Originally Posted by DaveyC
The ID41 card is widely reported to be a big step up from the ID41 and I�ve seen comments to the effect that this is largely down to better handling of noise. So again, given the reliability of Ethernet error correction, is the gain from noise reduction actually realised further downline?
I'm actually answering some of your question 1 as well as question 2 in this post......trust that's ok

A few years back, I heard an interesting story from a Meridian insider about how Meridian developed the Ruby Anniversary 808 to be their 'best Source' to date

So the Development team played, listened and tuned the 808 to offer the best quality CD replay and only when they finished that did they turn to ID40 Streaming performance��.at which point they tried Streaming to the ID40 and couldn�t understand why there was a noticeable difference in performance

So they returned to CD replay and found that this was also now affected��..so they scratched their heads and tried to figure out the difference��and the only change (as the ID40 was already in the 808 during CD replay development programme) was that there was a Catx cable now connected to the 808��..disconnecting it returned the CD Replay to the high level previously experienced

After lots of discussion and the use internal probes & sensors within the 808, they concluded that it was RFI getting into the 808 via the Catx cable��and they then began to figure out ways to eliminate that

They tried several known materials and combinations and amounts��..and found the right combination��and also found that there was an optimum amount of filter��.too much filter also caused issues

As a result, the Ruby 808 shipped with an ID40 card, but also with a modified Speakerlink cable that had an approx 3" by 1" diameter "Podule" of Ferrite based material, as Meridian found that using this Ferrite Podule returning Streaming performance to the high level expected

Subsequently, Meridian figured out a way to incorporate the same benefits of this Podule by incorporating some extra components within the 'new" ID41 card.......and all these changes were geared towards reducing RFI getting into the 808 or 861 from the network cable

So again, the Ethernet Data being received by the ID40 and ID41 was identical.......the difference was that reducing the RFI / EMI entering 808 allowed for the Digital Engine and Digital Output cards of the 808 to perform better and effect a better conversion to LPCM......with the end result being a Digital Output with lower Jitter levels

Last edited by Ronnie; 2014-09-17 05:08.
-