I am also using DAC from Amphenol for the last 2 weeks and prefer it over the Finisar SFP+ FTLF1318P3BTL . Torben and I have had them about the same duration and have similar layouts. Rather enjoy his posts at Audiophile Style and What's Best. Also Audiobomber from Canada has some great insight on the subject of SFP and the like.
Stack Audio-SmoothLAN Network Filter- WOW!
I just received this item that I purchased from Stack Audio after being impressed with the AUVA 100 Speaker footers.
For any of the Audio Streamers out there, my initial comment as to this item: The SmoothLAN Network Filter is WOW!
From first plug in, the soundstage deepened and widened immensely. How the heck this occurs is nothing short of amazing. I have tried many of the major brand ethernet filters, and some of them, maybe, did something. But not enough to keep them. I either sent them back or sold them. I did however keep an iFi Silencer unit.
My digital streaming consists of an EtherRegen sending out the signal via Fiber to my Lumin X1. I have the Stack Audio device going into the EtherRegen from the Modem.
And, since I have my Apple TV coming out of the EtherRegen it will be interesting to see if the Video improves.
Check out the review in EAR.
Stack Audio Smooth-LAN For Clean Streaming | The Ear (the-ear.net)
ozzy
253 responses Add your response
This thread shows again that quick judgements in audio are fallacious: what seems to add dimensionality and clarity in the beginning ends up being a bit of a sock over the tweeter after prolonged listening.
Or could it be that tweeters mounted on the front panel of a speaker rather than omnidirectionally have altered our auditory senses so much, that what might be removal of grittiness from EMI/RFI is perceived as overdamped treble.
Certainly worth a discussion, I wager… |
No, I have not. My comment relates to subtle changes of assessment shining through on this thread. I use an Lhyaudio switch, reclocked Etherregen and Ifi I-silencer. I do though confess to scepticism on passive components other than galvanic isolation in the digital domain from previous experience (Acoustic revive et al) |
Was considering one of these, just might have to pull the plug on one. I already have some more industrial filters from dx engineering after a d-link switch - just a bit of a difference. Worth trying this instead if you’re getting that level of improvement after what you already have. sold on Stack audio after the huge difference using their Auva EQ’s under my preamp 🙏🏼👍🏼 |
I tried taking out the SmoothLAN as a test to see if it still performs like I initially observed. This is the real test, as many tweaks fall down after the initial enthusiasm. Different is not always better. Still all good, had to put it back in!! I am using it straight after an LHY SW-6 switch, which itself is an overachieving priced product like the SmoothLAN is. |
I know a guy using all sorts of megabuck gear, but he swears by the Stack Audio Link 2 network streamer. It's under $2k with the matching Stack linear PSU which makes it by far the most affordable piece of his system, by orders of magnitude. I was not aware they made a network filter. Based on this thread and my friend's experience with the Link, I think I will try it out. |
I will second the enthusiasm for Stack Audio. I also have the SA Link 2 Network Streamer with included lucked linear or supply and it was a revelation compared to my hotrodded BlueSound Node. From there I went to Auvas under my electronics, and now just installed the SmoothLan. Really high quality well designed products from Stack Audio! |
Based largely on this thread I ordered a Smoothlan last Saturday night and it showed up at my door in Canada Thursday afternoon. I’ve tried many filters and isolators in my system with some having a negative impact, some no difference, and some making a very subtle but seemingly positive difference that I doubt I could consistently identify in a blind A/B. I have it placed at the last point in the chain just ahead of an Innuos Zenith Mk3 acting as HQPlayer NAA where based on previous experience with filters/isolators I’ve been most able to detect how a unit performs. The impact of the Smoothlan was not subtle. I already had a very wide soundstage and there was no obvious change in that aspect, but the degree of clarity and depth added is shocking and with no negatives. Tone and dynamics all remain excellent. Wow is right. It makes no sense to me how this little box is doing this. Now the question: do I try to add another one or possibly try a Muon Pro which I’m really having a hard time justifying…. |
@sworksone Give it the full 300 hours and it it transformative. Combine with a quality Optical Bridge EtherRegen and Sonore OMD and you will be amazed. |
Well holy crap, this thing works. First impression after insertion is yes, I hear a difference. It is a more analog sound, everything is smoothed over, but possibly too much so? I thought on some bright and edgy tracks this is exactly what I have been looking for, but on others they sounded perfect already, so this may roll off the treble too much? After 2 days of running I am astounded this tiny little passive block of metal is doing as much as I hear it doing. I mean I already have an Etherregen, and a SoTM ethernet cable with its filter, how much more "filtering" do I need? Apparently lots. Not going to give any adjectives, not going to print any exclamation marks, but I am not going to use the money back guarantee- it’s staying. My digital front end retails for about 30K, and this little 200 British pound black box makes it sound 9-18% better. If it gets even better after a few hundred hours, like many components do, I am going to freak. Seriously, people spend 5k to upgrade their DAC to get this type of improvement. Thanks for the thread @ozzy. |
@mclinnguy do you have the Smoothlan in front of the EtherRegen? |
@tkrtrb125 nope, only place I have put it is after. Total chain is router>generic ethernet>Cisco 2960>monoprice cat7>etheregen powered by Plixir BDC PS>SOtM dCBL Cat7>smoothlan>K50 I will try it before the ER if that is what you are suggesting- but not yet |
@mclinnguy I am SoothLan>sonore Opical Module v2 >EtherRegen>Zenith. All cables are DH Labs Cat8 with shield drain. |
@tkrtrb125 did you experiment? Was that the best spot? Or perhaps the Zenith accepts fiber and that is the reason you want the ER next to it- I don't know about the Innuos stuff, I know the Lumin users prefer a fiber connection. I might as well state it- I tried fiber into the ER from the Cisco and I prefer copper. |
Yes but so does Stackaudio: "We recommend you start by connecting it directly to your streamer which should work best for most systems. However, as home networks and hi-fi systems vary, you may want to experiment by placing it next to or between other components in your network (for instance by your router)." |
Haven't tried anything else, that is removing the ER, moving the Smoothlan to upstream etc. to what I stated above. But going off of memory from many months ago, so take it with a grain of salt, to the last time I re-tested the ER by taking it in and out, what I am getting by adding the Smoothlan to the exising chain with the ER is a much bigger uplift than adding the ER with a Plixir linear PS. These ethernet tweaks are so system dependent, that is the beauty of money back guarantee's, but what I am getting with the Smoothlan is way beyond the vocabulary of "tweak". I saw the video posted above from the Aussie guy, never seen one of his videos before and haven't seen any since, but it was a few months ago so don't completely remember what he said, but I recall he had quite a nice setup, and was completely over the top, and the skeptic in me thought to myself I have seen this before- He sounds like Huff with all his " Wow! this is the best ______ I have ever had!!!!!!!!!!!!" until next week when he tests something else and says the same thing. But Aussie guy wasn't kidding- this little block of British alu-min-yum is the real deal- at least it is in his and my system. |
@brunomarcs Are you using fiber at all? @mclinnguy I would not take the ER out of the chain. I know you are using fiber what FMC & SFP are you using. I was using the entry level stuff you can buy on Amazon then found a deal on the Sonore Optical Module V1 and this was a massive jump in performance, then I upgraded to the V2 and combined with the ER and Stack SL this was another jump in performance and sound quality. Lots of discussions at WBF and Audiophile Style on these subjects. Very knowledgeable people there including the the folks from Uptone and Sonore contribute at both forums. |
@tkrtrb125 No I'm not using fiber. I also don't have 300 hours on the SL. Is that what we need, 300 hours seems like a lot of time. I might have 6! |
@brunomarcs no not at all. 300 hrs is nothing. So go into Roon (making an assumption) pick a play list and put it on repeat. Turn off your amplification and just let it run.....300hrs will add up while you are away, at work or on vacation. I put my Zenith on with Radio Paradise playing while I was out of town for 2 weeks. |
@brunomarcs so okay reviews over at Audiophile Style on AD and some people have questioned the use of counterfeit SFP? Lots of carbon fiber if that’s your thing. They are having a sale right now. They sent me an email on if 50% off so it’s a good deal. I am very happy with my Sonore Optical Module Deluxe to ER, they work well together. |
@brunomarcs just curious what noise you have in your system and why you think it’s due to network. |
@audphile1 I'm just assuming I have some noise on the network! I'm sure my streaming isn't optimized. For one thing I have a diy streamer and I'm gonna get a Jcat usb card. |
@brunomarcs few things to consider… 1. Locate your router or mesh node or extender as far from your components and cables as possible - this eliminates EMI and RFI 2. don’t have your network components plugged into the same circuit with your system - this helps keep power your system components draw as clean as possible 3. use a good Ethernet cable with good connectors - doesn’t need to be super expensive 4. Focus on the quality of your streamer and dac 5. use good quality digital cable; depending on your streamer and DAC. Use USB if your streamer doesn’t have the best possible clock or you don’t reclock your signal with external clock or DDC. Otherwise use spdif (coax, AES/EBU) 6. Try a passive network filter like iFi LAN iSilencer Copper Ethernet is not always bad. Be careful if converting copper to fiber optic, once again keep it all plugged into a different circuit from your system - switch mode power supplies poop back into AC line. Don’t automatically assume you have noise on your network. Streamer or DAC upgrade will improve the sound quality more than any network tweak. Speaking from experience. Some food for thought… |
@audphile1 Your not a fan of the fiber conversion? I understand with all the boxes and that's kept me out of it too! |
@brunomarcs I tried fiber optic conversion with 3 streamers and it never sounded natural to me. I have the modules in the box sitting around collecting dust. But when I moved the router away from my system, I heard immediate improvement in clarity, soundstage and detail. There smearing due to noise you don’t hear gone. |
Has anyone opened up this device to see exactly what it does? All filtering not created equal, not saying it doesn't work but I'd like to see the inside, photos at Stack audio only show what appears to be an unpopulated circuit board.
I use JCAT Net Card XE, will likely upgrade to this sooner than later, https://jcat.eu/product/net-card-xe-evo/ Everything exposed, OXCO clocks, plus filtering components one can see. I power my card from external device rather than streamer, in this case Uptone JS 2 fully choked LPS via DIY Mundorf Gold/silver wire. This is truly optimized network filtering and clocking at the front end, this feeds Sonore OpticalModule which then goes to OpticalRendu, usb out to Denafrips Gaia DDC, feeds dacs via Tubulus Ximius I2S. Realize this not a device many can use being my custom build streamer atx board based, but this gfves you an idea of what network optimization should be.
Everything powered by lps, all lps plugged into BPT power conditioner, all streaming components using lps can be plugged into same AC circuit as rest of audio system, its the switching power supplies that feed garbage back into AC line. Precision clocking throughout entire chain is critical, only wish the OpticalRendu had OXCO clocks vs the Femto. Also, I2S far superior to usb for feeding dac, even for those dacs with sophisticated usb filtering and clocking. Keep in mind I2S is native protocol in D to A conversion, also have the data and clock links via dedicated lines, dac doesn't have to separate data from clock. All I2S not created equal, clocking and filtering critical here as well.
I've used a number of network filtering devices in the past, they may or may not work to some degree, remember not all optimizations created equal. |
@sns here’s the review with some photos…it looks to be nicely isolated. Solid case work. @mclinnguy comments and observations remind me of my experience with Network Acoustics Eno. Does it do something? Yes it definitely does. Do I like the change? Not really. The smoothed over leading edges and mellowed out dynamics is the reason I eventually sold the Eno. |
