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

128x128ozzy

@maxwave There is a lot of confusion between SFP and SFP+. For audio there is absolutely no need for SFP+, the only thing that SFP+ MAY help is the extremely tight jitter specification of the protocol. There is no conclusion that SFP+ is better than SFP (for audio). To make things more complicated there are some SFP+ modules that will work at dual rate and could be compatible with a SFP module at the other end. Lumin and most other audio companies do not support SFP+ and in fact as you found out most of them support only 100MB data rates.  You have done the right thing and asked the supplier about compatibility and anyone who does not want to risk fiber optic issues should read the manual or if possible contact the manufacturer.

Btw SFP is very old technology in networks, only in audio is relatively new.

Hi @greg_f ​​​​@ozzy 

Thanks for the detailed replies. Much appreciated.

greg_f, where can I find the SFP thread you mentioned?  By ‘CA’, do you mean Canuck Audiomart?

My Cisco switch is an old Catalyst 2960 (which had been recommended in these forums as a low-cost high-quality switch), so that may be contributing to the compatibility issue.

Best, JAMES

@jimboman - Think CA refers to the site previously known as Computer Audiophile (now Audiophile Style). Did a search there on SFP and this may be the thread @greg_f was referring to: https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/59632-optical-networking-sfps Hope that helps!