The consensus on the ethernet isolation filter category is that Muon Pro or Muon Pro System is the reigning champ now, and it has been for a few years. Muon Pro System has made a great contribution to my streaming chain also. However, as I mentioned in another thread, LHY SW-10 Pro gives me a bigger improvement (I am not the only one said it). Recently, the review by Hans on EAhibrid EAL-1000/2000 passive filter has raised my avidity, especially when he mentioned his biggest improvement was when pairing it with MU2. He said EAL 2000 is better than MP the minute he installed it. How can I resist?
I have been contacting with a dealer in Taipei at the beginning because I will visit there is a few months. There are only a few dealers existed and only one is outside of Asia in Germany. The dealer has only a limited supply so later on I have been contracting directly with Paul, the owner of EAhibrid. I am interested in the EAL 2000 silver version of the Lan filters. Emails back and forth took a few days because of the time difference. If you are interested in this Lan filter, here is what I found:
The prices are the same whether you buy it from the dealer, or from EAhibrid directly. Paul has âa guyâ in US than can handle the transaction too, but the item needs to ship to him first. So, I do not want to do that. In fact, he later said he can ship it directly including free shipping and custom paid. This is cheaper than buying from the dealer in Taipei because of the unfavorable exchange rate
The only one readily available is the 1.75M version. others need to be made and will take up to two extra weeks
The silver OCC conductor is stiff so 1.75M is recommended anyway. There is no sonic difference among the three different length of digital cables
They only take cash transfer into a bank in Taiwan (must be a very small company, more like one person company)
There is no home demo, and there is no 30 day return policy from their website. This is typical when you purchase gear from Asia.
Anyway, I plan to order one to find out what the big deal is. I will use it on MU2 and I do have a Muon Pro System to compare.
If you have experience with other noise isolation, other than Muon Pro, you are welcome to post here.
To use your wordsâŚâit makes sense to waitââŚfor the next generation MuonPro. Seems that logic went out the window. Just a friend suggesting that waiting a month might provide longer and larger gains than a short term intermediary one. Too many shinny objects, I guess.
When it comes to audio addiction, logic often goes out of window for me. I have a drawer of cables to prove it, and I have sold many âmy last improvementâ gears and tweaks in the past too.
I have had a week of conversation with Paul so I will feel real bad if I donât go through the purchase. No, I have not paid anything yet, but I have a feeling he has already been making one for me now. The last conversation we had was that I will get an invoice, then it will be shipped out early next week once I pay.
Well, I hope Hans will not do another review on how great MP2 is soon.
I habe the PhoenixNet from Innuos as well as the Zen Mk3 and the improvement wasnât subtle when I added the PhoenixNet, but it seems Innuos is overpriced based on what others have said on various forums.
I heard from people I trust that Network Acoustics has put a lot of time and effort into their new reference line - which will be the best filter and streaming cable on the market. So I will definitely wait some more weeks to upgrade my Muon Pro steaming system.
So, it is Friday night in Taipei already, and I never received a payment request from EAhibrid (was told before Friday). Either they are too busy, or it is too much trouble to make one sale from the other side of the world.
I sent an email this morning telling them my impulsive enthusiasm has died, and they do not need to send a payment request anymore. Since I am visiting Taipei in Nov., I can hear the effect of it in the dealerâs place. Most people will think this is the way.
Iâm going to wait for the new MUON Pro. I am also very interested in the Tempus vs. LHY shootout. Iâd like to avoid both but the way you guys carry on about switchesâŚ.
Network switch will be the last frontier for you since you got everything else settled in your streaming setup, and we are trying hard to convert you, finally.
EAhibrid got back to me. They need to postpone invoicing me because they need to check their inventory on all their EAL1000/2000. In other words, they are overwhelmed by orders from Asia alone. Paul is probably more relieved that I cancelled the order. So, there will be no comparison for me on NA vs EAL filters. I will be on the lengthy line waiting for the next NA Muon Pro too. Your buddy may soon get busy.
Perhaps this is not in the same category, I know very little about network filters etc. But given how brilliant stack audio isolators have been, wondering if anyone has come across these:
If you tried a Stack filter and then a MUON Pro the difference would be SO OBVIOUS you would be stunned.
The MUON Pro has been the very top performance filter. Until Hans introduced us to the EAhibrid. These are $2000+ devices so it takes a certain kind of madness to try one. I have 2 Ethernet connected devices in my system so I have two MUON Pros.
For my network switch I am very pleased with my $500 LHY SW6. The Tempus costs $4000 and a new upgrade power supply option could add what, $1000 more? Bah.
Haha I remember when I thought that âat least Ethernet cables wonât make a difference in a HiFi setupâ
Years later and having tested dozens of different cables and filters, switches and having invested also a lot of time and budget on FMCs (which in the end were not the solution at all) - itâs amazing to see how much of a potential there is in a streaming environment.
Network Acoustics has been on the forefront of that, their filters, streaming cables and switches were setting the standards. Now I am so excited to see their next milestone products coming.
Well see, I have bought many different brands of Audiophile Ethernet cables and I canât say there was ever ANY real sound difference I could detect. But since they are paid for I use them. I was pretty pleased with the price/performance/build quality of the Inakustik line.
I was happy with my choice of SFPs and cables, but someone here said NO NO NO buy this Brand/Model instead. It was five times the cost of what I had been using. But all together it was only about $400. I put it in, and the world didnât change.
I was using an EtherREGEN with an external clock and upgrade power supply. I switched to the LHY SW6 with an LHY Ethernet to fiber converter, which is where the fancy SFPs went, and I donât think I heard a difference.
I think my gear just doesnât let Ethernet noise bother it. The one exception is the MUON Pro. I was stunned by the change that made. I actually needed time to adjust to the new black level it allowed. So I guess I can hear a difference, when one actually presents one.
I tried the Stack SmoothLan Regenerator. It fell way short of the MuonPro. The boys at Stack were kind to get me one due to the cowork we did at Axpona.
It might be the best âinexpensiveâ Ethernet filter but it isnât the best, no contest.
