it plugs into the device and is rated at 1,000 Mbps(SmoothLAN is only rated at 100 Mbps, not for every application these days). Another company(SOtM Audio from S. Korea) makes a 10,000 Mbps lan silencer, but isn't cheap at $480.
100mbps might sound better since it is less noisy.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannelwhat is your basis for this claim ?
@@cosmicvoyager12I'm not Hans, but I would guess the ability to employ significantly lower frequency LP filters (inductors or iso-transformers) to reduce noise without perverting the 100mbps square wave as opposed to having to permit to pass another 900mbps (and the resultant high frequency components necessary to represent these signals in the analog domain).
Example: Naim actually use a full gigabit chipset in their NDX2, but they only run it at 100mbps. For the exact same reasons.
but it's Thursday! 😭😭
Oops, wrong date entered....
Reading between the lines, a waste of time then.
It’s knowledge and that is good to have.
Hi Hans !
Thank you for all your hard work.
By the way is there any plan to review the PS Audio AirLens?
I am curious as to how good it really is given the galvanic isolation feature.