I would be curious if you are able to try the Muon PRO (or the Muon, if gigabit is not possible). When you speak, I listen.
GigaFoil v4 Inline Ethernet Filter
- Thread starter Mike
- Start date
I would be curious if you are able to try the Muon PRO (or the Muon, if gigabit is not possible). When you speak, I listen.
Puma Cat
Well-known member
I haven't had the opportunity to evaluate one, but I would like to. I'll check into getting one in for review. I'd have to figure out where best to use it because I presently only need two Ethernet cables, one from the ATT U-verse's Pace router to ER, and one from Alita, Battle Angel (nickname for my very impressive Akasa-cased Intel NUC music server) to ER. And if I were to use one, my thought is it would be best utilized between the Pace Router and ER.
Something I've consistently observed was connecting the the Pace router's (which I'm sure is quite a "dirty" source) Ethernet cable onto the opposite side of ER that Alita's Ethernet cable is connected to really provided the best performance. My guess is this because John Swenson's "moat" design in ER keeps crap from the grungy Pace router from getting to A-side. So, in my setup, I have the Pace router's Ethernet cable going in to B-side of ER, and the Ethernet cable from Alita going into A-side of ER. The single-mode LC/LC fiber cable then runs out of ER's A-side to the Lumin P1 using 1310 nM Planet Tech SFPs.
Putting the Muon between the Pace router and B-side of ER might provide another improvement in audio quality.
JCS123
Member
Puma, thanks for the explanation. I think you're on to something here. I am very happy with the LUMIN (both LUMINs actually, as the D2 is a wonderful product at a more affordable price point, so good in fact that when I moved up to the T2 I decided to keep it).
My next move will be removing the GF and seeing whether I prefer the sound of the WW Starlight 8 or the Avanti Vivace cable from switch to T2. This will be interesting, as I like both cables very much.
Your help is appreciated!
Michaels HiFi
Well-known member
That will be interesting. They are both EXCELLENT cables with a different sound and presentation. The Avanti is an excellent cable for sure.
JCS123
Member
Thyname, the link brings up the muon pro and the eno. Do you have experience with both?
These are the only current ethernet filters (systems, once you buy the detachable RJ45 cable) available. It used to be the "regular" muon (not PRO) a bit earlier, and several versions of the ENO. In terms of me, I only own (and use) the Muon PRO system. I resisted for a while buying any NA filters, until I did when the Muon PRO came out (my digital path is all gigabit, from provider to equipment), and I am glad I did. I have no other experience with Network Acoustics, other than the Muon USB cable (which I bought after the Muon PRO system).
JCS123
Member
Thanks, I appreciate the context. The origin of the muon pro as a solution for studio/mastering applications, along with the glowing reviews that I've seen on it, make it something I'd really like to hear. I could be wrong, but I think I can recall one reviewer being very impressed with the cable itself and opining that it probably has a lot to do with the performance of the complete muon pro system.
The "beer-budget" guy that I am means that I am also intrigued by the eno... but since I have gigabit fiber everywhere else I would probably lean toward the muon pro.
Spoke to Vince Galbo at Axpona in the MSB room. The room sounded very, very impressive! Vince had a lot of input on the newly released GigaFoil, now called the ACTIV AUDIO, and it was being used in the audio set up. He recommended Cat 6 going into the unit, and CAT 7 going out, with at least 3 feet away from your streamer or ethernet switch. My only concern is the GigaFoil is now $2000, not including an added power supply! I think it has a clock inside as well. Would a fibre optical isolator or ethernet switch do the same thing as the Gigafoil?
Streaming Audio EMI Filter - EMI/RFI Filter for 10/100 and Gigabit Ethernet
Streaming Audio EMI Filter - EMI/RFI Filter for 10/100 and Gigabit Ethernet
Bones13
Member
Thanks for that report. Was there a Digital Director in that setup? Vince, and the MSB guys are very scientific, and pragmatic, in approaching issues like this. But 2k + appropriate 12v LPS is a pretty big nut to consider with my Digital Director in charge of correcting the digital stream. I was actually going to test whether the etherRegen is necessary now, in my system. Trying to lower box coun, and complexity in my system.
Puma Cat
Well-known member
Yes.
As with any configuration, it depends on the components used and their set-up.
For a lot less expenditure, installing a run of optical fiber in-between your "upstream" router & music server and "downstream" network bridge or streamer, and connected at each end with FMCs (Fiber Media Convertors) using optical transceivers will provide the exactly the same functionality as a GigaFoil, and notably improve audio quality in the same manner (from a Physics-based "transfer function" perspective).
As shown:
You can use generic (e.g., TP-Link, Netgear, etc) FMCs but the Sonore OpticalModule Deluxe FMC (OMD) is much better as it has LC/LC optical fiber SFP cage, and a much better master (word) clock than the generic FMCs, as well as subsystems and internal configuration designed to lower the impact of various classes of "digital-derived" noise, and it's affordable at $499. It was designed by the designer of EtherREGEN, John Swenson, who worked as a professional Ethernet EE at Broadcom and Cisco his entire career, and designed OMD.
Link to OM-Deluxe: Sonore - opticalModule Deluxe
You could use a generic FMC at the upstream end and the OM-D at the downstream end, or for better performance, use an OM-D at both ends, which would still be 1/2 the cost of GigaFoil. Then just run Ethernet cable to your network bridge or streamer.
A lot folks also use an EtherREGEN Ethernet switch, which also has an SFP cage in it and provides the same FMC functionality, but provides for more flexibility for "networked audio" set-ups. Here's a pic showing that setup, where OM is the upstream FMC and ER is the downstream FMC.
That's set-up I've used for over 5 years and it's worked really well.
Note: You don't have to use ER in this setup, though, you could just use another OM-D.
The key point is you don't have to use a GigaFOIL to obtain the benefits of optical networking, there are a number of other solutions designed specifically for high-end audio that provide the exactly the same functionality for less expenditure.
I have a lot of experience using optical networking for high-end audio setup, so if you have any other questions, just let me know. Happy to help out any way I can.
Cheers.
I upgraded the power supply on my Gigafoil v4 to a Weiss PSU 102.
It’s very nice step up.
But with the new model, you’re looking at $2000 before even investing in a SOTA linear power supply.