Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming LAN isolator anyone?

Sorry Chris, but your information is incorrect.

Some environments have low levels of EMI / RFI and therefore can use UTP cables as RFI migration along the CatX cable is not much of an issue to be concerned about.

However, there are some environments that do exhibit high levels of RFI and the use of SSTP (not a typo) is advisable to prevent migration of RFI into the Endpoint where it's best to have low levels of RFI [and as already designed in by Meridian].

I accept your point but suppose I was thinking of my own and probably most peoples domestic enviroment based on experiance.
In the finish, you may as well instal STP if your starting out but UTP work perfectly for me here.
Chris

An entire Ethernet cable infrastructure of SSTP can certainly help prevent the creation and propagation of RFI... and given that SSTP only costs a little more than UTP, it's an advisable investment.

It's worth remembering that one of the biggest causes of RFI creation in the household's of today is the sending of Ethernet data at ~100Mhz (Gigabit)... and in today's household's there is much more data being distributed at high speeds than even 2-3 years ago [e.g. Netflix, Online Gaming, Video Streaming all result in Data Usage at rates that are orders of magnitude higher than what existed even 2-3 years ago... and it is this Data speeding around at 100Mhz that is causing the dramatically higher levels of RFI in people's households today, as opposed to previously.

Having said that, using some SSTP for the typically short connection to the Endpoint can help prevent the migration of RFI into the Endpoint and this small and very cheap step on its own can yield positive benefits.

As Switches are also useful to prevent migration of RFI around a network (and as discussed here before several times), it's good practice to place all the Sooloos Audio components on their own Switch, and to keep other high data usage items (Game Consoles, Video Streamers, PC's etc.) off that Sooloos sub-network.

The problem is even with SSTP (Screened Shielded Twisted Pair), it's all "connected" even though we build up with a discrete switch for Sooloos core/store/endpoint and I think it's this reason why LAN-Isolators could have a place infront of high-end audio endpoints like ID4x in 808/818/861.

Having myself dabbled with LPSU's/medical_grade_SMPS for MC200/switch/router and higher quality RJ45 SSTP's like Audioquest Vodka/Diamond to get the total noise down emitted as well as shield it to outside interference.

I still know that there are ports going out to the broadband modem, home computer, NAS which I can not really electrically firewall from EMI/RFI pollution(my Ferrites seem to have a very subtle effect if at all detectable), unless a LAN isolator like GISO GB is used.

Now back to our first feedback on using Giso GB in a Meridian Sooloos system infront of the ID4x audio endpoint, this sound indeed promising.

Ronnie, I find these very useful tips. Thank you!

GB

DGS-1210-24

Hi... I started the tread with the interst of peoples experience on LAN Isolator RLi-1 but it seems the discussion was expanded to GISO and so on...

I placed an order of this product, and will recieve it tomorrow. I am wondering what kind of improvement (or opposite) it will bring to my SpeakerLink connection between MC200 and DSP5200. Currently I am using Audioquest Vodka (cat 7), and lets see if it can bring more darker background which MC200 theoretically lack, due to noisier PC environment.

Cujo, you can only use the Giso GB on LAN connections, preferably infront of an MS200/MS600/ID4x audio endpoint. Otherwise infront of your current MC200 LAN connection.

It is not designed to work with SL, it might happen later with a different model but now currently LAN only.

Hi Cujo,

As stated before LAN isolation devices are designed for ... wait for it ... LAN isolation, not SpeakerLink.

Same cable family, very different application. Did you read all the posts in this topic?

Are you aware that the Reviver you are using already has as (AES/EBU --> SPDIF) impedance matching isolation transformer within it?

The best advised I can give is, if you want to improve the audio out of a MC200 get a MS200 (or higher).

Regards,
Carl

Hm... I guess I am believer in audio saying "It is better to regret after trial than to regret without trial"

I will try this, and if it doesn't work I will just use it between MC200 and the router.

By the way, this trial won't break anything, right?

And, as advised, MS200 is also on its way...

Thank you!

If an MS200 audio endpoint is on its way then the LAN isolator should be on that LAN port.

If you want to improve a Sooloos setup further I would suggest higher quality PSU's on MS200 and MC200 and switch/router. I use Teddy Pardo 12/4 with MC200 with good result, 12/2 model is more appropriate for MS200. Connectors are specified in a previous thread.