JCAT NET Card FEMTO - Voodoo?

Seems like voodoo to me. From what I understand of ethernet, it has error correction and the player should have a buffer to account for error correction. Thoughts?

JCAT NET Card FEMTO
422.00 €
http://jplay.eu/jcat/



1st ever audiophile network interface. Ships 2nd half of July.
Do not miss it! Only 100 cards available in the first batch.

Setting up a media server on a PC or using a computer as a network audio renderer (endpoint) is easy nowadays. But the problem with computers is that they were never designed with audio in mind. While there are improvements for USB-based playback available, the network controller part of a PC remains noisy.

JCAT puts an end to imperfections of network playback with NET Card FEMTO – the ultimate network interface designed specifically for transferring high-quality audio over LAN.

Specification:
• Audiophile PCI Express GbE LAN adapter
• Ultra-low noise linear regulators and filters eliminate noise interferences from PC
• No switching power supplies anywhere
• FEMTO Clock Technology (Crystek CCHD-957) lowers jitter below measurable levels
• Industrial grade components with operating temperature range from -40*C to +85*C
• Enterprise level Intel i350 Ethernet controller
• Gold plated high durability EMI shielded RJ-45 connectors
• Two LAN ports supporting up to 1Gbit connection speeds
• LED-off feature to counteract noise
• Requirements for optional PSU: 5V/1.5A min (the 200W Linear Power Supply or 400W PC Linear Power Supply recommended for best SQ)
• PSU can be supplied from computer PSU via LP4 connector or from an external PSU via 2.1/5.5mm center positive DC jack connector
• Low-profile & full-height laser cut PCIe brackets included
• All x1-x16 lane PCI Express 2.0 slots supported
• Supported operating systems: Windows (all editions) and Linux

 

All I can see in this is that they used "Ultra-low noise linear regulators and filters" but I highly doubt it will have any impact on the sound quality, and even if it does I don't think it will be 422€ improvement.

 

... and I bet someone will use this, plug it into a kilobuck Dante Rednet interface to convert to AES, and plug that into a $200 dac.

 

Total FOMO nonsense, clock-wise at least. And something I predicted would pop up sooner or later back somewhere in the USB Nervosa thread.

Ethernet is packet based.

Ethernet does not guarantee in-order packet delivery.

Consequently, worrying about how accurately those potentially out-of-order, and consequently always-buffered, packets are clocked is pretty damn silly. There's nothing about Ethernet clocks that has anything to do with audio sample-clocks. And beyond making eye-charts look prettier, will have zero effect on anything.

I'll take apart the bullet-point claims one-by-one later, but f**k me - what a delight to come back to. Makes me want to take another cruise ... an indefinite one.

 

Don't forget that for top performance it also needs an external power supply.


Huh, I just noticed that it says "Made in Canada"... is that just the pcb or is JCAT a Canadian company?

 

JPlay is a Polish company but I assume their PCB house is in Canada, maybe assembly house as well.

 

Reminds me of those Gold Plated Toslink connectors, some with a wonderfully ironic name:
Cable Matters Gold Plated Toslink Digital Optical Audio Cable with Metal Connectors and Braided Jacket 6 Feet

 

You'll need decent interconnects to get the best out of it.

 

So ... going one marketing-bullet at a time:

"Audiophile PCI Express GbE LAN adapter"

So we know it's a PCIe card that does gigabit Ethernet ... shocking.​

"Ultra-low noise linear regulators and filters eliminate noise interferences from PC"

So you filter out the line-level noise (which is unlikely to eliminate it, but will reduce it) and provide a potentially more stable power supply on the card.

What about the massive amount of radiated switching noise/hash that's present inside the case? No, nothing there ... even though it'd be simple to shield the entire card from it. You know, if you wanted to spend the dollar it would take to do it properly.
​

"No switching power supplies anywhere"

This is really just emphasizing the 2nd point on how the power is regulated. I can't imagine why I'd need a switching PSU on a NIC unless I was trying to run it from some exotic power-source that needed it's voltage or current spec shifted.
​

"FEMTO Clock Technology (Crystek CCHD-957) lowers jitter below measurable levels"

Pointless, as already stated. It'll improve the eye-chart for the physical level signalling and do bugger all else except drive up cost some. There's nothing in the Ethernet clock that's in anyway relevant to audio sample-clocks (well, unless you're doing something completely retarded). Packets are buffered. They can, and do, arrive out of order, so why are we supposed to care if the clock on the NIC is accurate or not?
​

"Industrial grade components with operating temperature range from -40*C to +85*C"

I think pretty much every PCIe card in existence will work just fine here.
​

"Enterprise level Intel i350 Ethernet controller"

This is a nice chip set ... especially if your intent is to do as little actual work, with the minimum possible understanding of Ethernet, as possible. And it comes with the added bonus of supporting multiple ports and saves you the hassle of writing drivers for Windows or Linux. Nothing about it is particularly special from a relevant performance perspective however..
​

"Gold plated high durability EMI shielded RJ-45 connectors"

Not exactly rare ... you'll find such things on cards costing $10-15 (and to boot you'll probably get transformer isolation as the same time)!
​

"Two LAN ports supporting up to 1Gbit connection speeds"

Again, not exactly a premium feature. I don't think I've ever had an Intel-based PCIe card through my hands that didn't have two connections. Useful, though, if you want network segregation (lots of good reasons for this, some of them are even relevant to very high-bandwidth multi-channel audio ...).
​

"LED-off feature to counteract noise"

This probably makes a measurable difference. It might even make a potentially audible one if it was on the receiving end (though since hopefully at least ONE component in your Ethernet chain actually implements transformer isolation, like it is supposed to, I'd be very skeptical about it actually being realized). Other than this being a standard feature of the chip set and core driver in question, though, the big question is ... if turning off the LED reduces noise ... why have the f'ing thing on there in the first place?
​

"Requirements for optional PSU: 5V/1.5A min (the 200W Linear Power Supply or 400W PC Linear Power Supply recommended for best SQ)
PSU can be supplied from computer PSU via LP4 connector or from an external PSU via 2.1/5.5mm center positive DC jack connector"

So we'll make it inconvenient to use by not simply using power from the PCIe line, despite earlier claims of all the filtering and regulation that "eliminate noise interferences from PC".

This would appear to me to be little more than an opportunity to up-sell you on one of JCAT's PC LPS units at an additional €350 - €750!
​

A more consumer-friendly approach would have been to use PCIe power by default, and if you opt to use the LP4 or barrel connectors just disconnect the PCIe power-lines. It's not hard to do, nor is it expensive, and you have plenty of budget to do so in a €422 NIC.​

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Can't wait to read the first impressions of people that buy this, proclaim "night and day" differences, all while using a $20 Ethernet switch or feeding a DAC that costs less than the ridiculous cable they'll inevitably use to drive their chain

I honestly think you'd get better results with something like this, which costs $12, has a similar shielded RJ45 connector, still maintains a transformer isolated electrical interface, suitable on-board clock, and no need for fancy/expensive and fiddly power-supply solutions. Which is not to say I think you'd get any audible benefit either way.

 

They do have transformer isolation - considering it's part of the standard - it's built into the MagJacks.

 

I would sooner get a dante/avb/whatever dedicated card, and at least that way get something designed with proper audio performance in mind and have some resale value into the pro market.

 

Yep, you're right, they're using integrated magnetics - post updated accordingly.

That transformer isolation is part of the standard doesn't mean all cards do it, however. And plenty that do, don't do it with jacks that incorporate the transformer.

S/PDIF has transformer isolation as part of the standard too, and more implementations just don't bother than actually implement it.

 

Though I've never used JCAT, I know that M. Ostapowicz - owner of jPlay - although young guy, has crazy engineering knowledge. As far as PC audio goes, this guy's nuts. One of my buddies uses his JCAT card in his audio pimped PC and he says that this thing do makes quite the difference. He also uses Ubiq Audio speakers, some Modwright amps (quite expensive products) and is in general a guy who isn't into accesories that muh. But according to him, this one does work.

 

The difference between snake oil and audiophoolery vs stuff that actually, plausibly might conceivably make some real difference that could actually be measured (and maybe even heard) is not someone claiming it works. It's an explanation from the manufacturer how it works. If there is no "how", or they have to resort to pseudo-science, stay well clear.

In this case, as @Torq already pointed out, Ethernet packets/clocks have bugger all to do with audio clocks, and that's more-or-less all there is to it.

 

I neither have heard nor measured said product, hence my only input was an opinion by one (to me at least) very credible guy. At the same time I do understand that this won't convince many people and I guess that's fine as well. Perhaps one day the JCAT constructor himself will find this thread, chime in in person and explain what's what to make things clear for people interested in his work.

 

Audiophile Network Card ? As a designer of both Network Cards and High End Audio Equipment I will call it bullshit.... If anybody can hear any difference it will be because of the well known GAS – Gear Acquisition Syndrome.... In line with Audio Grade fuses and other crap....

Hmm, or maybe I should design an Audiophile Network Card, if people really want to pay EUR 422 for an EUR 100 dual port network card

 

And likewise the data coming off a drive is sector/blocks, and no guarantees of timing. Silly none-sense abounds.

 

Interesting. For a sec there I thought that some journos, who get their hands on a ton of equipment on a daily basis are quite 'GAS' proof. But that aside, perhaps one day jPlay gent himself will defend his work. Do any of you know whether was he vocal on some other forums reg. his card? Or is he completely silent?

 

Isn't it the other way round where for the continued inflow of items, GAS and flatulence occurs? Even if it's forced (like headfonynia and their ban of iBasso cause iBasso doesn't want to send them stuff).

 

If you ask me about my personal opinion (I'm in touch with both hobbyists/blog owners and professional press), not at all. It goes like this:

-if a person writes about audio in his/her free time (fun/hobby etc. reasons), in most cases is happy with free item/generous discount once a review is done. These people oftentimes are over-the-top excited about products sent to them and the rest is easy to figure out. Not all, but many and this is understandable. The excitement is understandable.

-People who write about audio for a living are a whole different bunch. Past some point they (known to me) don't care about free stuff as they have bills to pay etc.. Point being, they expect to be financially supported and not kindly allowed to keep a loaner. In addition, many of them aren't impressed easily, some are grumpy even and it's seen that for them this is more about work than hobby. This is only my observation, but such a person buys audio product mainly because it's a tool and not a reason to boast everywhere. Hobby is a part of it still, but work is on the pedestal, that's what I'm saying. And it's quite easy to imagine that if one receives several products per month for a review, it'll eventually become a routine. And where's routine, there's very little room for excitement or GAS.

The bottom line is this: there's a significant difference between both groups and to me people in audio for a living long enough rarely succumb to GAS. This is my experience based on nearly 6 years into cable making and many interactions with pro press and hobbyists. I enjoy what both do but can't say that they are the same.