Ethernet opinions

Just ordered an optical link setup, cat in, optical out, run 25 feet, optical in, shielded short patch cable, then to streamer.

The theory sounds reasonable. The analog noise will be removed and interference on the long run minimized so the end point signal should be “cleaner” than a long copper cable.

Was right at $100 to try it out, so, not a big investment to see if there is an audible difference.

Newegg, pair of mediaconverters $49

Optical cable: $32

Short shielded cat6, 99.9% ofc, gold plated:$7

plus tax etc…

@audphile1 I tried the mesh network because yours worked. I posted a while back and initially put this post in there but no one chimed in so I started this one this morning. The Bricasti would not even show up on Roon with the mesh. I don’t know much of anything on an audiophile switch. I would ideally like to use my other Vodka cable since I already have it or re sell it. I’m going to keep using the Best Buy cable until I figure out what to do next. Overall I am very happy so far with everything. I love both the Pass and Bricasti. 

The above recommended Linkup Cat 8 cable may not be your best choice. The Amazon web page for it states "*** This highly double shielded wires may not work with some non-10G equipment which cause “Antenna Effect” bottlenecking network speed (down to less than 100mbps). Please contact us for devices that are not supported.". The fiber optic solution described above is a much better approach with an inexpensive price point. A Cat 6 Blue Jeans ethernet patch cable is your best bet going from the media converters to your Ethernet RJ45 input jacks. Unlike almost all audiophile Ethernet cables, the Blue Jeans Cable comes with a test sheet from a Fluke cable tester which shows the cable meets its spec. Cables from Cat6A and above are meant for data center use which is a very high RF noise environment running at speeds above the 1 Gb. speed of most home networks. A good switch doesn’t need to be an "audiophile" switch. For example, a Cisco managed switch would be a better choice but does require some IT networking knowledge to setup. Overall, a much higher quality unit that most unmanaged switches or so-called Audiophile switches. The ability to use the management software to see what i going on with your network in terms or issues or high error rates is much more useful feature than some inexpensive repackaged. switches which claim to have better sound.

Adding the switch will allow you to use your AQ Vodka cable into the M3. Also, managed network switches aren’t necessary. Unless you want to tinker around with settings constantly. 
 

Why the EERO didn’t work? Did you have your roon core on the EERO network?

As @audphile1 mentions, roon has to be on the same network as the device.  I have an audiophile switch upstream of my streamer.  I have a short, high quality (I think Vodka) cable between the switch and the streamer.  I have my Roon core on the same switch.  I didn't think it had to be on the same switch but when I put it back at the router, roon didn't see the streamer.  So I didn't fight it, I left my roon core on the same switch as the streamer.

Jerry