Tales and observations of LAN filter burn-in

[Republicoftexas69]

I have been debating over which direction I should go, and with my ever dwindling funds, keeping my analog rig (and records) 100% working is becoming quite a challenge.

I would like to think that the SmoothLan is the right filter for my system, but I don't have the excess funds to throw at it at this point.

As I stated before, I don't have a streamer. My system consists of the modem/router of my internet provider, my computer, a SilkLine Hifi USB to SPDIF converter which filters and re-times the signal, and my Philips Little Giant NOS 16-bit DAC + triple filter linear power supply.

As @audiobomber said look at moving the lan filter in your chain. Are you using WiFi?

 

[SoundMann]

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I bought this dac a few months ago from Aliexpress. It is a 47 Labs clone with a Philips TD1387 chip in non-oversampling mode. It also employs a varian...

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It may be time to look at your digital chain.

My DAC holds its own against all converters in the $1K pricerange, coming close to the sound of the Audio Note 0 series. I will be upgrading the caps in it soon to bring it even closer.

My SilkLine converter has also been an exemplary component so far.

 

[SoundMann]

Agreed - you gets what you pays for.

Actually, unless the sound of this filter improves, I am getting less than I payed for!

 

[SoundMann]

@SoundMann, I don't know where you have the filter installed, but have you tried moving it around to all possible locations? IME, filters were all bad when used between my EtherRegen and streamer, but performed much better when moved further upstream.

It is plugged directly into my computer.

 

[SoundMann]

Are you using WiFi?

No. It is a wired connection thru a phone jack, which goes to the modem, then thru a lan cable to the router, then thru another 15 feet of lan cable to the filter connected to my computer.

 

[SoundMann]

Here is a better thread regarding my dac and linear power supply.

Philips Little Giant DAC + LPS

 

[Republicoftexas69]

No. It is a wired connection thru a phone jack, which goes to the modem, then thru a lan cable to the router, then thru another 15 feet of lan cable to the filter connected to my computer.

Have you tried moving the filter to your switch/router?

 

[SoundMann]

Have you tried moving the filter to your switch/router?

Not yet.

 

[SoundMann]

At 500 hours, I can still detect the slighly rough texture of the ceramic capacitors, but it is also currently free of the opaque character, giving me a clear view into the sonic landscapes.

It is also musically more involving communicative.

 

[Republicoftexas69]

At 500 hours, I can still detect the slighly rough texture of the ceramic capacitors, but it is also currently free of the opaque character, giving me a clear view into the sonic landscapes.

It is also musically more involving communicative.

Getting a bit better.

 

[SoundMann]

Getting a bit better.

It is currently going thru very noticeable changes in its level of refinement.

 

[Republicoftexas69]

It is currently going thru very noticeable changes in its level of refinement.

Happy to hear this, pun intended.

 

[SoundMann]

Happy to hear this, pun intended.

It's akin to a roller coaster ride from hell!

 

[SoundMann]

I stopped listening at 8pm do to it making me physically ill to listen to.

I will listen again and report back in 50 hours.

 

[NigelB]

A filter or switch is there to kill RFI noise as we know. If it is any good at all, it will give of its best installed as close to the streamer (ie. as far downstream) as possible. Installed upstream may work for some, as reported, but RFI noise can then creep back in further downstream.

Before giving up on it entirely (if that's where you're heading), I'd recommend trying it just before your streamer sooner rather than later. It won't need burning in again, you've done that and then some!

Keep us posted.

 

[Republicoftexas69]

A filter or switch is there to kill RFI noise as we know. If it is any good at all, it will give of its best installed as close to the streamer (ie. as far downstream) as possible. Installed upstream may work for some, as reported, but RFI noise can then creep back in further downstream.

Before giving up on it entirely (if that's where you're heading), I'd recommend trying it just before your streamer sooner rather than later. It won't need burning in again, you've done that and then some!

Keep us posted.

This why many of us run 2 filters and some are also doing/using an optical break. Of course you know this.

 

[audiobomber]

A filter or switch is there to kill RFI noise as we know. If it is any good at all, it will give of its best installed as close to the streamer (ie. as far downstream) as possible. Installed upstream may work for some, as reported, but RFI noise can then creep back in further downstream.

Before giving up on it entirely (if that's where you're heading), I'd recommend trying it just before your streamer sooner rather than later. It won't need burning in again, you've done that and then some!

Keep us posted.

A filter can do some good, but can also do harm. That's why it's best to move it around to every potential location, to find the best possible result.

I agree that the first position to try is as close as possible to the DAC, but if the filter compromises the sound at all, then I keep trying it further back in the chain. That is what I had to do with the three I tested (iFi, Korean and Muon) before they provided a net benefit, and even then, they only helped with the internet music stream, not when streaming locally from my NAS.

 

[treitz3]

Is your source still a computer?

Tom

 

[SoundMann]

Is your source still a computer?

Tom

Yes.

 

[NigelB]

Apologies if covered elsewhere but what does your post-computer playback chain look like, from computer up to the Philips Little Giant DAC?