39 replies to this topic

[Marcin_gps]

Hi Guys, 

 

Here is another product I've been working on during last year : high performance USB+LAN Ground Conditioner

It is quite unique - I have not seen anything like it.  

 

I remember the first time I connected it to my USB Card FEMTO & NET Card FEMTO, I was shocked. The first thing I noticed was how much better the image quality got on my plasma TV, which was unexpected as the TV is not even connected to my audio PC, but it seems that my Audio PC, even though equipped with linear power supplies and good power cord, injects large amounts of noise back to the AC which is then spread to other components. Other than the image quality, the sound of my system reached a completely new level: more details, more natural, smooth highs, bigger soundstage and the feeling that the music is real. This is one of the most significant and immediate improvements I've had the pleasure of hearing in my system. 

 

The product is available at the JCAT webshop where you can also find more details about it: https://jcat.eu/prod...nd-conditioner/

 

Regards, 

Marcin

[Carlosoptico]

Hi, Marcin. In the single-port configuration of the JCAT USB FEMTO card, does the USB terminal of the ground conditioner go into the disabled USB port or does it then have to go to any USB port on the motherboard? Is there a return policy for this product? Carlos

[dagediM]

Hi Marcin!

 

In my country the Ground is actually connected to “Neutral” in the wall grid. There is no real Ground. So to reach better sound I must disconnect the “ground” from “Neutral” in my main power block.

Hens are there any benefit using “USB+LAN Ground Conditioner” in my situation?

 

Regards,

Danail

[Marcin_gps]

Hi, Marcin. In the single-port configuration of the JCAT USB FEMTO card, does the USB terminal of the ground conditioner go into the disabled USB port or does it then have to go to any USB port on the motherboard? Is there a return policy for this product? Carlos

Hi Carlos,

 

Yes, it goese to the disabled USB port. This port is not active (no data), but it is still connected to the circuit. Please see the picture how it looks in my system. I also use 1PORT firmware with my USB Card FEMTO. JCAT Signature USB Cable connects to the USB DAC. The black USB cable is the USB+LAN Ground Conditioner. Below the USB Card  FEMTO is the NET Card FEMTO and there the LAN lead of the USB+LAN Ground Conditioner comes in (next to it you can see a prototype of the Signature LAN Cable)

 

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Hi Marcin!

 

In my country the Ground is actually connected to “Neutral” in the wall grid. There is no real Ground. So to reach better sound I must disconnect the “ground” from “Neutral” in my main power block.

Hens are there any benefit using “USB+LAN Ground Conditioner” in my situation?

 

Regards,

Danail

Hi Danail, 

 

If there is no ground then I expect the improvement will not be great as there is no real 'drain' for the noise except for the cable itself. So the filtering will not be great unfortunately. 

 

Regards, 
Marcin

[Marcin_gps]

USB+LAN Ground Conditioner + Signature USB + Signature LAN Cables at a customer in Hong Kong

 

 20190326_221817_resized.jpg   102.68KB   9 downloads

 20190325_193029_resized.jpg   280.12KB   5 downloads

 

 

[Tomslin]

Hi Marcin!

 

In my country the Ground is actually connected to “Neutral” in the wall grid. There is no real Ground. So to reach better sound I must disconnect the “ground” from “Neutral” in my main power block.

Hens are there any benefit using “USB+LAN Ground Conditioner” in my situation?

 

Regards,

Danail

Hi,

 

Do you have protective earth at your wall socket? In which country are you? Maybe you don’t know that neutral and protection earth (PE) (if PE are used) almost always are connected somewhere in the main power system. In such circumstances, this ground conditioner should work as expected

[Marcin_gps]

Hi,

 

Do you have protective earth at your wall socket? In which country are you? Maybe you don’t know that neutral and protection earth (PE) (if PE are used) almost always are connected somewhere in the main power system. In such circumstances, this ground conditioner should work as expected

 

Hi Tomas, 

 

Thanks for your input!

 

 

Connecting the JCAT USB + LAN Ground Conditioner to a wall socket with a known/tested effective ground is of prime importance to allow the Conditioner to work to its maximum noise draining capacity for which it was designed and optimized.

 

Regards, 

Marcin

[Tomslin]

Yes, you are absolutely right Marcin. I'm just wanted to clarify that the "ground" at the wall sockets is sometimes combined with the Neutral. And differences exist in different countries. Here in Sweden we have both combined (TN-C) and separated (TN-S) systems for protective earth, or ground. And as I said before this Ground Conditioner should work with both systems. Pure logical should the TN-S system be better, though.

 

More about earthing systems from Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia...Earthing_system

 

Best regards

Tomas

[Marcin_gps]

#136

 

Feedback from a customer who connected the USB+LAN Ground Conditioner & Signature LAN Cable to Aurender W20

 

Regards, 
Marcin

[james108]

Hi Carlos,

 

Yes, it goese to the disabled USB port. This port is not active (no data), but it is still connected to the circuit. Please see the picture how it looks in my system. I also use 1PORT firmware with my USB Card FEMTO. JCAT Signature USB Cable connects to the USB DAC. The black USB cable is the USB+LAN Ground Conditioner. Below the USB Card  FEMTO is the NET Card FEMTO and there the LAN lead of the USB+LAN Ground Conditioner comes in (next to it you can see a prototype of the Signature LAN Cable)

 

fullsizeoutput_3529.jpeg

 

 

Marcin  I think you need to have chat with your lighting director,  I can't make out the details in the dark 

[Marcin_gps]

Marcin  I think you need to have chat with your lighting director,  I can't make out the details in the dark 

 

Good point

Please see this post:             #5            

The configuration is the same as  in my picture. 

 

Regards, 
Marcin

[Carlosoptico]

Hi all . Yesterday I received the JCAT USB + LAN ground conditioner. Its termination is very good. After two hours playing at low volume I went to see how it sounded. As Marcin says, a dramatic improvement, a very big jump in SQ, in quality of the timbres. Today I returned to play. Even better . Awesome . Thanks again Marcin for your contribution. Carlos.

[Marcin_gps]

Hi all . Yesterday I received the JCAT USB + LAN ground conditioner. Its termination is very good. After two hours playing at low volume I went to see how it sounded. As Marcin says, a dramatic improvement, a very big jump in SQ, in quality of the timbres. Today I returned to play. Even better . Awesome . Thanks again Marcin for your contribution. Carlos.

Hi  Carlos, 

 

Thank you for your review - I'm glad you are enjoying the product

 

Regards, 
Marcin

[ellisdj]

just installed this cable looking forward to making A/B videos of it coming soon

[Stereophilus]

I recently received my USB+LAN ground conditioner. I bought this product out of interest, to see if it could improve my already heavily tweaked USB audio chain.

I use an Antipodes CX server with direct ethernet connection to an Antipodes EX renderer. USB output from the EX goes via an UpTone Audio ISO-Regen (with linear power supply) into a Mola Mola DAC. Ethernet feeding the Antipodes CX has optical decoupling. The system draws power from 6 dedicated power lines, all on a single isolated phase of a 3 phase power supply to the house. In short, I have gone to significant lengths to minimise electrical noise affecting the source.

The USB+LAN ground conditioner was connected to a spare USB port and LAN port on the Antipodes EX. I spent some time playing music with it connected, before removing it, and playing more music, then installing it again.

From my experience, there is no doubt the USB+LAN ground conditioner improves the sound quality. On my system, I noticed slightly better focus and separation of instruments; there was slightly more tonal texture and; bass extension seemed to be deeper. The difference was not large, but it was obvious. I would highly recommend this product to anyone using a computer based server solution feeding their DAC.

[Marcin_gps]

I recently received my USB+LAN ground conditioner. I bought this product out of interest, to see if it could improve my already heavily tweaked USB audio chain.

I use an Antipodes CX server with direct ethernet connection to an Antipodes EX renderer. USB output from the EX goes via an UpTone Audio ISO-Regen (with linear power supply) into a Mola Mola DAC. Ethernet feeding the Antipodes CX has optical decoupling. The system draws power from 6 dedicated power lines, all on a single isolated phase of a 3 phase power supply to the house. In short, I have gone to significant lengths to minimise electrical noise affecting the source.

The USB+LAN ground conditioner was connected to a spare USB port and LAN port on the Antipodes EX. I spent some time playing music with it connected, before removing it, and playing more music, then installing it again.

From my experience, there is no doubt the USB+LAN ground conditioner improves the sound quality. On my system, I noticed slightly better focus and separation of instruments; there was slightly more tonal texture and; bass extension seemed to be deeper. The difference was not large, but it was obvious. I would highly recommend this product to anyone using a computer based server solution feeding their DAC.

Thank you for the report. I'm glad that the product improves your listening experience

 

Regards, 
Marcin

[Badula]

When I bought these cables I did not have such great expectations. But I plugged them in and listened a little with half an ear ... But I noticed quite immediately that the bass was very different. Much stronger and blended into the music much better! did not believe my ears. how could these cables make such a difference ?? one of the best investments I made!

[Marcin_gps]

When I bought these cables I did not have such great expectations. But I plugged them in and listened a little with half an ear ... But I noticed quite immediately that the bass was very different. Much stronger and blended into the music much better! did not believe my ears. how could these cables make such a difference ?? one of the best investments I made!

Thanks for the report!  

[mmhifi]

Hi, will conditioner make difference with Melco N100? I have unused usb and ethernet outlets in the unit and working safety ground in ac outlet. The Melco gets 12v from external grounded LPS. And another question - has conditioner any built-in additional filtering or simply connects usb outlet to ac safety ground?

[Marcin_gps]

Hi, will conditioner make difference with Melco N100? I have unused usb and ethernet outlets in the unit and working safety ground in ac outlet. The Melco gets 12v from external grounded LPS. And another question - has conditioner any built-in additional filtering or simply connects usb outlet to ac safety ground?

Hi and welcome, 

 

Yes, it will be effective with any streamer/server, Melco N100 included. 

 

The Ground Conditioner uses only passive filtering (through shielding and high purity OCC)

 

Please let me know if you have any further questions.

 

Regards, 
Marcin