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

Just to add a 2p here....

I added a GISO on Friday. Has been well run in with 3-4 days of music. I spent 90 mins yesterday with 3 tracks switching GISO back and forth.

Really really hard to definitively say I can hear anything significant changing. Certainly nothing night and day going on. Nothing leaps out as different. It sounded awesome before and awesome after.

There is a hint of something that Jeremy noted earlier....."but with a slight concern that it doesn't appear quite as warm sounding as it did." I could talk myself in and out of this.

I'll do some more listening tests at the weekend. May recruit some local HH to help (you know who you are chaps).

I'll do my best to answer your question within the context of the Sooloos and Meridian world

Consider the MC200, which acts as a Core, Store and Endpoint in a Sooloos system

For reasons similar to that already explained, you can rest assured that the Music data from the disc is retrieved from the hard disk and sent along the various interfaces where the data arrives Identical and Intact at e.g. a point prior to the Digital output

That data then needs to be converted into LPCM Data, before being output over Speakerlink

So, the Data arriving at the Digital output 'card' is identical to that on the drive.......but it is known and acknowledged by Meridian that INTERNAL RFI / EMI within the MC200 causes the conversion to PCM to be adversely affected

And this results in basically higher Jitter on the Digital output which results in Audio that some / many users can determine as being good but maybe could be improved upon

Where does the RFI / EMI within the MC200 come from??.......typically from the 2.5" Magnetic object spinning at 5,400 to 7,200 rpm in close proximity to the Digital output card.......but also from the other components within the MC200 that are PC based and emit certain amounts of EMI

Hence the existence of the MS200 and MS600.......these have very simple interiors, all with the aim of dramatically reducing internal EMI compared to using the MC200 alone......and the result is that many here feel that their systems sound better as a result of disassociating the Data Storage from the conversion to LPCM


In a very similar manner, if you asked Meridian to summarize the differences between the 861v4, 861v6 and 861v8, they would simply say that they have 'engineered and developed' the internals of the 861 to have less and less internal RFI......thereby ensuring the LPCM output from the 861 is exhibiting lower and lower levels of Jitter.......and again, most here can hear those benefits

Chang, where you placed the GISO in detail ?
Does the short cable delivered with the GISO is before or after the MS200?
Which other SL/Cat cable are you use?

Re the link from MD600 to 808v5, I just put in good quality CAT7.

And lastly Dave, why MIGHT the GISO have an impact??

IMHO the Galvanic Isolation offered by the GISO could function in a similar way to Ruby Ferrite Podule described above........i.e. that it would filter out undesired RFI / EMI from entering the Sooloos Endpoint.......thereby reducing internal RFI.......thereby allowing more effective conversion to LPCM......and the main result is lower Jitter on the digital output .......and a more pleasing Musical Sound emanating from our kit

However, due to having to deal with RFI mitigation in the 'day job', I feel that the GISO (just like the Ferrite Podule and RFI filtering in the ID41) is more of a "Cure" than a "Prevention"

And as with everything else, it's better to Prevent RFI than to cure it

So, I think the previously mentioned measures to reduce RFI on the Sooloos network is something that people should look at......i.e.

a) a dedicated Switch for our Sooloos kit;

b) Shielded and Screened SSTP cable for all Sooloos transfers (even a good idea throughout the home network)

c) moving any Wifi Access points as far as possible away from our Endpoints to reduce ambient RFI

d) minimizing the use of Powerline Networking devices throughout our home networks and especially not using Powerline connections to Sooloos Endpoints [as they are known to introduce high RFI levels]

It could be then argued that these steps would leave little for the GISO to do (minimal audible benfit) and that would be correct.......but as I said, I believe Prevention to better than the Cure


Summary
Meridian have done a lot to reduce the amounts of Internal RFI within their various devices

By using the few simple steps above, we can help by not reintroducing RFI / EMI in the vicinity / environment of our Sooloos Endpoints

We can add to that by using GISO's, Ferrites and similar measures just before the Endpoint to reduce any remaining RFI entering the Sooloos Endpoint via the network cable

This has been a superbly interesting thread and special thanks to DaveyC and Ronnie for they contributions. You have both been very generous with your time and knowledge.

Dave, which Cat7 did you use, where did you get it and how much does it cost?

Thanks.