2. digital
  3. 177790-7401

Ethernet - Analog/Digital Signal Clean Up

Curiosity got the better of me recently and I tried a pretty cheap tweak where I used two Fiber Optic converters between the eero access point and my Lumin U1 Mini streamer. Converted from copper Ethernet to fiber optic then back to copper and then into streamer using my Supra Cat8. 

I was pleasantly surprised with the improvements this change had brought into my system and now I am wondering if I can do better. One other aspect of the current configuration that I don’t like is the clutter - each unit comes with it’s own power supply and add to that a fiber optic cable. I already have a spider web of wires and am not looking to add to that. 

Objective is to have as much noise, RFI and EMI removed before it reaches the streamer. 

Seeking opinions on the following units from those who had tried them in their systems:

  1. English Electric Network Switch 8 (Silent Angel is pretty much the same thing)
  2. Uptone EtherREGEN (currently out of stock)
  3. Network Acoustics Eno (box or streaming system)

 

What is your experience with these units?

Anything else to add to the above list? 

 

Thanks in advance!

128x128audphile1
audphile1's avatar
audphile1 OP
4,922 posts
 

All…

Tons of good info guys thanks!

@tuberist make sure you use your best Ethernet cable into the streamer. I have already done the comparison you’re about to do.
If possible plug the converters into power conditioner. Difference is not night and day but significant enough at least in my system to keep this set up. I tested this with several songs and consistently heard more natural tone, better imaging and soundstage than what I get with eero direct into Lumin. Depends on your streamer, system, room, etc. YMMV. 

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,135 posts
 

These cheap fiber optic modules create a bunch of noise on their end , try’s UptoneAudio etherregen at both end with a fiber optic much cleaner blacker back ground fiber optic electrically don’t bring noise But if the signal is jittered full of noise to start it delivered a flawed signal to start ,I compared these head to head ,

land in my system fiber sounds a bit thinner , the key is a great hum Sonore is the best but $$ , 2 uptone Audio Ether regen are a good 2 nd choice .

agillis
8 posts
 

You can try putting a liner supply on the FMC on the clean end. That will redice the noise a bit.

Another good device is the Sonore opticalModule. You need the opticalModule and the Linear supply for it so two boxes but the upgrade in sound is well worth it.

 

Or you could get a Lumin X1. It has fiber networking built in!

itsjustme
681 posts
 

Basically says you have ground noise and should be using isolators and a dedicated low noise power supply on the clean side that’s kind of Kluge the way you’ve done it but it’ll Help I guess

itsjustme
681 posts
 

I can only post extensive information so many times but I have explained basically where some of this comes from and what I have found works to eliminate it.  you can search and find a lot of it but fundamentally you need to terminate the digital signal,  provide isolation,  and clean power.  this is not about the digital signal this is about blocking power supply and ground noise

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