BACK IN HFC 517, I reviewed English Electric’s EE1 Ethernet noise suppressor and found it to be very effective at reducing interference from an Ethernet network. Noise that is present in a network setup can result in jitter that can degrade sound quality. EE considers that although digital signals are generally robust, they are often accompanied by a degree of noise, which is generated by common household devices on home networks. If this noise can be minimised or eliminated before it actually gets to the DAC, this can only be a good thing.

The EE1 Plus is an upgrade of the original and is an advanced in-line network noise reduction device for streamed media. It is designed to sit between Ethernet cables within a streaming audio or video system and operates without hindering the digital audio stream. The unit is self-powered and converts unwanted noise to heat. It uses Chord’s ARAY technology and has galvanic isolation and targeted common mode filtering. The unit is housed in a machined heavy-duty aluminium case with decoupled isolation feet.

Plus size
The EE1 Plus can sit between a data switch and streamer or server, network switch and streamer, network server and streamer or router and data switch. EE claims that using multiple EE1 units within a network can deliver further improvement. The device is directional as shown by arrows printed on its underside beneath the RJ45 sockets, which accept standard Ethernet cables.

To test the EE1 Plus, I connect its input to an output port from my gigabit switch and the output to a Cambridge Audio Azur 851N network player. I play a 16-bit/192kHz WAV of Binker Golding’s I Forgot Santa Monica both with and without the EE1 Plus installed. I certainly consider Golding’s tenor saxophone is clearer with the EE1 Plus connected and, overall, the saxophone, piano, double bass and drums sound much more realistic in the listening room.