Hifi+ 140 Pro review

[RebelMan]

The more circuits in the signal path, the woolyer to sound will be. Basic networking is absolutely fine. Have a try and cut out all the other units you have.

This sentence above triggered me. While this used to be true in the past with analog circuits it no longer is true in the digital domain. Actually we’re seeing the opposite. When high quality devices are used (with high quality power supplies and clocks) these can actually improve signal integrity/fidelity through re-generating/re-clocking and thus by lowering jitter/phase noise and isolation of upstream components.

Of course we have to be careful not to make things worse but I’d just like to point out that a blanket statement like yours is not something I agree with.

We’re used to seeing devices like re-clockers for S/PDIF (or AES/EBU) but these are now joined by devices that work for USB and ethernet as well.

Before you ask; the exact reasons why this works (bits are bits right) are not yet fully understood in all cases.

Greg is spot on.  Most engineering circles will tell you sound quality improves when simpler circuits (systems) are employed.  When high quality devices, like the Devialet, are manufactured the engineers have already taken into account what issues they must contend with to make their product perform in the field as much as it does in the lab.  Conditioners, filters, regenerators, re-clockers and the like are NOT necessary nor will they improve sound quality.  There is very little objective evidence to dispute this but a mountain of it that supports it.  However, if it makes YOU feel better about using such ancillary devices then by all means.

For the record bits are not bits they are signals and they are well understood but Mother Nature likes to spoil what we know.