[Zaek]

I did the same thing to my Ansuz Sparkz. Background seems to be blacker n can hear more details.

 

[iFi audio]

My next major upgrade is something that just may overtake even the grounding box discovery. It's the combination of iFi Audio DC iPurifier 2 connected to a DC LPS with silver faraday tape at the end, connected to iFi SPDIF iPurifier 2, using its' optical output. More info on the tweaks thread here.

That trick with tape is easy to do, so everyone can follow your steps. Thanks a lot for sharing!

 

[szore]

I ended up taking the tape off the grounding box and transformer, sounds a bit richer without it. Left the tape on my DAc Amp and Lokius tho. When I remove any tape off those devices the sounds gets thinner. So at this point I think I have found a nice balance.

And curiously enough, I put some way back around the XLR adapter cable coming out of the amp, and it sounds much richer and way better dynamics. I put this on and off like 5 times and it is NOT subtle, Go figure! BUT when i put it around the plug of the IEM cable its self (the silver part) the sound collapses. Just goes to prove you have to experiment!

 

[iFi audio]

Got the Monosaudio "Eclipse" (top of the line) speaker jumpers today… Very good quality indeed …

I also have to ask, that Siltech Triple Crown speaker cable, it's real, isn't it ?

 

[DecentLevi]

After installing the titanium power supply, I had to remove this elfidelity sata filter until today where I had a chance to rearrange things in my pc and reinstall it.

I use this to connect a samsung 870 SSD which holds all of my music files.

This thing cleans up a good amount of noise from the PC. The sound is a little warmer without it but it is more resolving, more detail, just better clarity overall with it.

Another thing to note is that I use DSD512 upsampling for music and occasionally, there is a pop if I skip to the next track, after reinstalling this, it doesn't happen anymore.
If anyone is using an SSD to store their music, I highly recommend this filter.

I use an external HDD for a lot of my audio files, not sure if it's SSD or optical (the rest from my laptops internal hard drive), but that is via USB (which also powers it, via a powered splitter bus) so this device would probably not be compatible. Most of my darn laptops USB 3 connectors are defective, so I have to put everything including mouse, keyboard, external HDD, Etc mostly off of the same USB port on a shared bus splitter. At least I have my audio output on a separate USB connection. Any advice?

I installed the fan filters, pci card power filter and this sata filter at the same time so it was impossible to tell which one offered the most improvement but after removing for about a week and reinstalling, I was able to tell the difference it was making.

I'm curious about this thing.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255800700421074.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.7.568e65a1uy9Myz&algo_pvid=d8c5a4b0-117b-4059-a2ee-6ec56f7365a9&algo_exp_id=d8c5a4b0-117b-4059-a2ee-6ec56f7365a9-3&pdp_ext_f={"sku_id":"10000010361966705"}&pdp_npi=2@dis!USD!32.5!30.55!!!!!@212279a216719460433873903d074a!10000010361966705!sea&curPageLogUid=eGyzc6FCpkTJ

It looks like it does the same thing as the JCAT usb card, probably not the same level of quality as the JCAT but considering every elfidelity item I've installed in my system gave me a nice improvement, I'd bet its more than worth it for the price. If I didn't already have a JCAT usb, I'd get this.

Would such a device be compatible with my source system which consists of a Windows laptop and USB for external hard drive and audio output?

 

[dougms3]

I use an external HDD for a lot of my audio files, not sure if it's SSD or optical (the rest from my laptops internal hard drive), but that is via USB (which also powers it, via a piwered splitter bus) so this device would probably not be compatible. Most of my darn laptops USB 3 connectors are defective, so I have to put everything including mouse, keyboard, external HDD, Etc mostly off of the same USB port on a shared bus splitter. At least I have my audio output on a separate USB connection. Any advice?

Would such a device be compatible with my source system which consists of a Windows laptop and USB for external hard drive and audio output?

First thing is probably dont connect the hdd to the usb hub. Its sharing power and ground with everything else thats connected to it, spreading cooties like @msing539 on a busy friday night.

Possibly could use it to work with an external usb drive but you'd have to come up with a custom enclosure to accommodate that pcb and adapters, might not be worth the trouble.

Another option is to use it on a NAS device, its easier to make something custom or just use double sided tape to stick it to the wall or something.

Just throwing out some options.

 

[szore]

First thing is probably dont connect the hdd to the usb hub. Its sharing power and ground with everything else thats connected to it, spreading cooties like @msing539 on a busy friday night.

Possibly could use it to work with an external usb drive but you'd have to come up with a custom enclosure to accommodate that pcb and adapters, might not be worth the trouble.

Another option is to use it on a NAS device, its easier to make something custom or just use double sided tape to stick it to the wall or something.

Just throwing out some options.

I had the cooties once, not fun.

 

[dougms3]

In one of the other threads, someone mentioned these lan isolators.

Has anyone tried them? Thoughts?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/334340331704

https://www.ebay.com/itm/334340331693

 

[DecentLevi]

I did the same thing to my Ansuz Sparkz. Background seems to be blacker n can hear more details.

That is so awesome that we both had basically the same results with silver Faraday shielding over our removable power filter cylinders. But from what I saw, those Ansuz Sparkz cost about 12X More than the iFi AC iPurifier, is that right?!

 

[DecentLevi]

Folks I've just tried shielding my VIDEO (HDMI monitor) cable with this magic sauce silver faraday tape and I'm getting better sound. Just trying to believe what's going on around here. Maybe my place is haunted with the ghost of sound phenomenons, LOL. It must have something to do with the cable's proximity right next to the USB cable for external hard drive, which I just also shielded underneath it with probable good results too... but then again even music from the laptop sounds better with the video cable shielded. My theory is that since it's not audio cabling, it needs more... MOAR MOARRR shielding.

Thanks to recent inspiration from here.
Next is under my laptop.

 

[simon740]

Hello.

I purchased this power cable: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100....order_list.order_list_main.17.1ec41802Li55DQ . One for the Exposure 3010S2D amplifier and the other for the Ares II dac. Hmm...I think it's too "dark" sounding? Maybe that's too much for Ares II...
Do you have similar experiences?

regards,
Simon

 

[DecentLevi]

I put Furutech Nano Liquid on all the connections for my new iFi DC iPurifier 2 and its' cables - now my system is sounding too bright! Bass may have gotten leaner and treble got tilted upwards too much. Should I try to remove it, or wait for burn-in or brain adjustments?

Also, still experimenting with the above non-audio cable shielding.

 

[kingoftown1]

@DecentLevi give it time...

 

[dougms3]

Hello.

I purchased this power cable: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100....order_list.order_list_main.17.1ec41802Li55DQ . One for the Exposure 3010S2D amplifier and the other for the Ares II dac. Hmm...I think it's too "dark" sounding? Maybe that's too much for Ares II...
Do you have similar experiences?

regards,
Simon

I dont think anyone has tested that cable.

It could be that it just needs some burn in time but you're the first person to confirm purchase of that cable in this thread.

The odin2 or gold odin have been extensively tested by many people in here as a good value, whichever version it is.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256...2f6pKjA&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa&_randl_shipto=US

I also recommend this 15core valhalla knockoff, its very good as well, not as resolving as the gold odin but more body and bass.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256...25yClJ2&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa&_randl_shipto=US

I think for the ares ii, the odin cables pair well with it because they tend to accentuate the treble and make things more resolving. While the ares ii is pretty good in the lows and mids, where the ares ii is not the strongest is the higher frequencies.

 

[dougms3]

I put Furutech Nano Liquid on all the connections for my new iFi DC iPurifier 2 and its' cables - now my system is sounding too bright! Bass may have gotten leaner and treble got tilted upwards too much. Should I try to remove it, or wait for burn-in or brain adjustments?

Also, still experimenting with the above non-audio cable shielding.

I think its the tape thats making things bright.

The furutech nano liquid should be applied before the tape. Its maximizing the capabilities of your system by increasing surface contact with the terminations. You may need to make adjustments with the tape.

This is why I don't like relying on the tape too much.