User Reviews
Published LessLoss Reviews Now Number Over 697
DFPC Original (legacy)DFPC Signature (legacy)DFPC Reference (legacy)DFPC Series (legacy) (all)Digital Cable (legacy)Firewall (legacy)Anchorwave (legacy)Homage to Time (legacy)Tunnelbridge (legacy)Laminar Streamer (legacy)Bindbreaker (legacy)
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Firewall Module
Bought the latter as I anyway need two USB cleaning tools, one for my reference audio system, one for my "tweaked for audio" desktop computer used for ripping CDs.
I expected the two items to sound different, but I was not prepared for a match lasting only a few minutes in a comparative listening session...
The LessLoss USB Firewall Key won by an awe inspiring total knock-out at first round!
IFi iSilencer 3.0 is a good product, cheap and honest, cleaning a little bit your USB audio highway, while the LessLoss USB Firewall Key is something else completely, light years ahead in sound quality reached when using it, as if you suddenly leave "digital sound" for something almost real and more natural....
If one product is like a nicely remastered CD, then the other one leaves you feeling the master tape is running in your listening room!
Retail prices are quite different, yes, but listening pleasure is, too, trust me.
Anyone using a high quality DAC over $1000 without the LessLoss USB Firewall key is DEFINITELY NOT hearing it at even close to 80% of its abilities... You have now been warned.
So do yourself a favor: order from Louis your USB Firewall Key now :)
Firewall Module
I hope Louis will allow me to add something important to my previous review.
Last Sunday, I took advantage of being alone at home to have a nice listening session, and something very interesting happened. Remember, I dislike long reviews that don't get straight to the point :) ; so here it goes:
My LAVARDIN IT amplifier was already warmed up, as my Echo's End DAC and AUDIOCOM/OPPO Signature player also were at the front end. I won't bother you with cables, having dozens available for listening/review purposes.
Got my USB "music magic key" where I had ripped with the USB Firewall Key some superb jazz files from a Japan import cd, and pressed PLAY on the remote....
My face went pale... I immediately sensed something was REALLY wrong, the system sounded flat, somehow sterile, underpowered and washed out. I stood up, thinking "Oh my... some item in my system has likely developed a fault, repairman soon to be called...
To the fact: I had simply forgotten to put back the USB Firewall Key on the Oppo player, before my music key!
Need I say more? I don't think so.
This item is a Must Buy.
Firewall Module
I ripped several CDs onto a top class USB key, with and without it, then listened to the files, rather than listening to the CD with or without it.
Fact is the sound gets way better with it, and the ripped files can prove to anyone not owning an USB Firewall Key that it works, and how well!
I'm not into poetic like or long reviews, but I noticed that a haze is gone, and more air is noticed to let music flow. Things get more natural, easy to enjoy.
Would rate it as a pro quality tool that can change your system like you had a new, better digital files reader/streamer, and it will improve even the best one you could find!
I have not tried the Audioquest or iFi USB noise filters, so if anyone has compared them to the LESSLOSS unit, I would be happy to read more.
No fears, I am sure the latter is the leader, results wise.... :)
Firewall Module; DFPC Series; Echo's End

Firewall Module
The DAC is truly burned-in and has since been further enhanced with the addition of the 5X Firewall module to the integrated amp and a standard Firewall Module to the CD player used as a transport. All components are powered by LessLoss Signature power cables and the IC used is the Homage to Time. Since my last review, the sound volume output appears to have returned to original levels.
The addition of the 5X Firewall module has brought about an unexpectedly large boost in performance - much greater than using just the standard module - separation of instruments and voices is not only startling but the background is really dark. Music sounds fluid and natural while voices have slightly more clarity. Bass is more 'musical' and the high frequencies are relaxed and well-defined. The high registers of the piano sound like crystal - a great example is Liszt's "La Campanella" (Yundi Li _ A portrait). The virtual absence of listening fatigue is greatly appreciated. Some audiophile friends have been similarly impressed when these components were tested on one of their systems.
I have also had the experience of using the LessLoss USB firewall module which has lifted sound from USB sources to a new level.
I have found that upgrading a decent system with super components from LessLoss like power and IC cables, the DAC and firewall modules have brought about greater sonic improvement than rushing out to buy the latest models of system equipment every year or so.
Thank you Louis for producing products that live up to their claims of excellence. As they say, the proof is in the pudding.
Firewall Module
After the usual tedious 250 hours of burn-in my system started to shine like never before. Everything became clearer and smoother. Dynamics increased and the soundstage widened and got deeper. Even my power hungry Pioneer Kuro plasma TV became more luminous and colorful. Lovely to watch.
So, when Louis launched the single modules in the wooden box, I ordered another 8 and inserted them before my most important components - DAC, preamp and monoamps, two on each. This time the improvement was threefold and I felt I was in audio heaven - until he launched the 5xFW Modules. Now I new even heaven could be bettered after my experience with the single units, and bought 4 of them to get a system containing 36 single Firewall Modules.
Today I removed them from their burn-in position before the 8xFW distributor and inserted them into the crucial components. WOW! What a Giant Leap kind of improvement. Bigger, larger better. Incredible soundstage with precisely pinpointed instruments. Vivid but smooth highs, clear and transparent midrange and a deep, powerfull bass. Absolutely wonderful and the best sound I have ever heard, not only in my own system, but anywhere including shows, demos and in the systems of my audiophile friends. What can I say except agree to the concept of "A truely triumph". I´m as close you could come to being awestruck by these Firewall modules.
Thanks Louis, all your promises came true!
My system:
-Auralic Aries LE on Paul Hynes SR7EHD LPS with Intona and W4S RUR connected by Curious Cable Regen Link.
-Metrum Pavane NOS DAC
-PS Audio BHK Signature preamp with Mullard 12V NOS tubes from 1958
-McIntosh MC601 monoamps
-Magico S3 speakers
-2 x JL Audio Fathom f112 subwoofers
-Cabling by LessLoss and Synergistic Research
-Stillpoints Ultra SS
Firewall Module
With the distributor in my system the sound is more balanced and refined from top to bottom with much less sibilance at the top end. I heard this improvement most with soprano and tenor voices, piano strings, cymbals and brass instruments.
The midrange sounds more full bodied. When I temporarily removed the distributor, instruments and voices sounded thinner with noticeably less "meat on the bones."
The acoustic ambience is more believable. Instruments and voices sound like they are in a real concert hall rather than an artificial sounding, overly-reverberate field. Instruments and voices sound more present and involving.
Instruments and voices do not seem as razor-sharp focused, but their positions and bounds are well-defined and more natural, as in a real live environment.
In my system the sound stage is large with excellent separation between instruments -- about the same with or without the distributor.
With the distributor, on some very familiar CD tracks for the first time I noticed the subtle sound of rustling sheet music while the choir was singing; the deep, throaty cough of a man in the audience; a squeaky hinge on a distant door in the ambient background; and the fluttering rumble of an organ pedal bass note that I for a moment mistook as a helicopter hovering over my house -- not that these could not have been heard before, but the enhanced detail brought them to my attention.
The distributor enables my system to better resolve complex orchestral passages and deliver them clearly and coherently in music that without the distributor sounds congested and distorted. It is uncanny how this distributor can make such a difference.
Going back and forth between the Firewall distributor and no Firewall distributor in my system, I can honestly enjoy the sound either way, but I decidedly prefer the sound with the distributor. The sound is not quite as airy, edgy, big and expansive, but to my ears it is more natural, refined, engaging and non-fatiguing. With break in of the distributor the sound will likely improve even more than I heard tonight, but regardless, what I heard tonight is the best sound I've heard from my system to date and it makes me a happy camper.
Joseph L G
Firewall Module
Some words to the Firewall USB Key. (Not much time has passed since I received it.)
At first when you've only seen the images in your Newsletters, it is somehow surprising how tiny it is, and again it is not, as everybody can imagine the size by looking at a usual USB stick.
Some time ago I made a copy of a CD with my iMac, the older one that still has an internal CD/DVD drive. The copy was done with my old Philips JackRabbit CD Burner.
Yesterday I plugged the Firewall Key into the USB connection at the back of the computer, stuck in my LH Labs USB cable and connected it to the JackRabbit. The copying process was exactly the same, made with the same program at the same speed.
I then made listening comparisons between the two copies and also invited my female neighbor who has much better listening capabilities than me. Music title was "William S. Burroughs in Dub" by Dub Spencer & Trance Hill.
Well, I didn’t expect much difference, as in reviews reported (for example on the Audioquest item, that seems to be sort of similar to the Firewall Key), it seems these things show only very slight improvements.
But again, the superiority of the geniuses at LessLoss shines. From the start the difference to the better was so clearly audible, that leaves you asking how this is possible. It was only the USB connection to the burner.
There are much much more details (for example in the parts from the first track that start very silently) than on the copy without Firewall Key. My neighbor said, that these silent parts mumble in the background and you could imagine under water singing of whales (that it isn’t).
Concentrated and careful listening shows you that there is something, but you can’t say exactly what it is. The copy with the Firewall Key seem to wipe a thick fog bank away. Everything seems totally clear and really unbelievable better.
I will try this with some other types of music and compare it also to the original. Thrilling, and I can only give my highest recommendation… again.
Jörg Stanislawski
Dortmund/Germany
Firewall Module
It's GREAT!!!
I haven't looked back to Digital XLR :-)
Firewall Module
I had 2 audiophile friends over recently to audition the Echo's End and they were both astounded by the difference the single USB Firewall Key made.
LessLoss History From the Very Beginnings
LessLoss started its business on Audiogon in late 2007. Within the first couple of month, word about LessLoss spread like wildfire among Audiogon members. Here is the feedback received from our clients during our first year of operation. This is from even before we had our own website.
Louis is one of the best in the business, truly professional and very fast production and delivery. I am very satisfied by your superb service. Many thanks.
Positive by Buyer Sebastian (135) on 07-29-2008
Excellent transaction with Lessloss on dynamic filtering power cord. Good communications & fast shipping. A+++++
Positive by Buyer Sennett (45) on 07-03-08
Bought 3 pc's from Liudas in Jan/08. Outstanding product as advertised. Performance is everything and more than I expected. Kudos to Lessloss cable for a great product. Very highly recommended...A+++
Positive by Buyer Phillykid (33) on 06-19-08