Upgrading my trusty Silenzio

[crwilli]

After almost 6 years of solid service I have added a few upgrades to my Silenzio. I have been reading for a few years about the improvements available from linear power suppliers, SFP breaks/connections in an Ethernet chain, switches etc.

Since I am a dedicated digital only guy, the reports of such improvements fascinated me like a moth to a candle. I have been in a good place with my Ethernet connections with an Edge router, solid cables and a GigaFoil v4.

I started reading about JCat in the computer focused audio forum and always wondered what one of their cards would do for me. All my outputs from the Silenzio came directly off the built in devices on the AS Rock motherboard and that reading caused me to grow worried about that and seek improvements.

Initially, I looked to add a USB board but with the total overhaul of my McIntosh/Esoteric based system last year, I am not using USB. I am however, using the network exclusively to pass all my digital audio.

First I was intrigued by the JCat Femto Network card but procrastinated enough to be able to see the JCat NET Card XE. The timing was right so I bought one.

Install was fairly simple plug and play. The tight quarters of the Streacom FC5Evo chassis required me to remove the optical drive to access the horizontal PCI-e slot but since I haven’t used the drive in years, that wasn’t a sacrifice. A simple move of the Streacom Zenith power supply and in went the NET Card XE. Connection is via a short riser cable which is not ideal but functional. I made NO BIOS or software changes. Rebooted the computer and ROON started and my controller saw it instantly.

5 volt Power is supplied by an HD Plex 300 linear power supply.

Sound:

EVERYTHING is improved. Right out of their boxes, the NET Card XE with the HD Plex LPSU are yielding a sharp attack at all frequencies. Paraphrasing what I have read elsewhere, the noise I didn’t know was there is now gone. Not a cheap upgrade but so far I would say, in audiophile dollars it’s a huge value for my money.
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