Innuos PHOENIXNET

Designed from the ground up for network audio

Typical IT network switches/routers are designed with the sole purpose of taking data from A to B with a noise floor and precision that is "enough" for the rate of transmission. This is fine for data networks but when sensitive components such as DACs and Pre-Amplifiers are involved, it will have an audible impact on sound quality. PhoenixNET can improve sound quality when used with nearly any audio component, even our flagship STATEMENT music server/streamer.

The PhoenixNET is the realization of Innuos' philosophy of simplicity and signal purity applied to the network switch. Having started with improvements to the Ethernet ports' clock on our flagship Statement, Innuos has now brought the concept to a network switch design that focuses exclusively on audio use for musical details that stand out, a blacker background, better instrument separation and realism.

“Given the many ‘ZEN’ products in the Innuos range, it’s almost ironic that the two that bring nearly meditative calm to the sound are called ‘Phoenix’. But it’s also a very apt name as the sound is reborn from the ashes of noise”

Alan Sircom, Hi-Fi+

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Main Features

Design is focused on 4 areas: Noise, Clock, Power and Vibration.

Minimize Network Switch Noise

• Simpler 100mbps network switch chip results in lower operating noise floor compared to Gigabit
• Network switch chip with no internal switching regulators. All 3 independent voltages supplied by internal Statement-grade linear power supply with independent ultra-low noise regulation.

• Massive individual Network Isolation Transformers to further isolate from noise coming from router or connected devices
• Just the right amount of Individually shielded, high quality ethernet ports soldered directly to the board with no ethernet activity lights as blinking leds introduce considerable electrical noise.
• EMI absorption at the right places so that interference produced can be captured before influencing other components.

Increase Clocking Precision and Stability

Using the same 3ppb 25MHz OCXO oscillator as used in the Statement, individually powered by its own linear power supply and connected directly to the network switch chip, avoiding precision losses from using external master clocks.

Provide Pristine Power to the Components

Two independent STATEMENT-grade linear power supplies with Mundorf Caps to power individually the OCXO clock and the mainboard, keeping the power path short with less opportunity for EMI contamination.

Minimize Vibration on Components

Vibration was managed at 3 levels: Anti-Vibration feet tuned to the resonant frequency of the chassis, top cover treatment to convert vibration captured from sound waves into small amounts of heat and sturdy RJ45 ports with silicone connection to the chassis.