@ boucher, I don’t know about your Auralic Aries Femo with sBooster power supply. I’m sure they’re swell. At least to your ears. Anyway, prior to installing iFi, my source wasn’t inherently noisy or abnormally noisy. However, iFi along with the other tweaks I use throughout my audio rig just made everything that much more (incrementally) quieter and blacker, the results of which, I found to be....."Brilliant."

Happy listening.

kennymac, you must have an inherently noisy source to realize a “brilliant effect” from three silencers. Either that or my Auralic Aries Femto with sBooster power supply  and DH Labs Ethernet cable are even more noise-free than I thought.

I’m happy, you’re happy and iFi Audio is very happy that you bought three of their silencers.

Hi again, @davetheoilguy - My recommendations for LAN isolation instead of surge protection is from this article.

As I understand it, the author argues that LAN surge protectors encourage surge voltages to find a path to ground through them, which of course causes large and damaging upstream currents as well. By isolating the equipment instead, a lightning voltage must find a local pathway instead, which while still damaging, now localizes the problem instead of letting it spread downstream.

Let me use my own situation as an example. I have about 50’ between my router and home entertainment system.

I use a LAN isolators for the Ethernet cable that feeds that system at the stereo end. This increases the breakthrough voltage from the normal Ethernet (1.5kV per side) from 3kV to ~ 7.5kV.

However, if I put in a LAN surge protector at my living room, I am reducing the breakthrough voltage to ~1.5kV because it’s now just 1 Ethernet jacks isolation and the surge "protector" which is under 100V. That’s what causes the damaging current flow. I potentially now have melted Ethernet in my walls.

With an isolator anything less than a 7.5 kV surge has to find a path in my data closet, probably through the router power supply, or the incoming coax, a much safer and much more localized event than spreading that current through my home.

Of course, I’m not actually a surge scientist, I’m just sharing how I understand the article to read and why I avoid LAN surge protection inside the home. OTOH, if I had say, outdoor fiber which converted to Ethernet through my exterior wall I’d definitely want to consider a LAN surge protector outside. Also, I do use a coaxial gas discharge tube for the cable modem outside, and air-gap the cable modem from the rest of my system via fiber. I’m the paranoid kind. :)

Hi @davetheoilguy

I wonder if we are talking about two different things? There’s a surge protector on the equipment that goes through the power cord, which I have no issue with, and there are LAN surge protectors (which I think are iffy) and LAN isolators which I recommend.

Here is an example of what I’m talking about, the Tripp Lite which meets IEC 60601-1 for use in patient care vicinity, which have no ground but does add 4kV of isolation. Also, while the components inside are very cheap, I don’t know of any isolators that cheap. Usually cheap is around $70 here.

Ethernet LAN surge protectors, ironically, are much cheaper.

So far, I haven’t seen any hospital grade LAN isolators which also include some sort of surge protection. If you find one online let me know, I’d love to learn about it.

Let me know what you find!

@erik_squires 

That's an interesting idea.  I talked with my wife about what they do -- they have two things going on. 

First, is patient safety to interrupt a surge because the patient is strapped to a machine that, in turn, is tied to the LAN.  What they do there is have the grounded/gas surge protector between the monitor and the LAN.  Having a ground wire is considered part of the standard of care and mandated by the FDA.

Second is isolation of the patient from electronic noise.  (They have multiple sensors detecting very faint electrical signals from the heart.  Kind of like a super EKG.)  This has to be very precise because they do ablations (surgery on the heart to stop irregular heart rhythms) while the patient is strapped up.  For these "very local" connections they use the simple, non-grounded, isolators.  They are typically less than $10.

The iFi silencer is one of these simple sub $10 devices, marked up.

@arnold_h

+1

There was a sequential series of clear and unambiguous audio performance improvements provided by the following upgrades as follows until concluding with the iFI Silencer:

in order: investing in the following for my MOON 280D MIND2 streamer / DAC.

- First, premium silver over copper high-end build Ethernet cables with Telegartner connectors

- Next, an “ audiophile grade’ Silent Angel network switch ( yeah, yeah I know, I was a card-carrying “WTF? Are you sh**tin’me?” Hardline skeptic too, until I actually bought one myself …. It worked for me )

-Next, an external quality high-end build linear power supply for the Silent Angel network switch, replacing the cheap provided OEM switch style wall wart .(this wall wart was better than most ) 

NOTE: All three.had progressive incremental audio performance upticks.

Finally, I read about first and drank the KoolAid reviews and bought the IFI gizmo…..

my take ….” Kind of? … maybe a bit, I guess ….” to even leaning to “meh?”

TAKEAWAY:

- The iFI did not have anywhere near the same clear and unambiguous audio performance upticks produced by my first three steps above .

- In fairness, it is a very small size apparatus and a non-unique device among other available peer options, offered at a puny fraction of the price of each other three items first listed .

= Choose wisely.

@boucher Sorry to hear about your very rare negative experience with the iSilencer.  I have three iSilencers in my system to brilliant effect.  Happy listening.

I would avoid any Ethernet device with a ground wire. Based on an article I read a year or two ago, Ethernet surge protectors encourage high currents through the Ethernet cables. The better strategy indoors is to use Ethernet isolators which typically offer around 4kV of isolation between one side and another. This will force a surge current to take another path besides through the wires.

About the only place I might consider one is at the entrance to a home.  Personally I use an external gas discharge to protect the cable company's coaxial and internally use an Ethernet to fiber converter to create an air gap between their modem and my router.

Thanks, Dave.

Yep, at Walmart:

2X RJ45 Plug Ethernet Network Surge Protector Arrester 100MHz

Two for $14.

Get now before the search terms are tinkered with!

@vinylvalet 

Interestingly, the search results are all different now under that key phrase.

You can still search “Ethernet galvanic isolator” and get good results but “LAN galvanic Isolator”’ gets you to iFi products.  Their marketing guy is clearly savvy and reads internet boards.

Try “Tupavco Ethernet Surge Protector”.  It’s $31 and much nicer with an external ground wire and stronger protection.

The $13 kind are still all over the internet, but they’re at medical supply or Walmart or the like.  

Or thr back floorboard of my wife’s Land Rover.  I think she had about 50 laying there.  Each patient gets 3-4.

@boucher in my system I prefer the iSiliencer between the EERO node and the Purist Audio cat7 Ethernet cable that’s plugged into my streamer. 
A lot of variables here though…quality of your streamer and how well the network section of it is isolated, Ethernet cable quality, the rest of your system. The difference the iSilemcer makes in my system is minimal and on some material extremely hard to even detect in an A/B comparison. Give it couple of weeks and if it doesn’t improve send it back if you still can. 

@davetheoilguy Please provide a link to the $13.99 device on Amazon you speak of. I can't find it when I searched for "LAN galvanic isolator" as you suggested.

In my system (Auralic Aries Femto connected to the internet via an Audioquest Forest Ethernet cable), I find that the iFi silencer degrades performance. It strips some of the emotion in music. Has anyone else observed this effect? Is there a break-in time before the silencer loosens up and allows the music to flow again?

@lalitk  Here's a list of the tweaks that I have in my network chain and throughout my system:  3x iFi LAN iSilencers, 3x Puron AC Line Conditioners, Bybee Technologies Crystal Series Speaker Bullets, Upgraded Audioquest Wall Outlet, and various Vibrapod cones and discs under all my components, including my Pakedge Switch.  All the above listed tweaks work together to produce a wonderful improvement in SQ in my audio system.  Happy listening.       

I recently bought an IFI Lan  silencer to place between my Lan cable and Bluesound Node.  I would not say it’s a huge night and day difference but it seemed to sound a little louder and a little more detailed, almost like if you were at a concert and moved up a couple of rows closer to the stage.

Purchased the Ifi LAN iSilencer after multiple positive reviews on diverse audiophile forums. Installed it between my router and first network switch. This device really works! Expanded soundstage, better imaging, less mid/high frequency harshness and increase in bass resolution. Sounded great immediately after plugging it on my router.

Also tried it directly at the input of my streamer with same results. I have placed a second order for an additional unit.

@augwest 

see my post above.  It’s a low rent surge protector.

specifially an LAN galvanic isolator.  There about $13 on Amazon.

My wife (and all doctors that hook up patients to anything computerized) use them to prevent patient shock in the event of a major catastrophic event.

No clue how that would affect, if at all, music, other than as insurance against a rare surge.

I need to add; the iFi website does say the case is shielded. I need to ask them if it meets CAT7 specs.

Augwest, I am not sure what is in the devise. iFi normally uses cancellation for noise reduction. I have a DC "Silencer" from iFi, and it does make a small improvement to my Motorola Modem. It does run rather warm.

I saw one picture of the iFi LAN Silencer opened. The case looks to be plastic with no metal shielding, so it may not meet CAT 7 specs.

SOtM makes a CAT 6 and a newer CAT 7 isolator. The CAT 7 has the extra shielding and some minor improvements over the earlier CAT 6 unit. They are both more expensive compared to the iFi Silencer, and require an extra cable because they don't plug in.

I couldn't hear any difference.

from iFi Customer Support - "We have not heard back from you for a few days and want to ensure your queries have been resolved. For now, I will close this ticket but please do not hesitate to re-open this ticket If you have any questions or concerns, I will be more than happy to help. Best regards, Liam

Augwest, did the IFI Lan sound better or worse to you?

I THINK THIS SPEAKS FOR ITSELF: Issue Details - Noise and jitter are routine to measure, yet I see NO data demonstrating the effectiveness of the LAN iSilencer. Instead, I see marketing nonsense calling it "Gigatastic." That leads me to be extremely skeptical - where's the proof that this product does ANYTHING? Your failure to provide substantiating evidence supporting this product's claims will be taken *and widely publicized* as your tacit admission that your product is nothing but Snake Oil. Please don't insult your customers with inane marketing gibberish. --

Dec. 6, 2023 Hi Paul, Thank you for getting in touch with your feedback on the LAN iSilencer, I’m sorry that you do not believe that it helps with the noise and jitter. We of course disagree and so do many of our customers, I urge you to try it and see for yourself. Once I have more information from our technical leads, I will pass this along to you. Perhaps it is an oversight to not include test data but the true test is whether people keep using the product and people keep using the product because it works. Best regards, Liam

@deep_333 Yes, I find the pluses to be cumulative. I run FMCs with a patch cable in between --> IFI LAN --> Streaming devices

Okay, thanks!

Do you think this tweak would make a difference if I already have an optical network between my streamer and router?

@zlone , Yes, I find the pluses to be cumulative. I run FMCs with a patch cable in between --> IFI LAN --> Streaming devices

This product is what is known as a "LAN galvanic isolator".

I recognize it because my wife is a heart surgeon who does ablations (for tachycardia and things like that) when peoples' heart beat is off.  They need all the stray electric signals isolated.

You can buy much nicer ones, that have a proper ground (for serious surges) for $31.59 on Amazon.  Or one that is the same for $13.99.

I'm not using any other tweaks in my network chain.  I'm only using the ifi.  The ifi, in conjunction with all my other tweaks, is all I need.  I'm all done.

@audphile1 yes I agree , planning to move up the streamer chain soon….but not a huge leap up since I’m getting the Innuos Pulse Mini. Currently the Ifi Z.S. just gets the job done and I have no idea how much it’s holding things back or not.

It’s powered by an LHY 12V linear supply and fed via TWL Ethernet cable from an Uptone EtherRegen. 
 

The price on the iSilencer is low enough that it’s worth the experiment to see if there are any improvements to be gained post the EtherRegen.

“Now, I already have a variety of audio tweaks throughout my system”

@kennymacc

Glad to know you’re hearing improvements with iFI LAN iSilencer in your system. It would be helpful for readers to know if you’re using any other tweak in your network chain in conjunction with iSilencer. I have found tweaks like iSilencer yields very little to no difference cause I am already using a very high quality ethernet switch between my router and streamer.

Do you think this tweak would make a difference if I already have an optical network between my streamer and router?

Never tried iFi LAN purifier. I use Network Acoustics Eno filter and it made a very nice improvement. Similar concept I’m sure.

@j_andrews try it but…the streamer quality may be your bottleneck. I would not go crazy investing in filters but instead would eventually upgrade to a better streamer. 

Does anyone have thoughts as to whether an Ifi LAN silencer would be useful between a EtherRegen and an Ifi Zen streamer ?

I have similar case upgrade on my modem and Wi-Fi router, it's upgrade the PSU iFi iPower-X for modem & router each. I can hear the music improvement on soundstage, airy, realistic. 😏😎

I tried a bunch included Sonore , uptone 

jays audio sells the SW 8 Thst has linear power supplies, low noise regulators 

and a Over controlled clock it is very respectable at just under $600 

and takes about 300 hours to fully runin , always use at least a pangea or better power cord , and the Synergistic purple fuse made it better still.

I implemented this into my system and I had the same experience as the OP. I have this connected to my router prior to my Small Green Computer i9 Optical to Sonore OpticalRendu. There has been some debate whether this would bring an improvement prior to optical isolation. Well it worked in my case and it is staying put.

+1

ifi is a very good company, they make affordable items, but they generally work very well and are of excellent quality - smart business people and excellent engineers/problem solvers