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Silent Angel N8 Pro English ver.

Link do zapowiedzi (en): Silent Angel N8 Pro

Opinion 1

While the situation on the audio market stabilized, as did the consciousness of the users of streaming, we can start to do some initial summary of what is going on. And within such a small recap, I can state, that we have the same situation with our home networking as with, generally speaking, power supply. So we do have a part of the population, which is absolutely happy with the network socket installed in the wall/router provided by the network operator, as well as a wall power outlet and a run off the mill power strip, and another part of the population, which does care much more about the choice of components, that provide power and network access to their audio system. Interestingly, while you can get new acolytes from the first group, that convert to the more audiophile approach, using the simple rule “to hear is to believe”, yet I have never seen or heard about anyone from the second group, that would move in the opposite direction (economic and fortune related events put aside). Would you consider that strange? I think not at all, because you do not need to explain, why something is better, when it is better. This is why we direct the today’s test to both mentioned camps, hoping, that those who are not yet acquainted with the topic, will decide to listen with their own ears and become convinced, that it is worth trying such things out, while the more experienced people maybe consider putting the tested device in their systems. So what will we review today? The most recent proposition from a brand, that entered the market of accessories and streaming devices with a bang, Silent Angel, the full sized Ethernet switch N8 Pro, which was kindly supplied to us by the Wroclaw based distributor Audio Atelier.

Already at first glance, the N8 Pro clearly shows, that with the increase of size came the increase of “seriousness” of the switch. Although the “normal” N8 joyfully blinked with the LEDs on its front, which indicated the status of each of the eight ports, the Pro version is doing completely the opposite, in-line with its minimalistic approach, only calmly presents the company logo and one tiny green LED on its fascia, indicating that it was turned on. A similar sparse illumination was also used on the back, where the eight gold plated 1Gb Ethernet RJ45 ports have only … one LED, that lights up green when the connection speed is 1000Mb/s, and amber when the speed is 100Mb/s. And this LED can even be switched off using a dedicated switch. It is also worth noticing a small thing related to ergonomics – the manufacturer proposed a wider than usual spacing between the individual sockets, leaving about 5mm between them, what greatly eases the usage of cables terminated with solid plugs (like the Telegartner ones). And there are a lot of such cables available on the market, for example the Polish Audiomica Laboratory (Anort Consequence, Artoc Ultra Reference). Besides the mentioned Ethernet interfaces, on the left side of the back panel, we have an IEC power socket with an integrated power switch and fuse. There is also a socket for the optional external 12V power supply (like the Forester V2) and a ground clamp.
Construction wise things are easy as pie. We deal here with an extended version of the chassis of the normal N8, but due to including the power supply inside, the side panels were sieved with holes to improve ventilation of the insides of the device. The installed standard, rubber feet, are quite small, so it is advisable to immediately exchange them for something more efficient and esthetic, like the S28 anti-vibration feet.
As you have already noticed, the power supply evolved from a “wall wart” type to the internal, Radar Grade module, and a powerful DC/DC converter with a precision voltage stabilizer (LDO – Low Dropout Regulator), so you should not be surprised, that the stability parameters improved from 122mV (Vp-p) to 28mV (Vp-p). Additionally the whole power section with an EMI absorber, that significantly reduces noise in the 1M-18GHz band. The heart of the switch is an ultra-precise (0.1ppm) TCXO oscillator (Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator).

Now before I move on to the listening impressions, I would like to make it clear, that the point of reference was not the Ethernet wall socket or any router supplied by the provider, but an audio dedicated network constructed around the Xiaomi Mi AIoT Router AX3600, the Silent Angel Bonn N8 switch powered by the Silent Angel Forester F1 PSU, DC Luna Cables Gris cable, Silent Angel S28 feet and the respective cabling as mentioned below the text. When you add the cost of the individual items in this configuration, then you will clearly see, that the N8 Pro did not have an easy ride. The N8 switch costs 1999 PLN, the Forester F1 2099 PLN, the DC Luna Cables Gris about 500 PLN, so it totals only about 500 PLN less than the tested device. So I was wondering, if I will be able to detect any changes at all, and if yes, how big the difference will be. So now I have to tell you, that I was able to detect changes, but their intensity was proportional to the price difference, making it “cosmetic” at best, and secondly, the assessment is, for obvious reasons, very subjective, very … mine. And in addition it carries a lot of extramusical, usability and ergonomic issues. So what am I talking about? Ease of use and … space on the audio rack. In my case, especially when I am doing reviews, this space is very sparse, and I could always use more. This is something you need to take into account and decide for yourself, if you prefer your Ethernet “splitter” being setup as a stack, placing the N8 on top of the F1, or a flat pancake like the N8 Pro is better.
But as I did find some nuances separating both propositions, I should at least try to define them, right? So let me do just that. Moving over from the N8 with accessories to the N8 Pro means a slight increase of the depth of the sound stage. The distance between the individual planes increases, but also the wall behind the last rows of musicians gets pushed further away. You do not believe me? Well, then there is no other way than to experience this for yourself, best using the very dense arrangements of the big Hollywood blockbusters like the latest “Batman” composed by Michael Giacchino, where being bombastic is blown out to extremes, and where extra space is a welcome necessity.
A similar thing happened to resolution – the virtual sources are located more precisely, and their edges are delineated with a stronger, and at the same time, thinner line, what works best with quieter and more oneiric compositions. Please have a listen to the “Avijatrik (The Wanderlust of Apu)” by Bickram Ghosh and Anoushka Shankar, where every pick of the strings of the sitar, or any knock on the tabla are more complex, with a clearer defined beginning and ending, or the moment, when “a finger was placed on them”. Half seriously, half jokingly, you could claim, that on the “Varanasi. Till the Eternity” the water gets more humid.
While, like I mentioned, the result of the sparring of the basic Bonn N8 with accessories vs the N8 Pro could be perceived by many listeners as a draw, with a slight balance towards the integrated construction, but as I also had a Forester F2 power supply at my disposal, I decided to try it out too. And what was the effect of attaching it? To put it mildly, it surpassed my expectations by far. But let us stay on the ground and not drown in too many metaphors, as while the N8 Pro with the newest Forester made quite some leap ahead of the basic version, it still did not come close to the Telegartner M12 Switch Gold with the JCat Optimo 3 Duo power supply, or the Innuos PhoenixNet. But it is going in that direction, set by the high-end competition, and the journey is done quite well, as with the improvement of dynamics and mass, comes the increased definition of the individual sounds, better precision of the creation of the stage and at that, better resolution. But instead of moving to an irritating, and losing the natural flow, analytic approach to music, the Silent Angel set goes in the direction of organic naturality and resolution, where access to nuances and details does not come from showing them off, but rather from drawing attention to them. The difference on paper may not seem large, but when you spend more time listening, it becomes key, as the music just invites us to explore it, instead of offensively attack.

It cannot be denied, that the Silent Angel N8 Pro is a much more mature construction, more advanced and simply better than its micro predecessor. And additionally, out of the box, it does not require any actions, that could clearly improve its, or rather the whole system, sound. Of course if we provide it with appropriate working conditions, like cabling and anti-vibration accessories. So we deal here with a complete product, although it does not rule out any future upgrades, like the mentioned Forester F2, or, should we decide to purchase the version N8 Pro-Clk, an external Word Clock 10MHz.

Marcin Olszewski

System used in this test:
– CD/DAC: Ayon CD-35 (Preamp + Signature) + Finite Elemente Cerabase compact
– Network player: Lumin U1 Mini + I-O Data Soundgenic HDL-RA4TB
– Digital source selector: Audio Authority 1177
– Turntable: Kuzma Stabi S + Kuzma Stogi + Dynavector DV-10X5
– Phonostage: Tellurium Q Iridium MM/MC Phono Pre Amp
– Power amplifier: Bryston 4B³ + Graphite Audio IC-35 Isolation Cones
– Streaming amplifier: NAD Masters M33
– Loudspeakers: Dynaudio Contour 30 + Brass Spike Receptacle Acoustic Revive SPU-8 + Base Audio Quartz platforms
– IC RCA: Tellurium Q Silver Diamond
– IC XLR: Organic Audio; Vermöuth Audio Reference; Acrolink 7N-A2070 Leggenda
– Digital IC: Fadel art DigiLitz; Harmonic Technology Cyberlink Copper; Apogee Wyde Eye; Monster Cable Interlink LightSpeed 200
– USB cables: Wireworld Starlight; Goldenote Firenze Silver; Fidata HFU2; Vermöuth Audio Reference
– Speaker cables: Signal Projects Hydra; Vermöuth Audio Reference Loudspeaker Cable + SHUBI Custom Acoustic Stands MMS-1
– Power cables: Furutech FP-3TS762 / FI-28R / FI-E38R; Organic Audio Power + Furutech CF-080 Damping Ring; Acoustic Zen Gargantua II; Furutech Nanoflux Power NCF
– Power distribution board: Furutech e-TP60ER + Furutech FP-3TS762 / Fi-50 NCF(R) /FI-50M NCF(R)
– Wall power socket: Furutech FT-SWS(R)
– Anti-vibration platform: Franc Audio Accessories Wood Block Slim Platform
– Switch: Silent Angel Bonn N8 + Silent Angel S28 + Silent Angel Forester F1 + Luna Cables Gris DC; Innuos PhoenixNet
– Ethernet cables: Neyton CAT7+; Audiomica Anort Consequence + Artoc Ultra Reference + Arago Excellence; Furutech LAN-8 NCF
– Table: Solid Tech Radius Duo 3
– Acoustic panels: Vicoustic Flat Panels VMT

Opinion 2

It is well known, that you reach perfection in the sound of your audio system in small steps. And it does not matter, if this system is built around a turntable, a CD player or, very often lately, a streamer, as in each way of enjoying music, you can find spots, where you could introduce some improvements, maybe minimal, but still noticeable. This is our karma, and it is nice, that the manufacturers of audio gear do not sit on their laurels, but are continuously working to improve their products, making us happy with more functional, better sounding gear. And this is the case we are dealing with here today. It is a product, that ups the digital signal during music streaming a notch – although this is of course a subjective point of view – an expanded version of the previous product, but not in a cosmetic way, but by significant extension and improvement of the quality, the switch Silent Angel Bonn N8 Pro, kindly provided to us by the Wroclaw distributor Audio Atelier.

As you can see on the pictures, in case of the mentioned digital signal “doctor” we have a medium sized, solid product, offering much more space for the network managing electronics inside. While the previous N8 was almost the size of a matchbox, the N8 Pro has the width of a full size audio component. True, the height and depth are still not substantial, but this suggests, that inside we do not have too much of audiophile air, but a solid construct. The front is very sparse, it carries only the company logo and a power indicator LED, whilst the back panel has a lot more sockets to offer. Looking from the left we have a power socket integrate with a fuse and a mains switch, next a special socket for an external power supply, a grounding terminal, a dip switch for the LED, and on the right, eight gold plated LAN ports. The whole is supplied with a basic set of cables – a power cable and LAN cable.

So if you have a simple switch, is buying a Silent Angel Bonn N8 Pro a justified step in increasing the quality of sound of your audio gear? I can easily say yes. Of course the reason for that is banal – it does clean the digital signal better. But most importantly, already when looking at it, you can imagine, that something important will happen to the sound, when you apply it in your system. This is not only due to the improvements made inside, but also due to the line power supply used instead of the wall-wart type switching supply used for the previous switch, as well as the golden LAN connectors. Am I now stretching facts? Absolutely not, I lived to see many times what good power and a better contacts can do for a stereo system. And even when the signal is digital, it is carried with an electrical current, so it should not come as a surprise, that better elements in those aspects translate in the expected bettering of the device’s function. An improvement, that eliminates the parasitic distortion and results in better energy of the reproduced music. But the mentioned energy is not the only positive feedback of the use of the tested Silent Angel, as we can notice an improvement in the readability of the bass, very informative and still very juicy midrange and airy treble. And, most importantly, everything happens without passing the threshold of good taste. I would even say more – the sound was still conform with the direction we have chosen in its esthetics, the only thing that changes, are accents in the form of better control and palpability of the sound. It is good to hear everything, that is written in the music, and this is exactly that, what our test hero is trying to achieve. If, for example, we are listening to a jazz trio, we get better differentiated sounds of the drums and percussion, with special attention to the base drum, in the double bass you can hear the strings better, showing many more nuances, but still being in good consensus with the body, and everything is topped off with treble, sounding with better expression. But let me be clear, this effect is a standard for all kinds of music. Another thing, that less well made recordings immediately show their shortcomings, earlier hidden under the coat of plasticity. Usually rock music is the one that “suffers” most. But against appearances, this is not a problem, but the result of good quality differentiation of individual recordings, and that on the other hand, is an indicator of a well-constructed system. The effect is as if we would take the veil hanging between the system and yourself, and you are able to hold the musicians’ hands. But once more I need to point out, that this all happens in the esthetics of reproducing natural, real music, fulfilling our expectations of it, and not trying to embellish it with extra artifacts. This is why I did not hear any opinion, that kind of action would be perceived as artificial. On the contrary, usually this ended in buying of a given device by the person listening to it in my system. Even those, who were very firm in their conviction, that this a no-go, before the presentation. Because when we want the truth of a given recording, we need to accept it with its full spectrum of pros and cons, there is no other way. Or we want to be lied to, but in that case, I think it does not make sense to invest in a good stereo, as a kitchen radio will suffice for that. It will play anything and it will not discern anything, making us equally happy with anything. But is this really what we want?

Is the Silent Angel Bonn N8 Pro a must for every serious music lover? I think, that when you love music and do not want to lose the full spectrum of the intentions of the artists, and hear the full aspects of the presentation, you do not need to deliberate even for a second. This is a kind of “be or not to be” for good reproduction of music, without which, we are only passing by it, and not entering it completely. Why? This is in the purest form the reduction of distortion, that separates us from the true scenic events, something we are always fighting to eliminate. And if the manufacturers are offering us the right tools to do just that, I see no other option, than to use them.

Jacek Pazio

System used in this test:
Source:
– transport: CEC TL 0 3.0
– streamer: Melco N1A/2EX + switch Silent Angel Bonn N8
– DAC: dCS Vivaldi DAC 2.0
– Master clock: Mutec REF 10 SE-120
– reclocker: Mutec MC-3+USB
– Shunyata Research Omega Clock
– Shunyata Sigma V2 NR
– Preamplifier: Gryphon Audio Pandora
– Power amplifier: Gryphon Audio Mephisto Stereo
– Loudspeakers: Gauder Akustik Berlina RC-11 Black Edition
– Speaker Cables: Synergistic Research Galileo SX SC
IC RCA: Hijiri Million „Kiwami”, Vermouth Audio Reference
IC XLR: Tellurium Q Silver Diamond, Hijiri Milion „Kiwami”, Siltech Classic Legend 880i
Digital IC: Hijiri HDG-X Milion
Power cables: Hijiri Takumi Maestro, Furutech Project-V1, Furutech NanoFlux NCF, Furutech DPS-4.1 + FI-E50 NCF(R)/ FI-50(R), Hijiri Nagomi, Vermouth Audio Reference Power Cord, Acrolink 8N-PC8100 Performante
– Table: SOLID BASE VI
– Accessories: Harmonix TU 505EX MK II, Stillpoints ULTRA SS, Stillpoints ULTRA MINI, antivibration platform by SOLID TECH, Harmonix AC Enacom Improved for 100-240V, Harmonix Room Tuning Mini Disk RFA-80i
– Power distribution board: POWER BASE HIGH END
– Acoustic treatments by Artnovion
Analog stage:
Drive: Clearaudio Concept
Cartridge: Essence MC
Step-up: Thrax Trajan
Phonostage: Sensor 2 mk II

Polish distributor: Audio Atelier
Manufacturer: Silent Angel
Price: 4 990 PLN

Specifications
Power Input:
IEC (AC) 100-240 V, 50/60 Hz
(DC) 12 V/0.8 A przy max
Power Consumption: 10W max.
Interface: 8 x Pure gold-plated 1GbE RJ45 port
Dimensions (W x H x D): 441 x 52 x 175 mm
Weight: 2.6 kg

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