muon²

Reviewer: Srajan Ebaen
Financial interests: click here
Main system: Sources: Retina 5K 27" iMac (i5, 256GB SSD, 40GB RAM, Sonoma 14), 4TB external SSD with Thunderbolt 3, Audirvana Studio, Qobuz Sublime, Singxer SU-6 USB bridge, LHY Audio SW-8 & SW-6 switch, Sonnet Pasithea, LAiV Audio Harmony; Active filter: spl Audio Crossover MkII; Power amplifiers: Vinshine/Kinki Dazzle & mono Ncore 500 Nord Acoustic amps on subwoofer; Headamp: Enleum AMP-23R; Phones: Raal 1995 Immanis; Loudspeakers: Qualio IQ [on loan] Cables: Exact Express Flame, Furutech; Power delivery: 2 x Kinki/Vinshine Tai Hang on amps and source stack, Furutech DPS-4.1 between wall and conditioners; Equipment rack: Artesanía Audio Exoteryc double-wide 3-tier with optional glass shelves, Exoteryc amp stands; Sundry accessories: Acoustic System resonators, AudioQuest FogLifters; Room: 6 x 8m with open door behind listening seat; Room treatment: 2 x PSI Audio AVAA C214 active bass traps
2nd system: Source: FiiO R7 into Soundaware D300Ref SD transport to Cen.Grand DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe with POW; Preamp/filter: Lifesaver Audio Gradient Box 2; Amplifier: Kinki Studio EX-B7 monos; Loudspeakers: ModalAkustik MusikBoxx; Subwoofer: Zu Method; Cable loom: Exact Express Earth; Power delivery: Vibex Granada/Alhambra, Akiko Audio Corelli Corundum & Castello Solo; Equipment rack: Hifistay Mythology Transform X-Frame [on extended loan]; Sundry accessories: Furutech cable lifts, Furutech NFC Clear Lines; Room: ~3.5 x 8m
2nd headfi system: DAC: Cen.Grand DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe with POW; Headamp: Cen.Grand Silver Fox; Headphones: Raal 1995 Magna, HifiMan Susvara
Desktop system: Source: HP Z2 workstation Win11/64; USB bridge: LHY UIP; Ethernet bridge: LHY EFI; Ethernet reclocker: Stack SmoothLAN; DACs: Audalytic DR701 & Gustard R26II; Headphone/preamp: FangSound Dionysus; Speaker amps: Topping B200 monos; Loudspeakers: Virtual Hifi Viper; Headphones: Final D-8000, aune SR7000, FiiO FT7
Upstairs headfi system: FiiO R7; Headphones: Meze 109 Pro, Fiio FT3
2nd upstairs speaker system: Source: FiiO R7; DAC/pre: COS D1; Amplifier: Kinki EX-M7; Loudspeakers: sound|kaos Vox3 with Dynaudio S18 subwoofer
2-channel video system: Source: Oppo BDP-105; All-in-One: Gold Note IS-1000 Deluxe; Loudspeakers: Zu Mission; Subwoofer: Zu Mission; Power delivery: Furutech eTP-8, Room: ~6x4m
Review component retail: €7'999

Get your muons switched on. But first, some quizzy pop: "A muon is an unstable fundamental subatomic particle considered to be a 207 times heavier version of an electron. Muons create when high-energy cosmic rays collide with atoms in our planet's upper atmosphere. They rain down constantly, passing harmlessly through our bodies at a rate of roughly one per cm²/minute. Because muons are so highly penetrating, they can pass through hundreds of metres of dense rock or concrete. Scientists use them like advanced X-rays to image the inner structures of volcanoes, pyramids and nuclear reactors without drilling or causing damage."

Back to our far from cosmic hifi space. Here UK brand Network Acoustics' muon² is their priciest model to date. It's a 5×2.5Gbps RJ45 + 1x1Gbps SFP LAN distributor more prosaically known as an Ethernet switch. Powered from an internal hybrid supply, it ensconces in solid Beech precision-machined by German speaker house Auer Acoustics of Panzerholz fame. Finished in no-tell gloss black or silver, muon²'s mere existence then €8K tariff are bound to set off commercial network specialists. For audiophiles hip to advanced noise reduction benefits on digital circuitry, it could be just the tariff which chokes. Hence the same brand have their €1'395 eno² passive network filter, a box with single RJ45 i/o. They also do sundry network cables which are CAT/USB-based; digital AES/EBU; and an outboard power supply with single 5V/3.5A or 12V/3A output. In short, they're fiercely committed to streaming; not by producing Lumin-type servers but inline items which can precede such electronics to perform still better. Like isolation footers, noise traps, power filters and ground stations, their removal from the signal path won't mute our sound. They're sound improvers not makers which one might consider once all primary hardware is well sorted. Even Rob Osbourn and Alan Duncan of Network Acoustics should agree with that though we'd also expect them to be rather bullish on the level of improvements their currently most ambitious project can make beyond mere accessories. Even the included three pyramidal footers aren't run of the mill. muon² measures 29cm square and 9cm tall. It weighs 3.3kg and accepts any voltage from 100-240V at 50/60Hz. Power consumption is a low 5 watts. Says co-founder Richard Trussell, "our priority was to enhance every aspect of a switch's performance. While the motherboard and clock are important, our research and listening tests constantly demonstrated how the defining factors lie in the power supply and in controlling vibration through careful enclosure design and isolation. Beech is made up of short tightly compacted fibres that act like a bundle of microscopic acoustic springs which force vibrational shockwaves to spread across countless cellular boundaries and be rapidly absorbed. Beech neutralises background vibrational noise, making it the perfect choice for Muon2's enclosure."

Cynical bystanders never miss a beat to feel piqued by the ongoing land grab of performance audio. There are audiophile fuses, audiophile music servers, audiophile-approved AC receptacles, audiophile USB and network cables, audio-grade SMPS where medical-grade isn't good enough—the list goes on. For anything civilian, our kind has a specialized equivalent. Before network streaming was a thing, an audio-grade Ethernet switch was science fiction, TP-Link or Cisco kit good enough. But just like PC/USB audio turned out to be far fussier than printer, mouse and keyboard ancillaries, network audio followed on. A more current wrinkle are plastic/glass-based fibre-optics to replace copper-based CAT5-8 transmission like S/PDIF has its Toslink variant. To be sure, all civilian versions work, from freebie power cords to throwaway USB strips to a Computer Emporium switch or media converter to a generic laptop with Spotify access via CAT5. Audiophiles simply can't help wonder whether things can't be improved; a lot. In that quest some turn over every stone. Others cast them like the Pharisees of old. "Let him who never sinned throw the first stone!" In the Book of Sins, boss for short, there are far worse things than being a geeky audiophile. So give our tweaky obsessions a break. We made our spare change. Let us spend it as we hear fit. Oh, really?

Audio Asylum, Critic's Corner. "Jason is maddening. How about a $32K Ethernet switch?"
"Why torture yourself? Don't want one, can't afford one, don't need one, can't get them in green? Just, you know, don't. Crazy, sure. Maddening, nah."
"He has his role which is to promote ridiculously overpriced bling to oligarchs who absolutely need to be relieved of some of their (probably ill-gotten) wealth."
"The real culprit is Innuos. They make a $60K streamer because they believe a regular PC or Raspberry Pi can't do the job properly. I get it, everyone wants to make a statement product. Then Innuos claim you need a $30K box to 'condition' the signal before it goes into their streamer, then another $30K box to 'condition' the signal after it leaves the streamer and goes to the DAC. I don't know what the Portuguese is for 'balls' but they have them to, basically, say they didn't get the $60K box right in the first place. That Jason finds them to make an enormous difference could only be ascertained by testing Jason, but that is the same with every review and reviewer."

Photo credit: fairaudio.de

Having given the prosecution its five minutes of fame, now let's switch our muons on for real. Ralph Werner, my no-nonsense colleague in Berlin, co-owner of fairaudio.de, had me pipped to that post. Let's say that he felt just a bit rattled by his switch de luxe. But you can read for yourself. My link is to Google's English translation of the German article. It had me prepped for my own rattles; just in case.

… to be continued…