The PhoenixNET is certainly worth a try. I’d start with a demo with something like the EE8 first (closely related to the Bonn N8) and see what you think.
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I possibly stand on my own here in preferring the 2x ER/PS route vs the Phoenixnet. It would have suited me MASSIVELY to prefer the Phoenix due to rack space. I ran the Phoenix for almost a month while keeping the ER’s powered up, the wow moment for me was when I switched back. More natural to my ears and less aggressive/sharpened sound. My hearing maybe flawed but I listen loud and dislike sharpness!
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I use an ER with Plixir psu feeding a Phoenix net ahead of my nd555, sort of hybrid.
I never tried this approach actually and maybe should have. After hearing the 2xER’s again I just boxed up the Phoenix and sent it back. I think @Darkebear had it next?
It was a case if i have to have two switches, but i like the sound of the combo, preferable to my hp or cisco switch with Phoenix. You get the warmth of ER andthe reclocking of the Phoenix.
In my system the PhoenixNet, with Audioquest diamonds, give no hint of brightness or sharpness. Like you I hate that. Maybe it’s a matter of match of Ethernet cables with the switch which works better or not.
I tried the Phoenix for ten days and really wanted it to be better than my ER switch - but it just was not in my system. The ER switch had a more natural easy presentation compared to the Phoenix which seemed by comparison to sharpen-up songs but at expense of now-level presence details and more obviously it was less dynamic.
I puzzled as to why I was not getting the results that others who I respect said and it may be that in my particular Active system it just voiced to it better.
I do use another Cisco 2960-C switch before the ER (which has a small Linear PS) - and the ER feeds the Melco and ND555.
It works well and I like how it runs - I did have to choose carefully the cables to get it to voice correct:
ND555 - Vodka 1.5m - Melco - Cat 6 Kabal Direct 1.5m - ER - Vodka 1m - Cisco 2960
It is a strange mix of good and seemingly standard cables but it works well.
Difficult to say more as the people that ‘know’ (without trying) it all makes no difference will already be triggered. 
But my advice - try things and be guided by what you actually hear.
I preferred a small Linear PS for the ER over a larger one I had tried too - surprisingly better.
DB. 
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There is no substitute for trying at home in your own system with your own ears, otherwise we would all be listening to the same system, same room, same music etc.
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I recently tried the Silent Angel F1 LPS on my EE8-switch for a couple of weeks. I actually found that in my system it made things just a little too smooth and clinical. Going back to the standard SMPS give me more speed and leading edge to notes.
I could have lived with the F1 but I knew I’d start messing around with trying different power leads, DC leads and then ethernet cables again. I’m trying to avoid this as the system is sounding really good at the moment. Dead easy to mess it up but really hard to improve!
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Yes I use an Ansuz d2 powerswitch usually without problems, streaming upnp from my ns01 or netgear readynas to my 555.
Claus
Hi Steve,
Im glad you found your happy place with your system.
One point I would make is that the Phoenix net takes a lot longer than a month to fully run in, due to the Mundorf capacitors, which are notorious for both great sound and long burn in times. Typically a Phoenix net run in comprises, first 3-4 days….unit sounds a lot better once the clock has fully stabilised, until a week later when the real running in starts, then the performance tends to be a little in yer face for 3-4 weeks, after which you’ll get a hike in performance. The next month to 6 weeks is a roller coaster of several bad days followed by several good….the bad days always heralding a forthcoming shift for the same region in the opposite direction. It seems that the bigger the negative swing, the larger the positive. You’ll notice these swings in the bass (too much, then perfect ) dynamic attack (also too much, then perfect), sibilance, then one day after ca. 2 months it will sound off for a day and the next day is the final transformation, when everything comes together and it sounds glorious. This is the pattern I have observed each time I’ve run in power supplies with Mundorf capacitors, which I’ve done lots of times in the past 3 years.
In terms of running in, just leaving the unit switched on doesn’t seem to be enough, or if it is, it takes forever. Remember the voltages and current are very low when the unit is inactive and not even particularly high when its making music. What does seem to help and accelerate the process is to switch off the unit entirely and let it go through several warm up cycles.
Another point I would make is the following:
When you use 2 ERs, you clean up the signal massively in the first, then input this high quality signal into the second ER, which further refines, cleans and improves the signal. The first ER makes the second sound much better, and the second ER improves the output of the first, so you get 3 ‘bangs’ for your 2 bucks.
When you take away both switches, you are removing the huge uplift that one gives another. I can imagine 2 ERs is a great combination, the same as 2 PhoenixNETS, the SQ improvement is huge with the second switch
So did you try:
- ER followed by the PhoenixNET? This would be the ‘equivalent’ of the 2 ERs with the ER uplifting the PN input and the PN starting its contribution from an already very high level stream.
- 2 ERs into a PN. Essentially here you are taking a super clean signal, reclocking it to a spec of 3 parts per billion, creating the stream with a high capacity, super clean and smooth power supply, with power generated and regulated close to the client, allowing no noise to creep in, with super stability and low impedance. That super low noise, super accurately timed stream is output via designed for purpose audio quality isolation transformers, with constrained layer mounted high quality, individual RJ45 sockets. On hitting your DAC, that signal requires no clean up or corrections and all DAC processes operate on an ideal ‘specification exceeding’ input. The main result, at least in my case is that the music becomes a lot more realistic, dynamic and natural and communicates feeling and emotions at a way higher level.
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@Blackmorec thats a wonderful response and explanation and makes sense to me. The idea of the Phoenix was to replace the 2x ER switches and the Full Size Sean Jacobs Power supply, itself with Mundorf Caps. Its a hybrid between the DC3 and DC4 with Statement Transformer and various other upgrades. The P/S alone cost about the same as the Phoenix. The rack space for the existing setup is 1.5 shelves and the Phoenix would take .5. This was my real driver hence not doing other tests with the ER’s in place. I used the switch for about a month and then it went to @Darkebear who seemed to find the same as me. Others loved it before this point or at least could see potential. For me it showed real potential with Jazz music but for anything vocal or rock based it was just a bit like listening to a remaster. Its a shame as I could make some improvements elsewhere to my layout if it had worked. The ER switches are very good and maybe I am just used to them, I listen about 4 hours a night and have had them almost 2 years now so am probably programmed into their sound!
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Hi Steve,
When the PhoenixNET first released Innuos had a well run-in pre-production prototype which they loaned me for a couple of weeks. I was able to try it with my other switches in various combinations. My other switches (AQVox SE, Melco S100 PF OCXO Ultra both powered by DC 3/4 hybrid and DC4) are wired in such a way that I can simply plug and unplug their ethernet cables to change the order or omit a switch. When the PN arrived I could try it alone, in various combinations and in different orders. The very best SQ was AQVox → Melco → Innuos. I returned the prototype and my own PN arrived soon after. It was probably 2-3 months before the SQ fully returned to what I was getting during the demo. In the interim the sound was good, but always with an uneasyness to the music that testified to not being fully run-in. There’s no doubt that ER is a really good switch and also no doubt that 2 ERs with SJ supplies may even outperform a single PN for the reasons I gave above. When it comes to my hi-fi, I definitely exhibit OCD tendencies, so take my comment in that light, but what I would do in your place is start over with the demo and ask Innuos to borrow a well run in unit to try, then use that alone and with an ER + SJ supply.
Hi Steve
Quick (off-topic) question:
I seem to recall you giving me some great advice about how to sell LPs on eBay a few years ago.
Do you still do that?
Have you found that selling LPs on eBay is not as easy now as it was then?
Do you ever sell on Discogs?
I’m wondering whether to continue on eBay or go through the hassle of building a track record and reputation on Discogs.
Thanks
James
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I’ve just sold all my records and CDs in one go to a company who specialise in this. It was EIL (Admin, please remove if not allowed).
They came, valued them and made an offer. We agreed a price and then they boxed them all up and took them away with them, there and then.
Money was in my bank account within 15 minutes, whilst they were still boxing up.
Please PM me if you want more info.
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Yes, me too
FYI, PMs are disabled on this forum but maybe Richard can get you two in touch
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@JimDog yeah I remember! I don’t sell as much at the moment but the market is still there. Maybe a bit flat atm due to cost of living/holidays as its summer etc. Discogs is great if you want to sit on stuff until the price is right. The last sold price can be an indication of appetite BUT most sellers on discogs seem to list their collection for crazy money as they don’t really want to sell. If they sell bonus I guess! I buy more from Discogs than sell. The EIL guys made me an offer on some stuff once, I sold myself for enough of a difference to put a deposit on a house 
. Depends on your time frame of course but matrix detailed listings and knowing exactly what it is will net a big return on vinyl vs a quick listing.
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Thanks Steve - sage advice as always.
I have a 100% feedback on eBay thanks to your earlier advice and the income has transformed my system.