Audio accessories can be a polarizing topic for a lot of audiophiles and we think some healthy skepticism is a very good thing. Certain products like $1,000 Ethernet cables should raise a few eyebrows for the simple reason that the return on investment is extremely low. Nobody is forcing one to buy it, but our experience with some of them has been less than convincing.
Cleaning up system noise is a legitimate pursuit, but there is no question that there are some trade-offs with certain types of power line conditioners and that also applies to products that one introduces into the signal chain between source components.
Do they actually work? Some have proven to be very effective and the folks at iFi Audio make some of the more cost effective options available.
iFi Audio has announced the launch of the LAN iPurifier Pro ($299 USD) as part of the new SilentPower brand.
iFi established this brand of power and signal solutions to deliver silence and clarity to audio systems without distortion or interference from power sources and cables.
The SilentPower brand includes four segments:
Each segment encompasses products that are engineered to deliver noise cancellation and power purity, ensuring that the audio single you hear is pristine and immersive. SilentPower products blend innovation, affordability, and high-quality performance.
From Pat Wen, Director at iFi Audio: “We’re delighted to announce the SilentPower brand. Through our extensive research over the years, we found that due to noise interference found in either the power chain or the signal chain, many audiophiles feel their Hi-Fi systems sound dull and lifeless. Therefore, there has been increasing demand from the market for audio enhancers to deliver exceptional, lively sound…To meet this demand for audio enhancer products and prioritize research and development, we’ve launched SilentPower as its own brand.”
LAN iPurifier Pro
The main product of the SilentPower brand is the LAN iPurifier Pro. This component provides a plug-and-play solution to what traditionally requires complex steps.
Utilizing optical galvanic isolation technology, incoming LAN signals are converted into optical (light) signals and back again. This ensures electrical isolation between input and output by preventing any noise from the LAN system from contaminating the stream or DAC.
The LAN iPurifier Pro claims to improve musical timing due to its signal regeneration capabilities which in theory could eliminate jitter and errors so listeners experience the music as clearly and correctly as possible.
The LAN iPurifier Pro ensures transparent data transmission while meeting network connection standards, including 1000BASE-T (Gigabit Ethernet), IEEE 802.3x standard, and supporting 1000/100/10Mbps.
The LAN iPurifier Pro is compatible with a wide range of network devices such as 4K media boxes and media streaming PCs.
Key Specifications
- Ethernet: IEEE 802.3x
- Speed Supported: 1000Mbps / 100Mbps / 10Mbps
- Power :USB-C 5V DC/1A
- Input: 1x RJ45
- Dimensions: 99 x 92.8 x 24.2mm (3.9 x 3.7 x 0.95 inches)
- Net Weight: 241g (8.05 oz)
What Comes in the Box
- 1 x LAN iPurifier ProEthernet Cable (0.5m)
- 1 xUSB-A to USB-C Cable (1.2m)
- 1 x USB Power Adapter (5V)
- 1 x Quick Start Card
- 1 x Instruction Card
Other iFi SilentPower Products
Power Solutions: SilentPower’s iPower series power supplies use proprietary Active Noise Cancellation technology for noise-free performance. This detects and cancels out incoming noise by generating an inverse signal, ensuring noise-free performance.
Conditioners: SilentPower conditioners, including the iPurifier series, eliminate noise and jitter from computers, networks, and digital connections. This supports optimal audio quality by reducing timing errors and rebalancing digital signals for bit-perfect data transmission, leading to better analog signal conversion.
Cables: The SilentPower Supa variants incorporate ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) technology. This eliminates unwanted noise ensuring electricity flows uninterrupted. In contrast, the Nova and Quasar do not incorporate ANC capabilities.
All four power cables in the product line are structured in a geometrically balanced configuration, enhancing the overall dielectric performance of the cables.
A key element in the SilentPower cables is called Ground Zero, an innovation developed in-house at iFi. This technology carries an opposite current as well as a fully balanced configuration inside the ground wire to cancel out the magnetic field. This balanced design achieves constant impedance regardless of the position of the cable.
SilentPower Technology
Active Noise-Cancelling
SilentPower’s noise-canceling technology leverages AMR’s advanced OptiMains technology to isolate power supplies from grid noise and DC offset, ensuring power purity in SilentPower products. Inspired by military radar cancellation techniques, iFi claims that its Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) ensures power supplies are ten times quieter than most audiophile power solutions.
Active Filtration
SilentPower’s Active Noise Cancellation II technology starts noise reduction at 10kHz and is more effective across a wider frequency range compared to passive solutions, ensuring pure signal transmission throughout the SilentPower product range.
Galvanic isolation technology achieves the separation of electrical circuits, effectively eliminating stray currents. Audio signals can pass between galvanically isolated circuits to block differences in ground potential or currents induced by AC power.
Initial Impressions
It’s interesting to note iFi has separated their power related products into the SilentPower sub-brand. Although we agree clean power is important for a smooth running system, will the benefits of such products always be noticeable? There are many power conditioning-type products that aren’t always effective, so let’s hope that iFi delivers what it promises with SilentPower — as it does in its audio product line.
Pricing & Availability
The Silent Power LAN iPurifier Pro is available for $299 at Audio46 or direct from silentpower.tech.
Tip: Audio46 buyers can get 5% off with coupon code ecoustics.
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David
June 16, 2024 at 4:23 am
lol. Swampland in Brooklyn for sale as well.
Ian White
June 16, 2024 at 3:09 pm
David,
I’ve made it clear over the 25 years that I have written about high-end audio/video that “accessories” are a huge miss for me when it comes to expensive cables and power line conditioners.
Members of the high-end press who extoll the merits of $1,000 ethernet cables have a completely different agenda that I don’t buy into. You will never convince me that they make a significant difference and I have tried a number of them. I do use one made by QED but primarily because it was the right length that I needed between my ASUS router and Roon Nucleus. Do I think it makes any kind of sonic difference that I can hear in any of my systems that are connected to the router using CAT 6 purchased at Staples? Not really.
I will say that iFi makes some really useful accessories that I have integrated successfully into portable headphone rigs, desktop systems, and even my bedroom system.
Does the LAN iPurifier Pro work? Having not tried it, I really don’t know. But iFi is rather careful about putting out products that don’t impact the sound and I am curious to see if this does anything.
Best,
Ian White
Ixoye
June 16, 2024 at 10:53 pm
What comes after the purifier, The tinfoil hat.?