[dougms3]

Just one last question on this: if shielding is irrelevant, what makes the difference between say CAT5 and CAT8? What makes up for that massive bandwidth increase? Number of wires and copper conductors look pretty much the same to me.

No one said shielding is irrelevant. In fact its very relevant.

Actually I was mistaken, looking at the specs, cat7 and cat8 include shielding as part of the spec. Anything below cat7, shielding is not part of the spec. Makes sense since they operate at higher frequencies. The cat7 &8 cables are probably either emitting emf and/or more susceptible to interference due to the higher operating frequencies.

As I mentioned, if you have just one port that is not multigig in the network chain, everything will be reduced to the slowest port speed.

I've never built cat8 cables so I'm not sure what the physical differences are.

If you want a yield in sound improvement, better off getting a cable with better connectors, conductors and shielding.

Preferrably something with shielded connectors like this.

 

[iFi audio]

No one said shielding is irrelevant. In fact its very relevant.

Actually I was mistaken, looking at the specs, cat7 and cat8 include shielding as part of the spec. Anything below cat7, shielding is not part of the spec. Makes sense since they operate at higher frequencies. The cat7 &8 cables are probably either emitting emf and/or more susceptible to interference due to the higher operating frequencies.

As I mentioned, if you have just one port that is not multigig in the network chain, everything will be reduced to the slowest port speed.

I've never built cat8 cables so I'm not sure what the physical differences are.



If you want a yield in sound improvement, better off getting a cable with better connectors, conductors and shielding.

Preferrably something with shielded connectors like this.

Thanks for those charts and specs! I'm bookmarking it for future reference!

Appreciated!

Cheers!!

 

[rawlit]

Reading through this thread, it’s fascinating how much there’s still to learn about networks and their benefits to digital audio

Clearly it’s not easy to improve on something we currently cannot measure although subjectively we can tell the difference

An opportunity for us all to improve our sound and companies to come up with new products

Every change I’ve made so far has a big and immediate impact on my sound, and it’s getting my digital sources closer and closer to my vinyl

 

[iFi audio]

I am learning more about these things daily here and in other threads on Head-Fi!

Power, Network, and even cables can slightly influence sound, some hear this, some don't. Always best to take tiny steps sometimes, to see if you can hear those differences, and as always do very close comparisons!

Cheers!!

 

[Rantenti]

I have this internet connection scheme at home:

Fiber optic into home -- Modem -- LAN cable -- router A // wifi //
Router B receives wifi signal -- LAN cable -- streamer

I was wondering if there is any place for LAN isolators in my chain since my streamer appears to be completely isolated from my ISP, and my ISP supplies my internet via fiber optic and not copper wired internet anyway.

Thanks.

 

[iFi audio]

I have this internet connection scheme at home:

Fiber optic into home -- Modem -- LAN cable -- router A // wifi //
Router B receives wifi signal -- LAN cable -- streamer

I was wondering if there is any place for LAN isolators in my chain since my streamer appears to be completely isolated from my ISP, and my ISP supplies my internet via fiber optic and not copper wired internet anyway.

Thanks.

Someone may have a more technical answer for you, but I thought I'd write my experience in response.

I have had the LAN iSilencer for quite a while and perceive a difference when using it with my Zen Stream. I like you changed to Optical Fiber Internet and wondered the same thing. I have almost the exact same thing (close) as you in terms of what cables and routing optical into the modem, and so on.

Although I will say the difference is very subtle there is still a difference using it. a darker background, better details.

I thought the same as you and it hit me! It's optical right up to that Modem then what? Power for it, normal LAN cable to any Routers, and power to those, you get the picture of all chances for interference. I have thought about Running a longer Optic line directly from the modem to my NEO Stream which has an optical ethernet in but have not done that yet.

As always I suggest trying things in your setup to see what it can or can't do in your setup.

Hope this helps.

Cheers!!

 

[dougms3]

I have this internet connection scheme at home:

Fiber optic into home -- Modem -- LAN cable -- router A // wifi //
Router B receives wifi signal -- LAN cable -- streamer

I was wondering if there is any place for LAN isolators in my chain since my streamer appears to be completely isolated from my ISP, and my ISP supplies my internet via fiber optic and not copper wired internet anyway.

Thanks.

If the modem > router connection is ethernet then absolutely.

Even tho the Internet is coming in as fiber, the isp fmc is converting the signal to ethernet. And that's the format being used in the last leg of the chain.

 

[Rantenti]

I am considering buying either an iPower X (for either the modem or the router) or the LAN isilencer.

Which one will likely benefit the most?
1. ipower X for modem
2. ipower X for router
3. LAN isilencer between modem and router

 

[Jake2]

I am considering buying either an iPower X (for either the modem or the router) or the LAN isilencer.

Which one will likely benefit the most?
1. ipower X for modem
2. ipower X for router
3. LAN isilencer between modem and router

I own several Ipower Xs and LAN iSilencsrs and several DC iPurifiers, all awesome.

My vote is #4 Router B receiving wifi signal -- LAN isilencer - streamer.

Then add an IPower X to router B. Then 2, 3, 1.

 

[Jake2]

@Rantenti What's your streamer and DAC as a matter of interest? My initial recommendations were in response to only the iFi products you mentioned.

I ask as if you have a pretty resolving system I'd recommend adding the 100% galvanic isolation of a pair of Fibre Media Converters (FMCs) after your second wifi router, followed by the iFi. Reason being routers are noisy beasts, and the LAN iSilencer will do its best but won't be able to fully filter HF noise over ethernet from the router. I.e.

Router B receiving wifi signal > FMC A - fibre - FMC B > LAN iSilencer > streamer.

See an earlier post of mine on this thread for super cheap AliX FMCs. They still have some rough edges especially with stock SMPS, so the LAN iSilencer further refined the sound after them.

I'd then prioritise the power to the receiving FMC (B), but on reflection rather than getting a Power X I'd recommend a DC iPurifier2 to begin with as they work multi voltage so you could try it across a mix of typically 6v FMCs and 12v routers and modems in different places. What from my experience you will find very quickly is prioritising low noise power closer to your streamer generally gives greater returns.

 

[Rantenti]

My streamer is the MiniDSP SHD Studio, DAC is the Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE, the subsequent chain is, I might say, very resolving. The streamer is fed by a Nuprime LPS-212, however, with the addition of an independent router, I will need either another LPS or the iPower X for the router. Broadband signal quality is the last component I would like to improve. Following the "rule" of adding things one by one, I would seriously consider your recommendation of the FMCs and see what it does, then the iFi.

What I get from your advice is that creating isolation of the Ethernet signal makes a greater difference than feeding the router cleaner power, if only one of these two are done.

Does the DC iPurifier2 perform as well as the iPower X?

 

[Jake2]

My streamer is the MiniDSP SHD Studio, DAC is the Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE, the subsequent chain is, I might say, very resolving. The streamer is fed by a Nuprime LPS-212, however, with the addition of an independent router, I will need either another LPS or the iPower X for the router. Broadband signal quality is the last component I would like to improve. Following the "rule" of adding things one by one, I would seriously consider your recommendation of the FMCs and see what it does, then the iFi.

Does the DC iPurifier2 perform as well as the iPower X?

In the spirit of this being an IFI LAN iSilencer thread my recommendation would be to start with the (great) iFi LAN iSilencer! Then try the cheap as chips FMCs..

Re DC iPurifier2 vs iPower X, expect the answer is it depends. X might have the edge. Will have a listen this evening. Stock router SMPS + DC vs X.

 

[Rantenti]

Will have a listen this evening. Stock router SMPS + DC vs X.

Looking forward to the results! Have a great evening.

And BTW, after reading through the ifi website, it appears that the LAN isilencer is a PASSIVE isolator while their other products, eg. iPower X/ USB iSilencer etc are active noise cancelling devices. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Jake2]

Looking forward to the results! Have a great evening.

And BTW, after reading through the ifi website, it appears that the LAN isilencer is a PASSIVE isolator while their other products, eg. iPower X/ USB iSilencer etc are active noise cancelling devices. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Cheers, and nice system btw.

I'll defer to our thread's resident Ifi expert on your question.

 

[dougms3]

My streamer is the MiniDSP SHD Studio, DAC is the Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE, the subsequent chain is, I might say, very resolving. The streamer is fed by a Nuprime LPS-212, however, with the addition of an independent router, I will need either another LPS or the iPower X for the router. Broadband signal quality is the last component I would like to improve. Following the "rule" of adding things one by one, I would seriously consider your recommendation of the FMCs and see what it does, then the iFi.

What I get from your advice is that creating isolation of the Ethernet signal makes a greater difference than feeding the router cleaner power, if only one of these two are done.

Does the DC iPurifier2 perform as well as the iPower X?

This is just my opinion but I think your system is a higher end system and would greatly benefit from a good power conditioner.

If it were my system, I'd invest in a power conditioner first.