Advice on Optical Ethernet Conversion

I've tried myriad streaming setups, present OpticalRendu, OpticalModule, OR powered by JCAT Optimo ATX, OM by Uptone JS2, AfterDark optical cable, Mundorf silver/gold DC cables, Finisar 1475 in both. Optimizing every single little thing in streaming well worth it. I've run OR without OM (generic FMC), lesser power supplies, lesser DC and optical cables and other Finisar FMC. Anyone of these upgrades results in greater resolving powers, transparency, taken together they add up to substantial upgrade.

Various switches I've tried have not provided upgrade in sound quality vs. my present gaming router powered by linear power supply with wifi disabled.

OM with Finisar 1475, another 1475 in Lumin would be nice start. The 1475 alone is quite an upgrade over lesser Finisar in realm of transparency, resolving capability. Some claim it too revealing, if that case you have issues elsewhere in streaming setup.

SGC currently has sale pricing on the opticalModule.

You can also simply use this switch near your router and output the 40 feet of fiber.

I own both and currently only use the switch to run 45 ft. of fiber into my Signature Rendu SE Optical. I have not heard one sound better than the other. I do use LPS on all peripherals, including modem, router, switches and converters.

Hey @mitch2 

Thanks for the detailed reply. I happen to have the exact switch you linked to.

In your experience, are you saying that you didn’t notice an SQ improvement/difference in using the opticalModule vs running the Trendnet switch direct via fibre?

Best, JAMES

@sns 

Thanks for taking time to run through your setup/process. Valuable information!

I’m leaning toward the opticalModule as the FMC, plugged directly into my 
Lumin U2.  I do have a Stack Audio SmoothLAN, which I would experiment adding to the chain before the OM.  Not sure if it would add to the SQ or be redundant with the OM..?

Best, JAMES

Yes, same result with either the switch or opticleModule, especially when feeding the Signature Rendu SE Optical.

Cleaning up LAN worthwhile, I use JCAT net xe, again powered by Uptone JS-2 with the Mundorf DC cable. Upgrading both LAN and optical conversion not redundant.

I should also add the Mundorf diy DC cables made a far larger difference than I was expecting, this compared to generic Uptone, diy Duelund tin plated copper, something along the lines of AC power cable changes.

Getting wifi off audio system LAN is another biggie, lot of noise injected with this. 1 gb net service and low latency, meaning gaming router, close by net provider servers all makes a difference. All in all every single little thing you can think of to make LAN quieter and faster is beneficial. Just have to find best chain to work in your individual circumstances.

Hi @sns 

Great information, many thanks.

I'm going to try running two optical 'moats', first one from the modem to a TrendNet 4-port switch w SFP going to my Cisco Catalyst 2960 via fibre//2 10Gtek SMCs.

The second one would be a Stack Audio SmoothLAN from the Cisco, feeding an FMC (perhaps the opticalModule?), and this would go via fibre cable to the Lumin, with two 1318 Finisar SMCs.

Then I could run my computer LAN by connecting a TP Link switch to the TrendNet (via RJ45), or from the Cisco.

* Would it be best to plug in the wifi into the TrendNet, even though it will be a hub that feeds the audio system LAN?  Or should it be connected to the downstream computer LAN TP-Link switch?

Any advice/comments welcome.

Best, JAMES.

Wifi downstream better.

The two switches you're running are weak link in your setup, optimizing your optical downstream from those noisy switches is somewhat futile. A single switch in your audio streaming setup preferable to running two, and that single switch could be upgraded via an audiophile switch, even one the less expensive ones would be an improvement. Router powered via LPS would also be an improvement.

Noise is loss of resolution in streaming audio, once its lost no amount of downstream upgrades will get it back. Start upgrades with first link in chain and work down.