Finally got to sit down now and listen since last night. The SL has smoothed out. Everything I heard last night has changed for the better. My soundstage is back as well as the highs. Added bonus is the reduced noise floor which gives more definition to the music.
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)
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Good to hear that it is working for you again. This pretty much mirrors my experience. |
I thought I would revisit this smoothlan; it has been 2 months and the honeymoon period is over, and my "purchasing bias" has worn, right? I must have regrets. Skeptics would be elated to hear my confessions: I imagined the whole thing, and I must have justified this "huge" $300 purchase by convincing myself it sounded better. Otherwise how could I live with myself and the foolish decision I made. I admit it is possible that just when I hooked up the smoothlan before all my neighbors coincidentally stopped arc welding, and when I unplugged it they plugged in their electric cars and did laundry, right? Could be? Nope. With a different amplifier this time, I will concur what I heard before- massive factor in the believability in voices, more presence, and more easily distinguished low level details with it in. I only needed to take it out and heard the degradation in mere seconds. You know, that proverbial vail that covered the music. But I put it back in and out several times just to convince myself I am not dreaming, and to remove any doubt of neighbours playing with the grid. I am still in shock with the improvement a few hundred bucks can make in my streaming signal. Like I mentioned before I could spend thousands and if it made this difference I would justify the purchase. Seriously. Now I have to debate trying a second one, or just going crazy and prepare for a Network Acoustics Tempus purchase? How much more cleaner of an ethernet streaming signal can be had? Here is a fantastic track (Qobuz) to easily hear the differences, and a wonderfully recorded track regardless of what you have in your streaming chain: Kuwai 45 and Sweet Cocoa- Just the two of us Just 2 minutes of a sensational recording! |
- 262 posts total