Fiber Optic Cable
So, my provider installed fiber optic cable to my house yesterday. Not only is my TV picture much clearer, but my streaming audio is better quality as well. My modem/router goes via ethernet into my Apple TV and I use Apple Music to a WIIM Amp via optic cable into vintage floor-standing JBLs. I'm sure there are better DACs out there, but it sounds pretty good to me.
PS...I know this is an audio site, but Apple TV is fantastic.
Fiber is ALWAYS better than Ethernet. Look at what Playback Designs is using with Plink. What do they know about DACs and streaming. Funny thing is you DO NOT need to spend $5k to make a great fibre streamer. Ethernet is great for dealers since you can make it sound great with a lot of other costly things. With fibre, it is rather boring since a single relatively low-cost item will suffice. I have beem on the fibre bandwagon a very long time. |
Total Rubbish! That is why all the top DAC and Server MFRS are adopting fiber.
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@logistics its great when your loval team is excellent. I have to have 2 internet providers to keep a stable signal and whenever there is some sort of backhoe incident it ends up taking out 90% of the service prociders, including cellular |
We have Spectrum and are getting 600mps d/l and 25mps upload. For me that’s plenty fast. Don’t have Apple TV anymore for the same reason as Erik, but do have Amazon Prime. I can’t really tell anymore about picture quality because my TV is nearing ten years old and wasn’t the top of the line when I bought it. |
I use fiber ethernet between my server and DAC. It runs through a wall near the power cable to the light switch, along the floor past the power cables for the AVR, around to the front of the room and along the power cables for my monoblocks, DAC, preamp etc.
Having used both very high quality ethernet in CATs 5, 6, 7 and fiber, with the only difference being 15m of cable, the perceived quality difference is astounding. yes, that is "in absolute terms."
Even WiFi had better sound quality than ethernet in my situation
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You should investigate one of these, I installed one in my system between my router and the switch that powers my receiver and Apple TV and other streaming devices. I noticed a very distinct difference. Sound was clearer, probably due to background noise being eliminated that I couldn’t even hear. I felt it was well worth the cost. |
Fiber optic is fine for TV ampnd midfi , quality Ethernet cables and a good linear power supply from Linear Tube Audio from the modem- Router combo is sonically superior with a Quality Ethernet hub , is sonically far superior but will cost over $5k to do it . I am speaking in absolute terms fiber optic sounds respectable though , |
@traubr - Thanks for the feedback. It's also nice to know how my advice works for others. I tried AppleTV before. An actress I followed on Twtitter recommended a Shakespearean adaptation with Denzel Washington I found less than compelling. Anyway, I didn't find much else, but everything I watched was visually gorgeous. |
I spend lotsa time streaming on my home theatre, fed by a 1GB ethernet service, with fiber connecting an FMC to a network switch for the HT/ audio system. I have an Nvidia Shield and new generation Fire TV Cube, picture and sound are very good with either. I prefer the Shield because of the customizable home screen and backlit remote. The AppleTV device gets good reviews for picture and though I have precious little in the Apple ecosphere, the price of admission for their streamer is less than, say, a new pair of IC cables, so it may be worth investigating. @erik_squires , I find AppleTV has excellent programming, much better than the other options out there. I'm happy to share or post recommendations if you like. And, their 3 month free introductory trial can't be beat. Btw, I have a Furman IT Ref 15 power conditioner and needed more outlets to accommodate my growing HT/ stereo setup. I had a power distrib box with 8 outlets plugged into the Furman, but based on recommendations you made elsewhere to isolate digital sources, I picked up the Furman PST8 and plugged it into a separate line. It's MUCH bigger than any power strip I ever saw, and does the job. Thanks for that. Robert |
Curious to know what your speeds were before and after. I don’t think it’s the fiber so much as the speed and upstream network, but glad you are happy! Fiber is inherently immune to lightning and power issues. If your inside modem takes fiber you are pretty safe but if the modem connects through the exterior wall to the fiber via Ethernet you may want to add an Ethernet isolator to keep your internal infrastructure safe OR if you have internal runs longer than 20’. Put those at the end. Living on the coast and having lots of delicate equipment connected I'm a little paranoid. I tried AppleTV. It LOOKS gorgeous. Just couldn’t find that much I wanted to watch. What are your shows there? |
