Agreed on ethernet inherit galvanic isolation by design. But ground loops can still result over ethernet cable shielding, especially when jumping up from Cat-6 to Cat-7 or Cat-8. So a mesh network air gap can be a good idea. Also, various devices in the modern audio cabinet like a WiFi connection for firmware updates. If one does not want so many devices on WiFi, then a switch can hang off the mesh satellite on the receiving end. No need even for Cat-6 there if is just for firmware updates.
PS: not preaching at you here. Saw questions about such matters on another thread over nightā¦
Use unshielded Ethernet cable, no ground loops.
Not as good as fibre for isolation though as the Ethernet cables do act as aerials (albeit into a low impedance so much less of an issue than in other situations)
Today my brother brought over the Aurender N20 server to compare with my Esoteric N03T transport. I figure the sound should be similar and pretty much equal, but it was not. The Aurender was used with itās own built in hard drive and the Esoteric uses an external hard drive which is normal. The ChordMusic USB cable was used for connection on each unit. We played the exact same 24bit 192k and DSD 256 files on both units feeding the DS MK2.
The Esoteric had more fullness and texture and more resolution and clarity and air. You can hear it right away it was so obvious. We even tried playing from the same hard drive with both units, but the results were the same. The Esoteric was much better in sound quality than the Aurender. But the app on the Aurender was so much better than the Esoteric, thatās a saving grace for the Aurender. Anyway. I was a little surprised with the results.
This result was indeed surprising! Aurender N20 was on top of my list not that long ago because it has excellent reviews. Could it be that it needs a long time to settle?
I really like my Lumin U2 now. I just played a same AIFF file from streamer and from PST. U2 gives a more lifelike presentation where PST still has edge on details. I can happily live with either. Two Omega cables have lifted the streaming chain to a whole new level.
Esoteric! I will keep my eye on it. I am traveling to Japan in January. I wonder if it is selling cheaper there. I believe they use 115V.
How is that beefy speaker cables, I bet it sounds even better now.
Itās been over 2 weeks with the Aurender, but I donāt expect any more breaking in will bring the performance of the Aurender to the level of the Esoteric. My brother is already thinking about trading in the Aurender for the Esoteric.
I think Japan is 100V so may not work in US, but Iām sure they have US models also.
If youāre talking about the SR Galileo SX speaker cable, my brother is seriously considering that also. A friend of mine asked me to bring over the Galileo and Tara Labs over to his place to compare with his Analysis Plus speaker cables and the Galileo completely blew his mind on the performance of this cable. He said it was more than an component upgrade, the difference that he heard. The Tara Labs was also much better than his cable, but not to the same degree as the Galileo. As a matter of fact, I just heard he went out and bought a set of Galileo SX speaker cables for himself.
They wonāt sell you a US model and just like with Accuphase if you bring a Japanese model back to the US and have a problem they wonāt touch it at the Service Center. The streaming guts of the Esoterics and your Lumin are the same tech from the same company, Lumin. They have different case work, power supply layout and price structure. Same software different home screen color. Also the current Esoteric streamers are due for an upgrade as opposed to the U2 which is new tech.
That is a good point. I do not think a Japanese unit will work here, and I will have problem with warranty.
The new Lumin U2 is a great performer. I have tried three streamers so far. The first one was Bridge2, the next was a Euphony Summus 2 with SW-8 witch, and now Lumin U2 with SW-10 switch. Each upgrade gave me a significant SQ improvement. The streamer matters, like anything else in this universe, unfortunately.
I think you are good with the Lumin U2, Donald. You donāt need another component upgrade if you are very please with your sound right now. Just have fun with your tweaking, it much more easy on your pocketbook.
Even though I just did the Hoer-Wege power supply upgrade on the Aries G1 I was still looking at the Pulsar or Aries G2.2 after the first of the year when the new room is finished. I suspect I will just stick with the Auralic lines as I like and am used to the operation of itās software plus with it working just fine via WiFi I donāt have to worry about the other parts and pieces that come with wired ethernet. I have owned two Lumin based streamers and they just work and their support from Peter Lie is a standard in the industry. He also does the online forum support for Esoteric and Teac streamers.
My friend has the tracking number for a 8ā pair of Galileo SX speaker cables so he should be getting it soon. The difference between the Galileo and the Analysis is so so to I got to get this cable, itās that much of a difference.
I love to know too. A couple issues took it out from consideration. The first is Iām not a Roon user, and the 2nd is it is using a strange cable that I donāt have.
Wait, I am not sure if can read DSD256? I may as well wait for the next generation of Grimm.
I have been waiting for the Airlens for awhile. It has allowed me to connect to Roon and to use I2S to my MKII DAC. Love the sound quality. All of my local music (18K tracks) is either 192/24 or DSD128. The I2S sounds much better that USB to me.
Hereās a review of the Lumin U2 vs the VS EverSolo vs the Bluesound vs the U1 Mini. Donāt be fooled by people that say that streamers donāt sound much different. In my experience, streamers can make a considerable difference in SQ. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOIRccgigO8&ab_channel=SteveHuffPhoto%26HiFi
