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Best Ethernet Setup for Streaming Audio

I am streaming from an external drive on my Mac computer to an Auralic Aries, fed to an LKS DAC. I have a wired Ethernet connection from my wall outlet to an AT&T provided modem. The modem is connected to a Netgear router, which connects to a Netgear switch that is optimized for music streaming. Another Ethernet cable runs from my Mac directly to the Netgear switch. I am aiming for the best sound quality with this system. Here are my questions:

1. is it best to have my computer's Ethernet cable plugged into the switch, or should it be plugged into the router instead. It will function either way. But what would be the best option?

2. To provide optical isolation for the Ethernet cable, I installed two TP-Link FMC’s between the switch and the Aries streamer. Is that the best position for the isolation? I have it as close to the DAC as possible. Or should I place the FMC's somewhere else in the chain?

3. Would I obtain a boost in sound quality if I added a second pair of FMC's to the system? There are 4 other options: a. Between the wall outlet and the modem. b. Between the computer and the switch. c. Between the modem and the router. d. Between the router and the switch. In case it matters, the longest stretch of copper Ethernet cable is between the computer and the switch (50 feet).

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
boakey39

Showing 2 responses by mitch2

mitch2
4,202 posts
 
The FMC the OP is talking about was recommended by reviewer Steve Plaskin (currently with Twittering Machines) a couple of years ago when he was with AudioStream. The idea is to disrupt EMI that may have been picked up by the Ethernet cable. If you look at Plaskin's system page over on TM, he is still using that set-up although he now uses the Sonore Signature Rendu SE Optical.
I started using the optical isolation discussed in the original article about a year ago with two TP Link converters and a short fiber optic cable between them. Very recently I decided to replace my long Ethernet cable from my router to my server with a 15M fiber optic cable using two TP Link converters, one near the router and the other just before the server. Both TP Link converters are connected to their respective Ethernet connections with very short CAT 8 cables.
mitch2
4,202 posts
 
@boakey39 - Just one set right now, 15M from my router to my music server and then I am using USB from the server to my DAC because that input sounds best.  However, I am scheduled to receive a new DAC soon that will have much improved inputs, S/PDIF-BNC, AES/EBU, and USB.  I am planning to use the AES/EBU input and I will then need another Ethernet run from my server to a separate Roon endpoint so I will use one of the fiber converter loops there too.  I also have CAT 8 Ethernet cables in place for both of those runs so after a while I will probably disconnect the fiber and reconnect the CAT 8 Ethernet cables directly without any fiber and then I will listen to hear any differences.
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