If you stream music from the internet, I can't recommend this more highly


I had been using a Roon Nucleus to stream Qobuz, with my Chord Qutest directly connected to the Nucleus. I thought I was getting pretty decent sound quality. And then I got a marketing email from Small Green Computer touting some of their optical gear. The basic idea is that normal cables and connections used to stream from the internet pick up noise of one kind or another (radio frequencies and electromagnetic something or other). But fiber optic cables and their connections/interfaces do not. I don’t know anything about anything, but it made theoretical sense to me, it wasn’t a huge amount of money ($1,400), and with a 30 day return policy I figured I could always return it if I didn’t hear any improvement. Well, I didn’t just hear a slight improvement; it was like turning on the lights in a dark room. Much greater clarity and detail, much better micro and macro dynamics, better timbre to acoustic instruments -- overall just more lifelike. Two quick examples: I’ve listened to some of Steely Dan’s top songs 100s of times over the course of my life, and this is the first time I’d ever noticed a particular and very subtle sound characteristic of Fagen’s keyboard in Babylon Sister. It’s hard to describe, but it’s like there’s a slight sound of air being exhaled by it. The other example: the specific timbre of whatever percussive instrument is used at the beginning of Copeland’s "Fanfare for the Common Man" (a recording by the Minnesota Orchestra). There’s more of a metallic sound than a drum skin sound to it that I didn’t know was there before. The metallic sound starts in the center and then projects out and to the sides, like a wave washing over you. Anyway, I’m just thrilled about having stumbled upon the whole "optical" thing and felt obligated to let others know about it. If you stream music over the internet, I highly recommend giving it a try. (The product I got was the opticalRendu, with the linear power supply option, and the Fiber Ethernet Converter Bundle option.)
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Showing 5 responses by douglas_schroeder

Very nice to see that SMC and SONORE (which has the systemOptique technology) is getting some good feedback. 

I reviewed the SMG sonicTransporter and SONORE Signature Rendu SE for Dagogo.com, and did a follow up article on the systemOptique ethernet to optical converter. It was a remarkable change holistically, and I have been most pleased with continued use of it. 

FYI, this was the only time I recall in 30+ years of being a hobbyist, then reviewing, where the addition of a device and set of cables (optical) resulted in the perception of the system becoming significantly better in terms of lower noise and higher resolution. To me, that is a remarkable result and validated the conversion from ethernet to optical link.   :)
It does not compute imo that simply replacing the ethernet cable by optical, with its conversion, would negate the need for reclocking, etc. One seems to be for the purpose of eliminating the noise in the transmission, while the other is for the purpose of altering the wave form. 
niodari, my experience is that Toslink is poorer as a link in comparison to digital coax. There may be exceptions, but I have not encountered any yet. The discussion on upgrade here is conversion from ethernet to optical. I would not make the mistake of thinking that because the Toslink is inferior to your DAC, it would not be efficacious to use optical connection in eliminating noise/improving the playback by replacing Ethernet. I wrote the article the OP is referencing in regard to the SMC/SONORE products, and discourage people from the conclusion that these two implementations of fiber optic result in similar outcomes. 

I also encourage people to listen to those who have done demo, owned and/or compared.

Great examples of smart people without experience giving poor advice. "No way"
How about you open your wallet at some point and learn something? Probably won't; too cheap and too proud. :(