I've now had my Innuos PhoenixNet for a while. I thought others might be interested in my thoughts on what is a rather controversial product. Streaming is becoming increasingly popular so more people may have an interest in developing their system's streaming capability.
Some background first. I've been in to hifi for around 50 years now and I've had very many different systems and components. Many dozens of turntables, amps, speakers, CD players, DACs et al. System pricing (RRP) has ranged from c£50k when I ran a fairly serious AN system to a few hundred pounds. I do have very wide personal experience of an extremely wide and diverse range of products. At one time, I must have rivalled Jerry of this parish for the title of 'Box Swapper of the Year'!
I've been using network players and streamers for many years (around 10 or so). I've had loads of them; 3 varieties of Node, Lindemann, NAD, Naim, Bel Canto, dCs, Innuos, Auralic, et al).
I'd read quite a bit about the effect of network switches on SQ. Like many others, I found this all rather difficult to accept at first, leaning rather towards the 'bits are bits' type of belief. However, I thought I'd take a massive gamble (well, £25!) and bought a NOS Cisco 2940. I slotted this in to the system and there was definitely an obvious improvement over my previous arrangement.
Perhaps time to talk of what my arrangement was. Quite simple; around 15m thin, flexible ethernet cable off Amazon, direct from BT Home Hub to streamer (Auralic Aries G1).
It's also probably useful to outline what I call 'better'. I use a concept that I like to call 'intelligibility'. By that I mean, how intelligible is the overall musical performance. Am I able to clearly hear individual instruments without 'smearing' by other instruments? Can I hear small details, without those 'details' being merely exaggerated HF (many components exhibit this trait)? Can I hear the emotion in the vocals? The precision, pace and power of great percussion? A sound stage that places instruments and performers 'in the room'? A complete lack of 'boxiness, with speakers disappearing? I have no interest in measurements, other than for basic compatibility. This review is clearly my subjective opinion, but it is an opinion based upon decades of experience of listening, enjoying and being engaged by music, both recorded and live.
Back to ethernet switches. The Cisco was clearly an improvement, so I thought I'd try and English Electric 8switch. Again, an improvement, to a larger degree than the Cisco. I then started looking at the Innuos PhoenoxNet. Once I go up off the floor from seeing the price, I became interested.
Another side step here. My system is already at quite a serious level, but I have been contemplating further improvements (as most of us here do!). I've had my current speakers for around 3-4 years and they are incredible 'speakers. I've yet to hear other speakers that can match them for mid and HF performance. Nevertheless, I did look at possible replacements with a view to increasing the scale of sound. Unusually, I did try other 'speakers in my room. It was a universal fail from all of them. I then looked at a possible amp upgrade. I already have a very good amplifier, but did try an amp further up the range. Yes, there was an improvement, but not £4-5Ks worth, IMO. Front end then? My DAC is excellent and my streamer is probably as good as I'll ever need. So, in the context of any possible upgrade to my system, the PhoenixNet didn't look silly, price wise. So I bought one.
First things first. This is not like any ethernet switch you've seen before. it is certainly a hifi component. The casing is quite large and deep (think Cyrus like) and reasonably heavy at 5kg. the weight comes from the case and the excellent linear power supply contained therein (I won't bore everyone with the technical details of the Phoenix; that's widely available on the 'net). You certainly can't 'tuck this away' anywhere. It certainly is a high quality bit of kit; very well made and put together.
So, hook it up, turn on, wait for 15 mins or so and cue the music.
A further aside on how the music arrives! I use Roon (by far the best music streaming interface, but that's for another discussion). I have a Roon Nucleus, that stores my FLAC files internally on an SSD). The Auralic app is also good, but can't compete with Roon. There is no difference in sound quality between using Roon and the Auralic native app. Mine is a very revealing system; if there were a difference I would hear it (incidentally, I have recently had a full hearing test and my hearing is above average for my age). There are those on here who seem to experience a drop in SQ when using Roon. I think that may well be to do with how their systems are set up, how they run Roon and the hardware they use. For what it's worth, my experience has proven to me that the optimum way to run Roon is: have Roon ROCK running CORE alone on a dedicated device (not on a PC, Mac, Innuos streamer, etc); do not directly connect that device to your streamer; use a high quality Roon Ready endpoint via ethernet.
Back to the Phoenix. Frankly, the improvement is not slight and subtle (like some cable differences). This is profoundly better. Astonishingly so. All the criteria for 'intelligibility' move up several notches. Using the PhoenixNet is like a serious component upgrade. I kid you not. My system is now performing astonishingly well.
The biggest improvement is to streamed services, but network playing also shows gains. I use Tidal and Qobuz with Roon, along with my ripped FLACS. HiRes Qobuz material now easily exceeds CD playback. One of the advantages of Roon, is that all the various versions of an album are available on one page, allowing an easy comparison. I just choose what sounds best to me and put that in my library; or even multiple copies of same album in different versions.
So, would I unreservedly recommend the PhoenixNet. No, I wouldn't. It's going to be system dependent, both on quality and context. I know it sounds elitist, but your system does need to be capable of high resolution to fully appreciate this product. Many people think their systems are in this category, but they just aren't. I would strongly encourage people to listen to as wide a range of systems as possible, just to appreciate what can be achieved.
If your system is already sorted, it is high quality (which doesn't necessarily mean high price) and you want to optimise your streaming capabilities then you should definitely investigate the Phoenix.
For those that are interested, my system, including cabling and assorted 'foo' is as follows:
Roon Nucleus connected directly to BT Home Hub via Audioquest Carbon ethernet cable (sits in the hall, well away from hifi)
Cheap, ethernet cable to Innuos Phoenix.
Audioquest Vodka to Auralic Aries G1
Audioquest Carbon AES to Esoteric D07x DAC.
Audioquest Yukon XLR to Accuphase E270
Analysis Plus Big Silver Oval to Raidho X1s, with dedicated stands on custom granite plinths
Techniccs SLG 700 via RFC Pluto II to Accuphase E270, plus SPDIF coaxial out to Esoteric D07X via Van Den Hul Triaxial digital interconnect.
Technics sits on a Townshend isolation platform. DAC and Aries G1 sit on Sobothane hemi-spheres.
I hope the above is of interest to some. I realise that many will feel that I'm deluded and hearing stuff which isn't there. Well, I'm not going to change their minds and certainly don't want to try. I won't engage in that type of discussion at all. Their loss, is my overall feeling on that. I'm happy to field questions and feedback from those that don't sit in that camp.
As a final word; anyone want to buy my immaculate 8switch?!
Some background first. I've been in to hifi for around 50 years now and I've had very many different systems and components. Many dozens of turntables, amps, speakers, CD players, DACs et al. System pricing (RRP) has ranged from c£50k when I ran a fairly serious AN system to a few hundred pounds. I do have very wide personal experience of an extremely wide and diverse range of products. At one time, I must have rivalled Jerry of this parish for the title of 'Box Swapper of the Year'!
I've been using network players and streamers for many years (around 10 or so). I've had loads of them; 3 varieties of Node, Lindemann, NAD, Naim, Bel Canto, dCs, Innuos, Auralic, et al).
I'd read quite a bit about the effect of network switches on SQ. Like many others, I found this all rather difficult to accept at first, leaning rather towards the 'bits are bits' type of belief. However, I thought I'd take a massive gamble (well, £25!) and bought a NOS Cisco 2940. I slotted this in to the system and there was definitely an obvious improvement over my previous arrangement.
Perhaps time to talk of what my arrangement was. Quite simple; around 15m thin, flexible ethernet cable off Amazon, direct from BT Home Hub to streamer (Auralic Aries G1).
It's also probably useful to outline what I call 'better'. I use a concept that I like to call 'intelligibility'. By that I mean, how intelligible is the overall musical performance. Am I able to clearly hear individual instruments without 'smearing' by other instruments? Can I hear small details, without those 'details' being merely exaggerated HF (many components exhibit this trait)? Can I hear the emotion in the vocals? The precision, pace and power of great percussion? A sound stage that places instruments and performers 'in the room'? A complete lack of 'boxiness, with speakers disappearing? I have no interest in measurements, other than for basic compatibility. This review is clearly my subjective opinion, but it is an opinion based upon decades of experience of listening, enjoying and being engaged by music, both recorded and live.
Back to ethernet switches. The Cisco was clearly an improvement, so I thought I'd try and English Electric 8switch. Again, an improvement, to a larger degree than the Cisco. I then started looking at the Innuos PhoenoxNet. Once I go up off the floor from seeing the price, I became interested.
Another side step here. My system is already at quite a serious level, but I have been contemplating further improvements (as most of us here do!). I've had my current speakers for around 3-4 years and they are incredible 'speakers. I've yet to hear other speakers that can match them for mid and HF performance. Nevertheless, I did look at possible replacements with a view to increasing the scale of sound. Unusually, I did try other 'speakers in my room. It was a universal fail from all of them. I then looked at a possible amp upgrade. I already have a very good amplifier, but did try an amp further up the range. Yes, there was an improvement, but not £4-5Ks worth, IMO. Front end then? My DAC is excellent and my streamer is probably as good as I'll ever need. So, in the context of any possible upgrade to my system, the PhoenixNet didn't look silly, price wise. So I bought one.
First things first. This is not like any ethernet switch you've seen before. it is certainly a hifi component. The casing is quite large and deep (think Cyrus like) and reasonably heavy at 5kg. the weight comes from the case and the excellent linear power supply contained therein (I won't bore everyone with the technical details of the Phoenix; that's widely available on the 'net). You certainly can't 'tuck this away' anywhere. It certainly is a high quality bit of kit; very well made and put together.
So, hook it up, turn on, wait for 15 mins or so and cue the music.
A further aside on how the music arrives! I use Roon (by far the best music streaming interface, but that's for another discussion). I have a Roon Nucleus, that stores my FLAC files internally on an SSD). The Auralic app is also good, but can't compete with Roon. There is no difference in sound quality between using Roon and the Auralic native app. Mine is a very revealing system; if there were a difference I would hear it (incidentally, I have recently had a full hearing test and my hearing is above average for my age). There are those on here who seem to experience a drop in SQ when using Roon. I think that may well be to do with how their systems are set up, how they run Roon and the hardware they use. For what it's worth, my experience has proven to me that the optimum way to run Roon is: have Roon ROCK running CORE alone on a dedicated device (not on a PC, Mac, Innuos streamer, etc); do not directly connect that device to your streamer; use a high quality Roon Ready endpoint via ethernet.
Back to the Phoenix. Frankly, the improvement is not slight and subtle (like some cable differences). This is profoundly better. Astonishingly so. All the criteria for 'intelligibility' move up several notches. Using the PhoenixNet is like a serious component upgrade. I kid you not. My system is now performing astonishingly well.
The biggest improvement is to streamed services, but network playing also shows gains. I use Tidal and Qobuz with Roon, along with my ripped FLACS. HiRes Qobuz material now easily exceeds CD playback. One of the advantages of Roon, is that all the various versions of an album are available on one page, allowing an easy comparison. I just choose what sounds best to me and put that in my library; or even multiple copies of same album in different versions.
So, would I unreservedly recommend the PhoenixNet. No, I wouldn't. It's going to be system dependent, both on quality and context. I know it sounds elitist, but your system does need to be capable of high resolution to fully appreciate this product. Many people think their systems are in this category, but they just aren't. I would strongly encourage people to listen to as wide a range of systems as possible, just to appreciate what can be achieved.
If your system is already sorted, it is high quality (which doesn't necessarily mean high price) and you want to optimise your streaming capabilities then you should definitely investigate the Phoenix.
For those that are interested, my system, including cabling and assorted 'foo' is as follows:
Roon Nucleus connected directly to BT Home Hub via Audioquest Carbon ethernet cable (sits in the hall, well away from hifi)
Cheap, ethernet cable to Innuos Phoenix.
Audioquest Vodka to Auralic Aries G1
Audioquest Carbon AES to Esoteric D07x DAC.
Audioquest Yukon XLR to Accuphase E270
Analysis Plus Big Silver Oval to Raidho X1s, with dedicated stands on custom granite plinths
Techniccs SLG 700 via RFC Pluto II to Accuphase E270, plus SPDIF coaxial out to Esoteric D07X via Van Den Hul Triaxial digital interconnect.
Technics sits on a Townshend isolation platform. DAC and Aries G1 sit on Sobothane hemi-spheres.
I hope the above is of interest to some. I realise that many will feel that I'm deluded and hearing stuff which isn't there. Well, I'm not going to change their minds and certainly don't want to try. I won't engage in that type of discussion at all. Their loss, is my overall feeling on that. I'm happy to field questions and feedback from those that don't sit in that camp.
As a final word; anyone want to buy my immaculate 8switch?!