{"id":37378,"date":"2024-03-22T11:38:15","date_gmt":"2024-03-22T09:38:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hifi-advice.com\/blog\/?p=37378"},"modified":"2024-03-25T16:49:42","modified_gmt":"2024-03-25T14:49:42","slug":"silent-angel-bonn-n8-pro-and-bonn-nx-ethernet-switches-and-genesis-gx-clock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hifi-advice.com\/blog\/review\/accessories-reviews\/tuning-tweaks-reviews\/silent-angel-bonn-n8-pro-and-bonn-nx-ethernet-switches-and-genesis-gx-clock\/","title":{"rendered":"Silent Angel Bonn N8 Pro and Bonn NX Ethernet Switches and Genesis GX Clock"},"content":{"rendered":"

Review sample supplied by Dimex<\/a><\/h4>\n

Retail Prices (incl VAT):
\nBonn N8 Pro: 1.199 euro
\nBonn NX: 3.499 euro
\nGenesis GX: 3.299 euro<\/h4>\n

In this review, I will compare the Silent Angel Bonn N8 Pro Ethernet Switch with the new Bonn NX Ethernet Switch, first on its own and then augmented by the Genesis GX Word Clock.<\/p>\n

Bonn Network Switches enable an isolated \u201cNetwork Ecosystem\u201d to create an independent low-noise, low-interference HiFi audio zone that effectively separates your audio devices from household traffic and reduces the degradation of network broadcasting storms and latency caused by bandwidth-intensive activities from PCs and other devices. This is said to result in greater signal purity with lower noise, distortion, and increased resolution of fine detail.<\/p>\n

Silent Angel Bonn Network Switches are said to be optimized for Music Applications. I’m not sure what that entails, but the Roon infrastructure, high-resolution streaming services such as Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, and playing music collections from NAS (Network Attached Storage) are explicitly mentioned. Lastly, Bonn Switches are said to work well with multiple brands, including QNAP, Synology, and WD NAS. Frankly, it’s what one would expect from any Network Switch, but it is reassuring to know they are compatible with your choice of NAS.<\/p>\n

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Bonn N8 Pro Switch<\/h3>\n

As the name implies, the Bonn N8 Pro is the pro version of the entry-level N8 Ethernet Switch. The most apparent difference between the two is the larger casing for the pro model that also comes with detachable “ears” for mounting it in a 19″ rack. The standard N8 works with an external Wall-Wart power adaptor, whereas the larger Pro chassis has room for an elaborate Radar-Grade internal switching power supply.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

There is a high isolation common-mode choke circuit, followed by a two-fold power supply that feeds the clock and switch system separately with optimized circuitry for each task. The regular N8 already has a 0.1 ppm TCXO (Temperature Compensation Crystal Oscillator), and this part does not appear to be different for the N8 Pro. Other differences include a Gold-Plated Ground Terminal, Gold-Plated Gigabit Ethernet Ports with physically spaced-out ports to reduce possible signal interference, and Switchable LED status lights on the back.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Although the N8 Pro has its own power supply on board, it can optionally be powered with 12-volt DC supplied by the Silent Angel\u2019s Forester F2 linear power supply to further improve power delivery.<\/p>\n

The N8 Pro is available in two versions: the N8 PRO-CLK with a 10MHz external Word Clock input and the N8 PRO without. I have the version without external clock input for review.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Also available in silver, highlighting their curvy shape beautifully<\/em><\/p>\n

Bonn NX Switch<\/h3>\n

Visual aesthetics are a very personal matter but I really like the new curvaceous yet clean styling. Its chassis is a dual-layer design: the inner layer is galvanized steel while the outer layer is thick, high-quality aluminum alloy. With serious heft to it, the build quality is on an entirely different level compared to the N8 and N8 Pro. This construction is said to maximize shielding and control of eddy currents while damping vibration and noise.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Given that the functionality and specifications are identical between the N8 Pro and NX, one might assume the NX is basically a re-packaged N8 Pro. I asked importer Dimex about this prior to the review and I was assured that the NX is a very different product. I have not opened the products, but after comparing the inside images found on another online audio review website, it looks like the same PCBs were used, although the NX has two crystal oscillators, whereas the N8 Pro has only one. Possibly, this has to do with the external clock input option. In any case, it’s certainly possible there are other changes at the component level that do not stick out in the pictures. Of course, the true proof of the pudding will be in the eating.<\/p>\n

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Incidentally, while browsing for NX info, I noticed that there has apparently been a version of the NX with a blue LED in the cutout at the bottom edge. My sample does not have this, which I think is a good thing as many people, myself included, find bright blue LEDs quite distracting.<\/p>\n

Next: Genesis GX Clock<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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Genesis GX Clock<\/h3>\n

Built-in clocks share system resources, such as power supplies, with other components, all interconnected on the same circuit board. Various situations can interfere with the clock signal, such as electrical pulses caused by changes in system loading, interference with other electronic components, noise from the network, and jitter effects caused by the system. This is where an external stand-alone clock comes in. With less interference, the clock source can ensure the purest clock signal possible.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The technology for the Genesis GX clock was developed for the most demanding Scientific and Instrumentation applications where high-performance clocks routinely cost tens of thousands of dollars. The Genesis GX aims to deliver this level of performance and precision at a fraction of the price.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Genesis GX is housed in the same beautiful and super-solid dual-layer galvanized steel and aluminum casing as the Bonn NX. Like the Switch, it has a built-in Radar-Grade Switching Power Supply, but it can also be powered by Silent Angel\u2019s Forester F2 external linear power supply to further improve power delivery. A gold-plated ground connection terminal offers the potential for further noise reduction.<\/p>\n

The Genesis GX features four individual Word Clocks, including two state-of-the-art, 25 MHz units. Each clock unit includes its own TCXO clock and circuitry and is critically spaced and electrically isolated to eliminate interference and noise.<\/p>\n

Currently, 10MHz is the most common Word Clock frequency; however, according to Silent Angel, this frequency was initially chosen for GPS equipment and not optimized for audio. After exhaustive testing, their R&D team discovered that the ideal frequency for audio and networking devices is 25MHz. Nevertheless, the unit provides both 25MHz and 10MHz word clock outputs to work with Silent Angel products as well as other brands.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

How can a Network Switch affect the Sound Quality?<\/h3>\n

A clock for a network switch, you say? Lower Jitter? What benefit could this possibly have given that the signal is inherently non-synchronous and thus should not care about its time base?<\/p>\n

Well, as I am increasingly beginning to find, you have to turn things around and think about the circumstances of the surroundings in which the signal is created, received, and relayed. My experience so far suggests that it’s not so much the network signal itself. Critics may point out that this would actually be impossible given that it is non-synchronous packet-based and error-corrected signal. Rather, it is the environment in which the network signal travels, the signals it picks up along the ride, and how they interact with the receiver, power supply, and other downstream circuitry that makes the difference. A higher-spec clock crystal that is implemented with better associated power supply components may have less interaction or lower emissions. The external Genesis GX, finally, is not just a more accurate TCXO clock, but thanks to no space constraints, it can also be implemented much more thoroughly, with more advanced associated circuitry and a much more elaborate power supply.<\/p>\n

Not just for a NAS or an online Streaming Source<\/h3>\n

Indeed, a switch also influences the sound of music stored in the local library of a music server, and it affects both sources equally. Likewise, I hear the impact with all servers and streamers, and even with my CH Precision components, including the ones that have nothing to do with digital audio, such as the preamp and power amp. If you accept my working theory that it’s not the network signal that matters most but rather the external influences on it, then this also makes sense.<\/p>\n

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System Context<\/h3>\n

The Silent Angel products will be listened to in my main system<\/a>, consisting in the basis of the CH C1.2<\/a> DAC, CH L1<\/a> preamp, and CH A1.5<\/a> power amp with the Magico S1 MkII speakers. In the photo above, the middle rack with the CH equipment is almost entirely hidden from view by the Halrco Eclipse power amp. For this review, however, I stuck to my own CH A1.5 power amplifier. The main digital sources are the Grimm MU1<\/a> and Antipodes Oladra<\/a> music servers and the Aqua La Diva M2<\/a> CD transport. The speaker cables used are the Jorma Unity<\/a>. The CH system sits on Artesania Exoteryc<\/a> and Aire<\/a> racks while the digital sources and most review components sit on\u00a0HRS EXR<\/a> racks.<\/p>\n

Listening<\/h3>\n

As I’ve experienced with all switches so far, there is always a particular sonic character they bring to the table. Depending on the brand and model, the sound can become airier, leaner, more spacious, voluptuous, saturated, detailed, refined, or more relaxed, just to name a few directions I have encountered during my past few Switch reviews.<\/p>\n

As I soon found, Silent Angel switches also bring their own character to the table which, interestingly, deviates from the directions I have heard from switches so far. Character aside, the Silent Angel switches are also very effective, and their influence can be heard with every networked music source that is listened to, be it the Grimm MU1, the Antipodes Oladra, or the Aqua LinQ.<\/p>\n

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Bonn N8 Pro<\/h3>\n

To prepare for this test, I compiled a playlist with multi-style tracks, both from my local library and streaming via Qobuz, and first listened to them using my standard setup using an entry-level Linksys switch. Then, I connected the Bonn N8 in place of my standard Linksys switch and made sure to connect all network cables in my system, including the ones for my CH Precision components, including the preamp and power amp.<\/p>\n

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As alluded at further up, the Silent Angel switches take a different direction than I’ve heard from a high-end switch so far. Rather than making the music sound brighter or darker, the N8 Pro does not alter the openness or treble behavior at all. Instead, it adds a voluptuous and meaty touch to the bass, deeper tonal saturation, and an overall rounder, warmer, and richer feel. And I consistently hear this impact, with streaming as well as local-library music.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, while most high-end switches I heard created a larger soundstage, the N8 Pro does not affect this sonic aspect. The stage does not become broader or smaller, which I think is actually a perfectly valid attribute because bigger is not always better. Another aspect that seems unchanged is the blackness of the sound or, in other words, the silence. One might expect a lower noise floor to result in being able to hear deeper in the mix, but I can’t say this is the case.<\/p>\n

While the pacing remains upbeat, the extra bloom and saturation seem to claim a bit of articulation and transient immediacy, which makes the music feel less urgent and agile.<\/p>\n

Whether by virtue of reduced external influences or thanks to its full-blooded, smooth, and easy-going character, the Switch has a gentlemenlike undisturbing and calm behavior. There’s a relaxing friendliness while the music flows fluidly and freely. There is more flow with enhanced liquidity. Some might say the switch makes the music sound more “musical” or less stereotypically “digital” and that’s a valid point of view. Certainly, for systems that verge on sounding bland, lean, or hard, the N8 Pro can be an ideal panacea. However, I do not feel this is a very neutral representation, and, depending on personal taste and system context, the N8 Pro can also make the music sound less vital and exciting.<\/p>\n

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The Bonn NX and Genesis GX have solid machined footers with an inlaid rubber ring.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Next: Listening to the Bonn NX and Conclusion<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Bonn NX<\/h3>\n

Given that the N8 and NX look so much alike under the bonnet, I was not expecting a world of sonic difference. But sure enough, as soon as the first notes came out of the speakers, I knew this was something else altogether!<\/p>\n

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Bonn N8 Pro on top of Bonn NX<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The NX has lots of drive and is more incisive, crisper, and more direct than the N8 Pro, leading to a more communicative and expressive delivery. By comparison, the N8 Pro feels more “passive”. The NX is considerably more neutral than the N8 Pro and has increased precision and control, even if it retains a full-blooded tonality and remains on the subtly warm side.<\/p>\n

Coming from the N8 Pro, the NX feels faster-paced, more vital, and more involving as well. With its increased incisiveness, the NX obtains a beautiful balance between body and substance on the one hand and toe-tapping expression on the other.<\/p>\n

Although more neutral than the N8 Pro, the NX offers a fuller tonality, more solidity, deeper tonal saturation, and quite a bit more charm than my standard switch. As with the N8 Pro, I don’t feel like I am hearing higher resolution or more silence between the notes, but the NX does provide a remarkable solidity and earthiness to everything you play. It’s the opposite of airy or floaty but arguably more realistic.<\/p>\n

The imaging is rock-solid, and the focus is razor-sharp. The soundstage size, however, still remains unchanged. That said, I do note that there is a sense of power to everything you play, the performance having much more drive, impact, and physical presence than with other switches I tried so far. The way I see it, the NX is not really about ticking typical audiophile boxes and much more about increasing the physical presence and solidity, leading to a performance that feels more grounded and realistic and closer to live music.<\/p>\n

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Depending on the lighting, the two units can appear to have a slightly different hue, one more black and the other more grey. Upon checking with the distributor, I was informed that these two components were not ordered together and, as a result, from different batches. When ordering two or more components at the same time, they should be from the same anodizing batch and thus have the same hue.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Adding the Genesis GX clock<\/h3>\n

On two earlier occasions, I’ve experienced a change from a good crystal oscillator to a super-precise specimen. This was in the context of a high-end music server’s digital outputs. In these cases, the opposite happened of what one might expect. Common sense dictates that a higher accuracy clock will lead to higher precision, and in the audiophile mind, this may translate to the potential for a clinical sound with too much control. In both of my earlier experiences, however, the inverse happened, the sound actually became more fluid, refined, and free-flowing. In other words, instead of becoming more electronic, it actually became more organic.<\/p>\n

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So, what would happen when the Genesis GX Clock is added to the Bonn NX? Well, once again, Silent Angel deviates from earlier experiences.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As soon as the Genesis GX clock was connected and the music played, I smashed my mental “Instant Like” button. The clock takes immediate control and pulls everything into focus. The presentation becomes tighter, more upbeat, cleaner, more precise, and more transparent. There’s more control but not so much that the music is suffocated. Instead, the inverse happens; the music actually pulls me in that much more.<\/p>\n

The difference is truly remarkable, especially given that we’re talking about a clock feeding a network switch. But sure enough, upon repeated tests, there’s no getting around what I heard. With the clock, the sound is considerably crisper, even stabler, and significantly better focused. In this application, instead of adding a more organic feeling, the clock seems to do precisely what one expects from a high-precision clock, which is to bring order to the proceedings!<\/p>\n

The NX was already robust and energetic, but with the addition of the Genesis GX, it sounds even crisper and more impactful. The bass is better defined, tighter, and more incisive, yet still very much planted and solid, and far from lean or gray. Likewise, the midrange is cleaner and more neutral but still well-saturated and harmonically rich.<\/p>\n

Even with the addition of the GX, I detect no changes in the size of the soundstaging or the overall ambiance. However, now, I do hear higher inherent precision! And along with it, an increase in silence between the notes but, importantly, while retaining the decay, fluidity and flow.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

While the duo’s presentation remains tonally full-bodied, the Genesis GX clock has pulled the sound significantly more toward neutral than with the N8 Pro or the NX alone. Whereas the N8 Pro was polite and slightly restrained, the NX + GX combo is impressively visceral and engagingly communicative. Mind you, the combo is certainly never harsh or obtrusive but simply engagingly open and lively. And just as with the NX by itself, the GX avoids instilling a sense of listening to a tweaked-out audiophile system. Instead, even more so than with the NX alone, the combo’s presentation is punchy, planted, earthy, direct-coupled, and dynamically expressive, and as a result, actually more akin to being at a live music event.<\/p>\n

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Tweaking<\/h3>\n

As has become a bit of a standard part of my reviews, I tried a range of Ansuz Darkz footers with the NX and GX. The C2T is the most affordable model, but still, their effect was immediately audible and given the relatively modest cost, I consider them well worth adding. The T2 provided a tighter and more articulate sound but also instilled a bit of dryness while slightly reducing the components’ inherent organic nature. The T2S, finally, provided the best balance between enhanced precision and retaining the musical flow. But on balance, I can’t say they truly transformed the sound, and in light of their cost, it can be argued that the money might be better spent elsewhere.<\/p>\n

Overall, there’s a lot to say for just sticking with the standard footers. They may not extract the maximum detail, but they do provide a very good balance, and for that reason, I used the units with their own footers for this review.<\/p>\n

But if there’s room in the budget and your personal preferences mirror mine, the good news is that I did not hear any benefit in adding a second set of Darkz between the Switch and the Clock, so you’ll be done with a single set of 3 for the two components.<\/p>\n

Using a CD Transport<\/h3>\n

Why include CD Transport? It does not even have a network connection?! Indeed, very true, but over the course of my network switch reviews, I discovered that the entire system responds to this, not just servers and streamers. Why? I’ve no conclusive answer, but I imagine all components influence one another via earth or the power connections. But to be honest, while I am curious to know the precise mechanism behind this, ultimately, I don’t really care as the listening results are all I need.<\/p>\n

To be fair, I cannot say with any certainty if it is indeed the Aqua CD transport itself that responds most to the change in network switches. It might as well be one of the networked CH Precision components or a combination of it all. But what I can<\/em> say with certainty is that I can hear a clear difference in sound between the system connected to my standard switch and when connected to the Silent Angel NX+GX combo. With the latter in place, and using a CD source, the sound is tighter, cleaner, more direct, more expressive, and, as a result, more convincing.<\/p>\n

Back to basic<\/h3>\n

After listening to the NX and GX combo and returning to my standard Linksys switch, the sound feels rather pale and devoid of color, drive, and substance. The reduction in solidity and drive was expected. But what I did not expect was for the sound to become so indistinct and blurry.<\/p>\n

Ouch!<\/p>\n

I’ve heard other audiophile switches that amazed me with their capabilities in various areas, but so far, my humble switch has stood its ground in matters of articulation, crispness, and neutrality. Because I value these matters very highly, I stuck with the standard switch all this time. Yet, compared to the Silent Angel NX + GS combo, the standard switch may still be relatively more neutral, but it severely lacks focus, jump factor, and overall conviction.<\/p>\n

Oh dear. How much are they again?<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

So far, all the Network Switches I reviewed have a particular character, and the Silent Angel Switches are no exception. The Silent Angel “house sound” can be described as earthy and full-bodied, and tonally deeply saturated. The Bonn N8 Pro is smooth and relaxed and particularly inoffensive. The Bonn NX, however, is on a different level. The NX retains all the charm and fullness of the N8 Pro but sounds tauter, crisper, punchier, and more expressive. When the Genesis GX Clock is added, the full potential is unleashed, and the presentation becomes tighter, more upbeat, cleaner, more precise, and more transparent while retaining the tonal saturation and the lyrical and emotional aspects of the music.<\/p>\n

Yes, the price of the NX+GX combo may be prohibitive, but there is no denying the performance. If a visceral, robust, dynamically expressive, and, most of all, realistic<\/em> sound is what you are after, the NX+GX combo truly delivers.<\/p>\n

After I recovered from the sticker shock, I decided I did not want to return to my simple switch anymore and just had to bite the bullet. An NX+GX pair is on order in stylish silver. I can’t wait!<\/p>\n

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Associated Equipment<\/a><\/p>\n

External Links<\/h3>\n

Manufacturer: Silent Angel<\/a>
\nDistributor for the BeNeLux: Dimex<\/a><\/p>\n

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