Aardvark ultra ethernet isolator

https://aardvark.com.ar/ultra.html#u1

Does anybody here have any first hand experience with this product?

Thanks,
Steve08226

I just saw this on Hans’s YouTube channel, maybe that is where you saw it also? :slight_smile:

Did I hear him right that this isolator is €1099 ?

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The ultra is $899.00 USD… and yes that’s were I saw it.

I watched Hans’ review. He still preferred the Eno filter from Network Acoustics to the Aardvark Ultra. If you’re willing to spend a bit more money, I’d consider the new Eno2, which is reported to be an improvement over the original Eno.

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SDL,

We ordered both, so we’ll be able to compare them in our system.

Question:

Does Ethernet filters help with video streaming?

Thank you for your help!
Steve08226

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I cannot comment on the Aardvark Ultra but when comparing to Network Acoustics products, I think that it would be more fair to not compare it to ENO product line but rather to MUON. This should be same price range than Aardvark Ultra. I’ve been an early adopter of ENO in it’s original form but moved to MUON when it came out. MUON provided about 50% sonic upgrade in my system compared to ENO. ENO2 might make this gap smaller but MUON should still be superior.

Best
Christian

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Steve,

I have both the original Eno and the Muon Pro, and the Muon Pro is definitely better (as well as more expensive). As Christian suggests, the new Eno2 should reduce the gap between these product lines, but the Muon Pro remains the top-tier ethernet filter from Network Acoustics. You’ll have to do your own cost-benefit analysis when you try the Aardvark Ultra and the Eno2 (and/or possibly the Muon Pro) in your own system.

I haven’t used my Eno or Muon Pro filters in a video system, but I have read positive reviews that suggest that these filters can produce benefits in picture quality when used in a video set-up.

Good luck with your comparisons of the Eno2 and the Aardvark Ultra. Let us know what you discover.

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I wonder how the Aardvark, Muon offerings, Pink Faun Lan Isolator and other similar kit compares to this one (and to each other)?:

The field is getting pretty crowded.

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FYI:

Cheers.

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I had to post this…

Well, we received the Network Acoustics ENO2 today and hooked it up, just after installing it I sat down to listen and my wife walked by and listened for a few seconds and said well it doesn’t sound like I will be reboxing that thing to send it back.

Out of the box the ENO2 made a obvious difference, no A/B ing needed.

Thank you

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Had to try the Muon Pro, you’re 100% correct, in our system it’s clearly the best!

Thank you,
Steve

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Hello, I am also interested in this topic. Currently I am using EN 1005+ Lan Isolator. No disadvantage in terms of sound and it costs around €100 without a hi-fi surcharge. Some manufacturers have their own name printed on them and sell them for many times the price. What about Ifi? They seem to have a good price point. Where do I use a filter and when do I need 100 Mbit or 1 Gbit. The SmoothLAN has 100 Mbit and seems to offer good performance and quality at a reasonable price. There isn’t much in a filter like this. I like the design of the ENO2 better than Muon Pro because I can determine the cable, its length and position myself. Greetings Andreas

Steve, how so over the new ENO2?

Tonight I switched the direction of my MUON Pro from backwards, which I love, to the way you are supposed to hook it up. I thought it got very dark and the soundstage collapsed. Weird.
I am going to listen to it this way for a while but I suspect backwards is more enjoyable. Apparently I am not alone.
If you have a new MUON Pro let it break in proper before you try this.

For me the MUON Pro is an automatic purchase if you stream. Mandetory. There is nothing cheaper worth messing with. Baby steps to a known conclusion. In my opinion anyway.

I can hook you up with a good source. My source shipped one to me and said you want this. He was correct.

I am using the MUON Pro System cable but some people are saying a Stealth Ethernet cable makes a huge difference. But they are so costly I just can’t see it.

A MUON Pro without the fancy cable is under $1400. That’s like 1/20th of a decent interconnect.

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The Muon Pro seems nice. Personally, I would prefer it to be like the new Eno2 where I can connect my own cables. Maybe this will change in the future since you did the same with the Eno.

You can use your own Ethernet cable. As for the sequence of filter and cable in the Muon Pro System (using their own cable and filter),the order I like is the “backwards” one as well. It is the
router>filter>cable>DAC direction. In the future I will reverse it to make sure I like this one best.
To me, it makes the most sense to clean the signal first and send it along the best path.
I have not tried non Muon Ethernet cables like the Steath but hope to hear from Paul on this matter.
Either way, the Muon Pro System, without switches (which I do not require) is pretty nice.

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Tony,

The Muon Pro sounds better in every way.

If you have the budget it’s a no brainer, no A/B’ing needed.

Just my thoughts,
Steve

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Amen Brother

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As you know I much prefer the Muon Pro with Pink Faun (downstream) and STEALTH ULTRA Ethernet cables (upstream) over the Muon Streaming cable.

I tried it between the router and switch. Then between the switch and streamer. The latter is my favorite.

I tried it with the fixed cable plugged into the switch, then into the streamer.
The latter is my favorite.

Last but not least: the Muon Pro works even better in conjunction with the Tempus switch, as expected.

I was wondering if a second Muon Pro (upstream) worth the money. Maybe one day I’ll try it but within the end of the year PowerZone and Reference DD are the only things I want to think about. How hard is the waiting!

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Yes, the eternal waiting. It makes you feel like a little child just before Christmas. :wink:

Maybe the ENO2 is enough at the beginning and you can compare both. :rofl:
Don’t you have other filters? You also have CAD Groundbox and Ground City. Maybe it’s enough if there is something like that?
The Muon pro also had a positive added value effect before the switch? The question is, is it worth the cost? Or is the gain greatest directly in front of the streamer with so much distance. It might be better to remove the noise directly in front of the streamer, otherwise new noise will arise again. Perhaps the combination of different solutions is better because each device approaches the problem slightly differently. Luca you have tried other very promising filters. At this point my first impression of the Furutech clear line lan NCF. In the switch, directly in front of the streamer it sounds very open and more detailed. The baseline of the stage takes a step towards me. Will it change over time? A little too much for me. In the Devolo in front of the streamer it is a little more subtle. Some time ago I tried the Epluggs Highend Lan and I felt that the image became smaller, everything became further away but was clearer. Was presented more compactly. So I went out today and borrowed the Epluggs again from my dealer. What should I say? The style of representation is exaggerated. Maybe a little exaggerated, there are subtleties but they can mess up the usual stage image. Not everyone likes such changes immediately. :wink: The sun rises with both of them together. The usual baseline returns. Nothing jumps out at me anymore or is too far away. The two seem to complement each other well. I hear quiet details coming from the background a little more clearly. The image has increased in clarity and focus. Very nice for now. The disadvantage is that I will probably have to purchase the Epplugs in addition to the Furutech ones I bought yesterday.
Epplugs Highend uses a diamond inside that is supposed to ensure harmony :wink:
I won’t find out the price until I have to pay.:grimacing: I think it’s a little higher than the Furutech plugs.

Greetings Andreas

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