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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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atmfrank01's avatar
atmfrank01
12 posts
 
I haven’t noticed any differences myself but others intriguely do, should I say they are delusional or should I give them some credit? I choose the latter, I don’t like to dismiss people experiences, unless at some point I realize they are truly delusional.

I struggle with this as well, because I found myself in the exact same dilemma. First of, I am not an active blogger unlike others here. And one must avoid not to fall into the pit holes, e.g. endless arguments.

The OT headline of this thread caught my attention. And without becoming too confrontational, I asked "What is the problem opticalRendu is trying to solve?" Why does this device makes such a "huge" difference in perceived improvement?

The "improvement" needs to be put into a different perspective and somehow quantified. My approach now: I think the measurementalists are doing a great service to the community and I read, and listen to them. But by no means are they the only authoritative decision point.

Nobody can ever be fully immune to the "aha - this sounds great" effect, because after all it is wonderful hobby (for most). And therefore nobody should be put down for being excited about the improvement of a certain product, unless it is, as you said, completely delusional. Opinion vary...
clwinbe's avatar
clwinbe
39 posts
 
I’m a retired Network engineer.  I’ve been involved with wiring, packet tracing and what not (source routed token ring yea). Where I run aground in this issue, is the data prior to the DAC. It’s all digital data packets. Electrical interference or noise makes no changes to the data packets themselves. It could cause a packet not to be received, or fragmented. I would think all/any problems with noise/interference would show up in the  analogue signal path. 
Any one?
atmfrank01's avatar
atmfrank01
12 posts
 
Electrical interference or noise makes no changes to the data packets themselves. It could cause a packet not to be received, or fragmented.
Could you please re-write this in CAPS, so that everyone can read it :-) Some people believe that expensive shielding and "directional" data cables would somehow improve audio quality. But it's a futile effort to fight a enormous industry and their believers. Only a small amount of education would remedy this. 

Again, I am not saying that microRendu is a flawed product, but I am saying that the value is inflated by misleading marketing and phony claims. 

In extreme cases, some boutique hi-end audio manufacturers will sell you a $30,000 music streamer (network -> USB or SPDIF bridge, or DAC) and make you believe it's a worthy investment. Some people on this thread here can build a better performing streamer for $300 and with expectations of similar results. 
vinylshadow
489 posts
 
With a very good 75 ohm spdif cable and OTG USB, this allows me to use my Android to my DAC for Tidal MQA-https://www.nobsound.ltd/usb-to-spdif-converter-xmos-xu208-coaxial-optical-toslink-support-source-ou...
Sound pretty good in my system. Not bad for 40 or so bucks.
bks717
1 posts
 
For my first ever post here -- saw this thread last week and thought might be interesting to try the SoTM solution. After 3 days across many music types, I can hear discernable improvement in my set-up (maybe 5-10% clarity, smoothness). No measurable data just perception.

My set-up: about 40ft ethernet to PS Audio DAC from computer using JRiver as my "server". Lot of electrical noise in my environment that I have spent these Covid days at home cleaning-up (separating power on front end with Adept Response & amps with isolation transformer, etc..). Went ahead and got the SGC "kit" with optical module, linear power supply and fiber ethernet converter. Not cheap (about $500) but also not the $1200+ set of boxes Since my version of PS DAC already has ethernet input, I did not any other product for USB. Kit came with no instructions so just followed the YouTube video from SGC. About 10min of connecting and the PSAudio was recognized on JRiver without any config updates. Thought I would share given some of the confusion on these responses. Not affiliated with any vendor. Just someone working from home.
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