- Joined
- Dec 12, 2019
- Messages
- 17,973
- Likes
- 41,421
His skull's probably already in one of Devon Turnbull's OJAS loudspeakers...Fibonacci is with You
-
Welcome to ASR. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!
Snake Oil Department, Top This
- Thread starter Ron Texas
- Start date
[A]One more than 23 or one less than 25.
Depends on whether you are an optimist or a pessimist.
Network isolator / Ethernet filter Matrix Audio SI-1
The Ethernet cable that connects your router to your network player carries far more than music. Electromagnetic noise, ground loops…
en.homecinesolutions.fr
Quite a shame, @MatrixAudio
I like to take a bit of your time.
Please review the following images:
Based on the best information I could find, this Analog/Digital I/O interface device seems to good to be true, especially at its 'shocking' price point.
So, my question would be what kind of a price-point would you consider this device --w/a remote but w/o much in the way of measurements-- becomes an audiophool device or snake oil?
Please review the following images:
Based on the best information I could find, this Analog/Digital I/O interface device seems to good to be true, especially at its 'shocking' price point.
So, my question would be what kind of a price-point would you consider this device --w/a remote but w/o much in the way of measurements-- becomes an audiophool device or snake oil?
Attachments
(IMO)
At the point where it fails to deliver what it claims to deliver. In essence price is not necessarily the indicator of snake oil. Un feasible claims - or false claims are.
An exception might be a high priced device fails to deliver SOTA (or at least close to it) measured performance - which is generally assumed to be expected for high priced gear.
Last edited:
Cote Dazur
Addicted to Fun and Learning
They know, how can they not know, all it takes for cables or power cord or line conditioner is to have some one switch them with the reviewer not knowing when.
It is pure misrepresentation, they usually are the same wondering out load why the high (end) outrageously priced audio industry is dying.
They know, they are the greedy reason.
They have been the reason for 50 years, it is just getting worth year after year. They must believe doubling down will eventually save them.
Thank you for being our Guinea pig! Probably Audio$$$$oooolI wagered for one and I will wait until shipment arrives to reveal whether my gamble has paid off... or I end up being that audioph00l.
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2019
- Messages
- 17,973
- Likes
- 41,421
I like to take a bit of your time.
Please review the following images:
Based on the best information I could find, this Analog/Digital I/O interface device seems to good to be true, especially at its 'shocking' price point.
So, my question would be what kind of a price-point would you consider this device --w/a remote but w/o much in the way of measurements-- becomes an audiophool device or snake oil?
Ina ELNA. It would be amusing if they stocked out and had to tell customers that they were Outta Ina ELNA capacitors.
Yah Mahn a ruin mi irie!
I could sell all those 518 (probably cloned) parts on ebay and recover my losses!
I think not!
I could sell all those 518 (probably cloned) parts on ebay and recover my losses!
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2019
- Messages
- 17,973
- Likes
- 41,421
I hope they do a better job of "cloning" than those "Accuphase" ripoff abominations.Yah Mahn a ruin mi irie!
I think not!
I could sell all those 518 (probably cloned) parts on ebay and recover my losses!
But…but…what if I truly WANT galvanic continuity?!?Network isolator / Ethernet filter Matrix Audio SI-1
The Ethernet cable that connects your router to your network player carries far more than music. Electromagnetic noise, ground loops…
Quite a shame, @MatrixAudio
- Joined
- May 31, 2020
- Messages
- 1,066
- Likes
- 1,966
The review from “Ed” doesn’t care, he says this:
“Beautifully built, so very solid and easy to install. The SI-1 is connected directly between my router and my streamer. Strong musical improvement of the audio signal. Wider soundstage, blacker background, excellent instrument placement, and more detail. Best Ethernet filter I have ever had.”
What is nice these days, anyone can check all those specs and claims through AI:
The product description for the Matrix Audio SI-1 relies heavily on audiophile pseudo-science - taking legitimate engineering principles (like galvanic isolation, jitter reduction, and low-noise power supplies) and misapplying them to asynchronous digital networking, where they have no practical impact on sound quality.
Here is an objective, step-by-step technical breakdown of every major claim made in the text.
1. "Electromagnetic noise, ground loops, and interference travel with the signal to audio conversion stages"
- The Reality: Standard Ethernet already has galvanic isolation built into the specification by design.
- Technical Breakdown: The IEEE 802.3 standard requires all standard RJ45 Ethernet ports to use isolation transformers (magnetics). These transformers eliminate DC ground loops and isolate common-mode noise up to 1,500 Volts AC.
- The Verdict: Ground loops do not travel across standard Ethernet cables unless you use shielded CAT6/7 cables with grounded RJ45 plugs incorrectly connected at both ends. Using simple unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable gives you built-in galvanic isolation for zero extra cost.
- The Reality: The SI-1 creates a problem, solves it optically, and then re-introduces the exact same problem at the output.
- Technical Breakdown: The SI-1 converts standard Copper Ethernet \rightarrow Optical \rightarrow Copper Ethernet.
- The input side takes an electrical Ethernet signal.
- It converts it to light internally over fiber.
- It converts that light back into an electrical Ethernet signal to output via an RJ45 port.
- Because the device connects back to your audio streamer via a copper Ethernet cable, it re-introduces electrical noise right at the output stage. Furthermore, to run these internal conversions, the SI-1 plugs directly into your wall AC outlet—introducing mains leakage current and power-supply noise that wouldn't exist with an off-the-shelf, passive medical-grade Ethernet isolator or standard fiber media converter.
- The Reality: Network jitter on Ethernet has zero effect on digital audio playback.
- Technical Breakdown:
- Network Jitter vs. Audio Jitter: Network jitter refers to minor variations in packet arrival time across a network layer (measured in milliseconds). Audio clock jitter refers to sample timing variations at the DAC chip itself (measured in picoseconds).
- Asynchronous Buffer: Ethernet transfers data via TCP/IP or UDP in packetized blocks, stored in a memory buffer inside your streamer before decoding. The DAC reconstructs the analog waveform using its own local internal clock, completely decoupled from how fast or smoothly network packets arrived.
- Putting femtosecond clocks on an Ethernet PHY (physical transceiver layer) is completely useless—the receiving DAC never sees those clock cycles.
4. "Dual optical channels avoid crosstalk between upstream and downstream streams"
- The Reality: Crosstalk on a digital Ethernet line does not alter digital audio data.
- Technical Breakdown: Standard Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-T) uses 4 differential pairs handling simultaneous bidirectional communication. Differential signaling inherently rejects cross-talk. Furthermore, Ethernet uses digital error checking (CRC). If crosstalk were severe enough to flip a bit (a 1 to a 0), the frame would be discarded and retransmitted—it would never manifest as "hiss," "flat soundstage," or "harsh treble." Digital audio over IP works via bit-perfect data packets, not continuous analog streaming.
5. "Linear power supply with toroidal transformer powers optical circuits for lower noise"
- The Reality: Oversized linear power supplies (LPS) add cost and heat, not audio performance, when powering digital network transceivers.
- Technical Breakdown:
- The text even notes that without proper grounding, "a slight tingling sensation may be felt when touching the metal chassis." This is caused by leakage current across the internal linear transformer's parasitic capacitance—the exact type of high-frequency electrical leakage you want to avoid near audio equipment.
- Standard optical media converters powered by basic wall-warts operate outside the audio chassis anyway, rendering an internal high-end LPS redundant.
- The Reality: Partially true, but vastly overpriced for this function.
- Technical Breakdown: Optical isolation does break conductive pathways for electrical surges. However, if a lightning strike hits your home network, the surge will travel through the SI-1's AC power supply anyway unless protected by an actual surge protector. If surge isolation is your goal, a standard $15 plastic fiber media converter (or an unshielded UTP cable) provides identical physical isolation without plugging an expensive audio device into the wall.
| Feature / Claim | Audiophile Marketing Claim | Technical Reality |
| Galvanic Isolation | Stops network noise from reaching the DAC. | Ethernet standard already isolates up to 1500V. SI-1 re-introduces copper at the output. |
| Femtosecond Clocks | Reduces network jitter to clean up the sound. | Packet data is buffered in RAM. Ethernet timing has 0% impact on DAC sample timing. |
| Separate Optical Paths | Eliminates full-duplex crosstalk. | Digital packet integrity is guaranteed by CRC checks, not physical channel distance. |
| Linear Power Supply | Ensures pure power to optical transceivers. | Generates AC leakage current (acknowledged by chassis tingling note) and excess heat. |
Last edited:
You already got it for free. Even though the ethernet spec didn't specifically ask for galvanic (transformer) isolation, it is the by far most common way to meet the electrical isolation spec (2 250 VDC, 1 500 V rms, 2 400 V pulses).
.
You already got it
I like to take a bit of your time.
Please review the following images:
Based on the best information I could find, this Analog/Digital I/O interface device seems to good to be true, especially at its 'shocking' price point.
So, my question would be what kind of a price-point would you consider this device --w/a remote but w/o much in the way of measurements-- becomes an audiophool device or snake oil?
I stopped at audiophile capacitors
sorry
Please comply with AI policy. Would be appreciated. Ta.
Official policy on use of AI
We have had recent issues come about regarding use of AI in member posts. I personally think this technology can be useful to us. And at any rate, hate having to police members left and right on what they post. That said, here are my thoughts: 1. If you are going to use AI, make it...
www.audiosciencereview.com
Roland68
Master Contributor
I don't quite understand what a $125 device with an ESS9039Q2M has to do with this thread.I like to take a bit of your time.
Please review the following images:
Based on the best information I could find, this Analog/Digital I/O interface device seems to good to be true, especially at its 'shocking' price point.
So, my question would be what kind of a price-point would you consider this device --w/a remote but w/o much in the way of measurements-- becomes an audiophool device or snake oil?
And why is the labeling on the device blacked out?
The biggest issue is likely the measurement data.
What is the connection? What am I missing?
AudioSceptic
Major Contributor
I agree. The only issue might be that it overclaims and underperforms. It certainly seems to offer an awful lot, maybe an implausible amount, for the money. This is not "snake-oil" in the accepted sense of overpriced products based on pseudoscientific tosh.
Roland68
Master Contributor
To address your question: this appears to be one of those typical "reclamation" units where obsolete components—no longer used in modern production—are combined with non-original parts (often called "fakes") to create a functional device.I like to take a bit of your time.
Please review the following images:
Based on the best information I could find, this Analog/Digital I/O interface device seems to good to be true, especially at its 'shocking' price point.
So, my question would be what kind of a price-point would you consider this device --w/a remote but w/o much in the way of measurements-- becomes an audiophool device or snake oil?
Most of the key components haven't been used in manufacturing for 10–15 years. I wouldn't expect much from the capacitors, and a large portion of the op-amps could well be counterfeits.
It is also quite possible that recycled components are being used, which is common practice.
Since I don't expect high-quality integration of the digital components, jitter is likely to be an issue. I also have a bad feeling about the USB input.
But, of course, I could be wrong.
The additional analog inputs and digital outputs are exactly the features missing from many of today's DACs from brands like SMSL, Topping, etc.
It would be great if a unit like this could be sent to Amir for measurement. I’d also appreciate seeing detailed photos, especially of the ES9039Q2M chip.
Unfortunately, 3 products that @amirm had tested on my behalf [pardonez-moi] sucked.
One (Polk center is still a door-stop), a second, xDuoo DAP (had ~8db L/R imbalance), and the third cheap inline DAC dongle was not even worth a ship-back.
It maybe appropriate to reveal the price here: As I recently paid a TOTAL of $134.59 (w/o power brick).
If there are others that may want to see it tested, please give a LIke to Roland88' post (above) to gauge if there is interest enough to ask @amirm if he can schedule a review.
And hope that review won't be my strike FOUR!
