Some have positive experience with audiophile switches, likely poorest performing 'upgrade' ever experienced for me. So, was it particular switch chosen, switches in general, switch in my particular network to blame? I could jump to some overarching conclusion, not worth much for others IME. This experience also points to simpler is better, router direct to streamer vs router to switch to streamer. Should I conclude simpler better for everyone?

Then there is the Eno and Muon ethernet filters. These seem to be getting genuinely rave reviews, even from respected people like Hans Beekhuyzen. Its possible these noise filters are doing the same job as the optical modules, not letting that high frequency noise pass, but without all the hassle.

https://www.networkacoustics.com/

Interestingly Network Acoustics had their own network switch, the Rubicon (now NLA due to supply chain issues). But on its product page they say after an exhaustive evaluation process the iFi Elite 12v was the best power supply for it, not a linear power supply, or battery supply e.t.c

https://www.networkacoustics.com/shop/rubicon-network-switch/

I mention this because I have come to a similar conclusion. I found my best LPS, the Uptone JS-2, while fantastic on streamers and other hardware, did poorly on my routers and switches. Why? Perhaps the high frequency switching chips in network hardware is too fast for an LPS to provide instant power?

I am not ready to pay big money for an audiophile switch. They seem to just be repurposed consumer switches in a fancy case with a linear power supply and sometimes clock upgrade. You could probably get the same grade of switch and add your own power supply to it.

Speaking of which.... Christiaan Punter from Hi-Fi Advice in the Netherlands is a very careful reviewer I have been following for years. A recent review of the Lejonklou Kalla network player they suggested the best sounding cheap switch is the grey colored Netgear GS108T v2 (now v3 is available).

https://www.hifi-advice.com/blog/review/digital-reviews/network-player-reviews/lejonklou-kalla-network-player/2/

 

I was speaking with Ric Shultz the other day about streaming. He is working on my Peachtree GAN1 amp which only has SPDIF as the input.

He was stating, like many people, that the digital signal must be clean and noise free otherwise, the signal is degraded. My understanding is that these 1’s and 0’s are created from electrical signals and this electricity can have noise. Now my question on this is does that matter for 1’s and 0’s. Would noise on the circuit make a 1 incorrectly into a 0 and or the other way around.

My layman’s understanding is that it does not matter and that by using fibre (and a FMC in front of fibre) will deliver a noise free bit perfect 1 and 0. So no analog noise gets into the DAC. I am not preaching this, I do not know, but this seems like a plausible explanation.

As Charles mentioned one can make this as complex or simple as one likes. I happen to enjoy complexity and experimentation,this isn't a burden for me, and based on many posts in this thread, not a burden for those folks. Experiential learning  happens to be a favored method for gaining knowledge for many. I don't understand the criticism of us who choose this path, its not like we're proposing objective truths, merely our experiences with a variety of network devices and configurations. In essence we are gathering a sample size in order to determine whether various network devices or configurations are effective or not.

 

I understand some believe networks make little or no difference for streaming sound quality. Others maintain only simple or the least complex setups effective, and others only certain brand or model devices effective. I'm rather agnostic when it comes to other's specific network configurations or devices used. I also hold this view in regard to entire audio systems, I accept that people assemble audio systems for their own pleasure and tastes.

 

I may not agree with other's choices but I'm not going to deride those choices. ASR is a forum for the objectivist, I generally find this forum to be tolerant towards other's choices, observing streaming becoming more contentious over time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I found the hi end network streaming journey to be more complex than either CD or analog.  Streaming is becoming more plug and play than it was a few years ago when I started researching and planning for a streaming source.  I spent several months studying hi end streaming and visiting a hifi shop to hear DACs and network players.  The choices of configurations, capabilities and brands is bewildering.  I was like a novice all over again stepping into the world of hifi.  I had been using a hi end CD player for the last 15 years.  

I made a plan.  After some starts and redo's I decided that I first wanted to be able to play my CD collection so I wanted a DAC that had expandability, ie. it had to have multiple digital inputs.  I knew then that I wouldn't get a network player because I didn't want redundant DACs.  If I knew then what I know now, I would have bought a network player and skipped the CD transport.  The reason is that after I got my music server and ripped my CD collection to FLAC files.  I find the FLAC file sounds just as good as the CD- with my current USB cable.  And that is compared to my hi end CD Transport into my hi end DAC.  I say that but I also find letting go of my CD player is just as hard as letting go of my land line telephone.  Change is hard.  Plus I would have never known if the FLAC files matched my CD playback without trying it for myself.

Once I got my music server I began studying how best to bring in the ethernet signal.  In the end I found the most effective upgrade was simply putting an optical link between my router and my server.  It was a step change in the sound.  I also played around with different FMC's and found the kind with separate SFP's sound better.  That's it.  (Added LPS's to the FMC's of course).  Then just last week I added a very expensive network bridge.  Compared to the cost of my system it is not much of an add.  After listening for a few days I find this network bridge makes an incremental change for the better.  The bass sounds a bit better and the background in the music is quieter when streaming Qobuz.  How or why, don't know, don't care.  I'm enjoying it.  The optical link is one of the biggest bangs for the buck I have found in streaming.  A couple of hundred dollars in FMC's and Linear Power Supplies goes a long way.

Ok, I throw in one last thought.  Many on these forums demand to understand how cables can sound different, why or how digital data can sound different and so on.  Most of the time discoveries happen by trial and error and then people analyze and research to understand the mechanisms behind the discovery.  The audio industry grew out of these types of pioneers who with almost child like curiosity experimented with their ideas.  Many things we accept today as good audiophile practice were hotly debated topics decades ago.  You won't see gold plated connectors on hi end stereo gear until the late 1980's but by the late 1990's mid fi gear had gold plated connectors too.  Technology advances through innovations and evolution but it has a cost.  The top tier usually leads the way and then the technology trickles down to the lower cost gear.  The first CD players were expensive.  None of us would want to listen to them today.

@nyev

You’re no stranger to streaming / ethernet optimization. I subscribe to less is more thus using one device which operates as a bridge between my streamer and modem. When it comes to streaming, one needs to keep in mind a simple yet important concept of quality over quantity :-)

I believe that as with many audio related endeavors it boils down to choice and choosing among numerous alternatives. Audio streaming can be as complex/involved or straightforward/simpler as one desires. Successful end results are obtainable with either pathway.

@ghdprentice is not alone with his approach focused toward fewer network chain components and cabling and achieving excellent audio streaming sound quality. There are others who’ve done it this way and are thoroughly pleased. Those who’ve opted for the more multiple steps/components/cable D.I.Y. method are happy as well. High quality simplicity/minimalism is an attractive option for many.

Charles

My heart sunk as I read this, knowing I will want to get around to these details at some point and it seems like a lot of work… And here I thought I was done with major tweaks!  First thought I had reading through this was ok I need to quit streaming, that will be a much easier solution…

@ghdprentice 

I have a $150K audiophile system running on a Netgear Modem / Router, with a wall wart wifi extender… I have heard a number of world class systems running this way. No more is required

Of course this represents heresy to the D.I.Y. streaming inclined. Another example of many roads leading to Rome.

Charles

 

 

Wow. After a quick review of this thread, I’d like to make something clear to folks not familiar with streaming:

 

This thread is a DYI… techno-nerd thread. For folks fascinated with playing with technology. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. This is a “hobby”.

I have been in information technology for forty years. I implemented some of the first connected PCs in the 1980’s… then connected them globally. I implemented systems that run some of the largest companies on earth. I have implemented networking between enterprise mainframes and globally. I have been in charge of data centers running multi billion $ global corporations… with auxiliary generators the size of train locomotives.

For normal folks that want streaming to sound good… just buy a better streamer. No changes in networking equipment is required. The better quality streamer the better the sound. I have a $150K audiophile system running on a Netgear Modem / Router, with a wall wart wifi extender… I have heard a number of world class systems running this way. No more is required. 

If you want to fiddle with technology… go for it. But if you just want high end audiophile sound get a high end audiophile streamer.. I prefer Aurender. But there are other good ones… Aurlic, LUMIX.. This thread is about folks that love to play with technology.

The entry from me that follows is mostly a repeat of yesterdays post with one spelling correction, some clearer grammar, and slight content changes, in the attempt to be maximally clear and useful. This is my present understanding of the subject.

 

Has anyone taken the initiative to have someone who is competent test the effects of extreme WIFI RFI in routers? I think would be an easy test and that we all would benefit from the findings!! 

@tonywinga Your impressions mirror mine in terms of noise floor, slight improvement in detail, and bass (notably improved texture and definition). Was able to confirm by A/B testing last night which made the changes more noticeable.

 

Based on my understanding of how these work, I'd imagine the most effective placement is where the manufacturers all suggest: being the last step in the chain pre-transport/streamer.

@singingg Nice, very thorough explanation with many iterations you've tried.

 

Optical vs ethernet seems a tossup, optical inherently filters, various ethernet filters also do fine job with lessening noise.

Btw- after 24 hours the top of the box of the SW-8 is at 84F. It has been on 24 hours now.  Ambient is still 72F.  Yesterday after a few hours the box temp was 88F.  Seems to be settling in. 

I have thought about trying the SW-8 before the optical link. The LHY website shows the SW-8/SW-10 after the optical link. I’m thinking they may have determined that is the best way to go. They also show using two SW-10 network bridges linked by an optical cable. I think two SW-10’s would be overkill- but then that is not a word we use in hifi.

I might try removing the optical link to see how the SW-8 sounds alone. But in my mind I remember the not so subtle change that the optical link made to the sound. Additionally, I am thinking of running an Ethernet cable from this new network bridge to my Apple TV box. It will be a hassle and a lot of work but may well be worth it.

The HT system is at the opposite end of the house.

@tonywinga have you tried the LHY switch earlier in the chain ahead of your first FMC? Kind of like a pre filter? I have 2 Ethernet switches ahead of my FMC, one at the router, one in my listening room leading into my fiber. Then copper with a isolator into my server,streamer. Only clocking is on the USB side going into my LessLoss Echos End. 
 

Clean, detailed, black background, all the Audiophile cliches…..

This is an update of previous posts on this thread. I hope you are up to it. Please bear with me.

Let me share my journey tweaking my streaming network that I built around a Small Green Computer bundle. Back when I initially set up this configuration I modeled it exactly after Michael Lavorgna’s, now of Twittering Machines. It was stated that wired ethernet contains a multitude of music destroying noises that must be dealt with. Who was I to argue. At the time I didn’t even know what an ethernet switch was (a free- lance musician and private music teacher leading a sheltered existence) :

FO through wall > ONT > ethernet cat 8 > router > cat 8 > $15 switch > cat 8 > i5 Transporter.

Same switch > cat 8 > FMC > Fiber optic > FMC > cat 8 > ultraRendu with LPS > Pangea Audio Premier SE MKII USB Cable to Benchmark DAC3B.

I had completely solved all power problems in my system to achieve a superior black background. The above still had grunge :

1. I added a LPS with a Y adapter to power both FMC = better

2. I added a LPS to the Transporter = better

3. I replaced the LPS power chords with Pangea Audio AC-14SE MkII = better

4. I wrapped my fiber optical cable in bubble wrap. It seems they are sensitive to vibrations. = better

5. I replaced the 3 post switch cat 8 ethernet cables with Pangea Premier SE = way way way better, but STILL some remaining niggly grunge!

I had not bought into the $700-$2000+ ethernet switch mania. I had bought my $15 plastic covered switch from Home Depot. I did try a more expensive switch and sent it back because I could hear no improvement. I rewired post switch and removed the FMCs. LISTENED. Then I added the FMCs back in. They were definitely improving the sound, by a lot!

6. I ordered a iFi iPower X Ultra Low Noise AC/DC Power Supply for the switch. I took out the FMCs again and installed the new PS. WHAM!! The sound came into complete focus. I reinstalled the FMCs again and now a huge amount of grunge had disappeared.

7. The new Pangea Audio Premier XL MKII USB Cable came on the market, which separates out the 5v current wire from the signal wires. Because my Benchmark DAC was using the 5v current, I replaced my previous Pangea Audio Premier SE MKII USB Cable (same wire and connecters) and wiped another smear of noise from the window. This is the single biggest improvement of all these suggestions.

8. Shutting the WIFI off in my primary router and using a wireless access point to regain WIFI for the house. It has been less than 24 hours since I did this but the result seems principally in opening up the soundstage : width, depth, and clearer separation.

9. I have lived with this for two weeks and I gradually became aware of a persistent coloration that I eventually came to realize was masking the harmonic structure of the sound. Once I defined the problem there was no ignoring it. The problem had to be solved.

I started digesting the suggestions in this thread for optimizing an optical filter as I watched the $$$ mount. I remembered that Mr. Lavorgna moved on by replacing his optical filter with a GagaFOIL. I found some a thread on this very subject, and some level-headed fellow suggested removing the filter for a listen before proceeding. It was simple to connect an ethernet cable directly from my switch to the Sonore ultraRendu. I pushed play on Qobuz not knowing what to expect. Not only was the coloration banished, but the musicians exploded into the room, the result of expanded dynamic freedom . I was sitting there like a 1 year old that had seen his first Jack-in-the-Box! I stayed up late last evening listening to favorites with profound new revelations at every turn of phrase.

This morning I decided to redo the test I had done previously comparing Dudamel conducting Ives Symphony 2 : Qobuz 24/96 vs CD 16/44.1. The first time I reported that they sounded identical. Now they did not. The Qobuz sounded like a SACD being compared to a CD, which is what it should sound like when comparing different resolutions. The CD sounded like the colored generic-optical stream and the all-wired stream of Qobuz sounded much more open and revealing of detail!

My network is now simplified being all wired ethernet with no optical:

FO through wall > ONT > ethernet cat 8 > router > cat 8 > $15 switch w/iFi PS > Pangea ethernet > i5 Transporter w/LPS

Same switch > Pangea ethernet > ultraRendu with LPS > Pangea Audio Premier SE MKII USB Cable to Benchmark DAC3B.

Now I am going to jump into the weeds and try to draw some conclusions :

a. There are two ways to skin-this-ethernet-cat : All wired or conversion to all optical, both can sound equally good.

b. What was the source of this needing an optical filter to clean wired noise? : primarily WIFI proximity in router combos, the inverse square law at work. Also those dreaded SMPS did their harm. With these two noises sources eliminated wired ethernet sounds completely clean, no longer needing a filter.

c. I am sensing the optical filter could remove some, but not all of this upstream noise suggesting a confirmation of sns’s assertion of signal damage. This could and should be investigated by someone with the right equipment and expertise. What happens to the square wave when subjected to intense RFI in these router combos?

d. Wired network optimization now consists of the tried and true audiophile tweaks of quality cabling and ALL THINGS POWER. Optical network optimization needs the highest quality converters with additional LPS, transceivers and optical cable. BOTH need to use separate Wireless-Access-Point. This can be effective, but is it necessary? It sure is expensive.

e. IMHO, for those newly setting up their network, I highly recommend all Pangea digital cables, the highest model only, available with a 30 day return. Give them a listen against the mega-buck cables and see what you think.

Am I done? This post reveals that I make no changes in my system unless I have clearly defined a problem that needs a solution. I listen to music with my trained and experienced musician’s ears. Problems always surface when I get frustrated trying to parse more meaning out of the performance/sound. My system has been meticulously tweaked. When one first starts tweaking, the sonic changes are minute because there are still so many problems masking clarity. However, as you get to the end, each new tweak is a revelation/game-changer. They are harder to find but Oh-so-rewarding. If I can find anything new I’ll report back.

This was a 3 1/2 year journey. I learned a ton along the way. I hope it is helpful to someone else.

My current list of favorites that I like to stream are:

Live at Grand Central, Carly Simon.  This album gave me goosebumps last night with the SW-8 in place.  The ambience of Grand Central Station comes through with a feeling like being there.  The bass drums come through with great power.  Was never a big Carly Simon fan but this album captivates me.

Dream a Little Dream of Me, Laura Fygi on her Bewitched album.  Terrific and relaxing- was planning to buy the CD but now with the SW-8, I'll wait.

If You Could Read my Mind, Gordon Lightfoot.  In hi-res and sounds terrific.

You Want it Darker, Leonard Cohen.  Several great songs by the Cohen. This one with the choir at the beginning sounds amazing.

Lost without You, Freya Ridings.  Emotional song, bought the CD after streaming it.

I Put a Spell on You, Chantal Chamberland.  Larger than life sound but I never tire of hearing this song.  It's in hi res format.  Sounded the same with the SW-8 to me.

Roger Waters Lockdown Sessions.  Marvelous.  Just marvelous.

Down in the Hole, John Campbell.  Goosebump generating wall rattling music.  Must be played loud to appreciate.

The list goes on but these are just a few.

 

I got my LHY SW-8 yesterday.  Plugged it in around noon.  It does not get real warm.  My laser thermometer shows 88F on top in a 72F room.  Listened to it from 8-11 PM but fell asleep.  Initial impression for me is a bit quieter background and slightly better bass.  Too soon to tell really.  I am streaming Qobuz with ROON.  I also have  optical in the chain prior to the SW-8.  I did A/B a CD vs 44.1/16 streaming.  Before the CD edged out the streaming.  Now I’m not sure I could tell the difference.

Next to the SW-8 is the power supply for my ROON server.  I also use a LPS for the FMC.

I’ve given it more listening, and did some A/B testing along with comparing songs I know by heart that I have local and streaming versions (songs with same quality) to compare and jump back and forth with.

 

Streaming (Qobuz) is definitely closer to the local equivalent now with the LHY than before. On streaming alone, it feels there’s a slight improvement in detail and bass is a bit cleaner. Overall sounds more natural and fluid. Just initial impressions. It certainly hasn’t hurt or degraded anything that I can say for certain.

@christianb5s4 

Will be interested to hear what you hear.

I'd give it a week before I started doing critical listening or comparing in your system. I'm assuming the switch needs to burn in and settle first to get the best sound. Good luck.

Just received the LHY SW-8 yesterday and started listening with it in the system, so far there’s nothing glaringly different in terms of sound quality (which was great already) in terms of a short-ish initial impression.

 

Will do some A/B testing tonight of streamer straight to router vs. LHY in between to evaluate further.

@singingg I am not sure where it is you want to go…but these are far superior 10G FMC converters and with the this Finisar transceiver being SFP+ it will get close IMHO.  

 

@thieliste Ha!  I've just noticed my typo.  It was actually the FTLF1318P3BTL I bought.

However, I do value tone and sweet midrange over detail, so will keep my eye out for used 1324P2BTL. 

Thanks again.

@lollipopguild It's actually 1421P1BTL but it's not the best one.

You should get 1318P3BTL, it's the one i'm using very close to 1475 highly resolving.

If you want more musical, creamier than go for Finisar 1324P2BTL or Cisco 10G.

For Finisar always get the BTL versions the other ones are not as good.

Just a quick note to @thieliste . I took your recommendation of the Finisar 1321. Got a very good price used on eBay. They've definitely improved upon the SFPs which came with my optical kit, and now feeds my EtherRegen.

 

@jerryg123 

I am getting ready to pull the trigger on this combo. I am in a little over my head. Would you please give look and relay any advice? Will this get me to where I want to go? Many thanks!

Zyxel Multi-Gig 12-Port Unmanaged Switch with 2-Port 2.5G and 2-Port 10G SFP+ Desktop/Wallmount, 5-Years Warranty [XGS1010-12]

FCBG110SD1C01

https://www.qsfptek.com/product/99867.html

The 10G FMC using the 1475 have made a marked improvement in my streaming over the 1g FMC. More detail, definition, better sound stage and every other cliché audiophile description you can think of. 10G cage with a 10G transceiver is  a game changer oops more cliches….

@agisthos I understand that, simply can't find this ability to assign speed to individual ports. I have pretty good knowledge of Netgear interface, even in advanced settings don't see this ability. In any case, the only reason I could imagine this works for you is less processing required for lower speed, resulting in lower noise generated. Also, possible better integration with other network devices is cause? I mentioned the incoming speed as it directly influences output speed, in my case higher output speed sounds better. I can get 1gig service, perhaps outcome may change?

 

In regard to those using FMC devices or fiber ISP. Another 20 hours on 1475 transceivers and AfterDark reference optical cable. Again, may sound like excess exuberance, but these things are the real deal!  Easily heard upgrade in resolution and transparency, meaningful in that I now can far more easily hear venue in which each recording and/or performer performed in. In other words feels like I'm bringing the recording venue into my listening room, this indivdualization never so clearly heard in past. This sense of extracting max info at a microscopic level is unknown to me, Beyond resolution and transparency,  most natural and musical presentation ever heard with digital, less reflectivity in cable and superior jitter suppression in 1475 means more natural flow/timing. Present sound quality now competes or exceeds any system heard previously, and this based on listening to probably thousands of audiophile systems over now nearly fifty years. In any case I have no more streaming upgrades planned or desired, barring unforeseen innovations I'm done.

 

Keep in mind my use of 1475 is for network device AND streamer, used in purely network devices may result in less dramatic outcome. Also, I'd not blame 1475 for any lack of musicality or coloration, this is colorless device. Less than satisfactory results would be due to 1475 uncovering flaws elsewhere in system. Ignoring colorations, jitter performance is objectively better with 1475, this should always be good thing.

@sns Your change of 300 to 500mb is something different, that is the incoming internet speed of your ISP.

In my example the internet WAN port speed was still kept unchanged at 1 Gigabit. It’s all the other 4 LAN ports that were reduced in speed, the ones connecting to the NAS, the audio streamer, the wireless access point etc

A router like the Omada ER605 has the ability to configure this port by port.

 

@agisthos Just for curiosities sake I looked for ability to assign these setting to ports, didn't see this in my Netgear router. Regardless, I hear better SQ with 500mb vs 300, 1gb may soon be tried. But then I'm running JCAT Net XE in my streamer, this pretty much mirrors what any audiophile switch does.

 

@rfagon My flow chart is somewhat different due to JCAT net in my streamer, otherwise pretty typical.Spectrum ISP 500mb>via coax to Spectrum supplied modem (lps and Broadcom chip, telephony disconnected)>Netgear router via short run of Audioquest Vodka LAN cable, LPS>NAS, streamer and wifi router-NAS powered via LPS, streamer has JCAT NET XE card-this filters and clocks network, also dedicated lps, doesn't use streamer motherboard power. All LAN cables AQ Vodka.

 

The above would be end of network for vast majority of streamers. Now I use two streamer setup, first is used as server-maintains music software library and processes one of three music player,(this is Roon core in case of Roon), second is usb renderer and roon or Stylus music player endpoints. I use optical conversion between first and second streamer, this via ethernet out via same JCAT Net XE, has two LAN ports>OpticalModule powered by LPS, this via  AQ Vodka>OpticalRendu via AfterDark Ref optical cable, OR powered by LPS,>DAC via AQ Diamond usb cable. All LPS go to my BPT 3.5Sig power conditioner.

I have discovered a new performance gain on the router, at least I think it has not been mentioned previously.

Change LAN port speed from Auto/1000M/1GB to 100M Half-Duplex.

This investigation resulted from me moving from a consumer TP-Link Archer wifi-router to a (wifi-less) TP-Link Omada ER605 VPN router. The ’upgrade’ resulted in a decrease in performance. It added a slight (very slight) amount of noise to everything. Audible in music, audible in streamed movie soundtrack content, and visible in movie visual content. This was disappointing to say the least considering the Omada should be better hardware, not worse (or at least the same as before).

So I started playing. First idea was perhaps the 5 LAN ports run by 3 banks of circuit chips were sharing the NAS and streamer on one chip bank causing issues. So I swapped connections around and nothing changed.

Then I looked into port speed configuration, changing the LAN ports from Auto-Negotiation to 1000M Full Duplex. Nothing changed.

Then I changed port configuration to 100M Half-Duplex. Immediate and noticeable improvement. Almost as big as isolating the wi-fi as discussed previously. Now this Omada router has pulled ahead of the generic Archer router. In fact now my system sounds the best it ever has, just from this software setting in the router admin console.

I do not know how this is all possible. Maybe the chips that run the LAN ports at full Gigabit speeds increase noise the higher they go, and setting them to 100M (1/10th the speed of Gigabit) reduces that noise.

But a word of caution - there is also a choice to run a LAN port either at 100M Half-Duplex or 100M Full-Duplex. Maybe its not the speed reduction from 1000 to 100, but the fact there is now a choice of ’Full-Duplex vs Half-Duplex’ at the 100M speed level. I tried to compare the 100M Full-Duplex option and it crashed my network so was unable to eliminate that as being a potential factor.

To be clear, this is me running everything through the router. Maybe putting an audiophile switch between the router and my audio streamer will resolve any issue around LAN port speeds, making it all a null issue. But for now it helps to investigate these things. I note that Nordost and a few other manufacturers of recent switches have specific ports for 100M, claiming the lower speed port is lower noise and better for the audio streamer connection. Well I certainly experienced that here, and it wasn’t just audio, video content improved as well.

Sns, I would love to see a visual flow chart of your current recommended setup for delivering a digital signal to your streamer.

@lalitk , @charles1dad 

I'm completely in agreement.  The original recording and/or remastering is far more important than the resolution. 

A great example is Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere by Neil Young.  Qobuz has two versions of it:  a CD-res 2009 remaster, and a 192/24 original.  To my ears the former is far better.

I doubt very much that hardware compatibility issue, like to see what ISP they're using. With 500mb speed, actually typically around 550 at router absolutely no issues. At some point I may decide to experiment with 1gb, see what that brings to table.

I know over at WBF a few people have complained of connectivity and dropouts with the SFP + being used with the OM and the Sotom. When the replaced with a 1g sfp everything is fine. So it may be a spotty issue or they have missed matched modules. I will report back my findings once my new FMC arrive. Maybe slowed a bit by the weather down here in Dallas, I can play hockey on my driveway today. 
 

@jerryg123 I'd like to see direct face off with this type FMC vs OpticalModule. OM does have both optimized power supply and clocking. I'd also like to see a data base of optical devices these transceivers work or not work with.

My error. I was beeching about the EtherRegen getting hot and likely failing. The cause was not the eR. It was ROON + Lumin X1 + eR.

I have put back the eR but this time I am using the Lumin app and not using fibre, just Ethernet. This is a baseline test, and I will add fibre later. The eR is working perfectly now. No stoppages in play. It actually sounds pretty good via Ethernet too.

So, I was wrong. The eR works fine it is a ROON and Lumin issue.

Since I am a ROON user I think I will NOT use the eR with the Lumin X1 and use the eR with ROON and the OpticalRendu (done this for year+)

 

 

Finisar FTLX1475D3BCL - SFP+ Transceiver Module - 10 GigE.

To truly reap the full benefits for this transceiver one must have FMC that is designed for use with SFP+ transceivers. Yes noise and jitter will be reduced using a standard 1.25g Fiber Media Converter (TP Link, 1Gtek, Sonore optical module deluxe). 

I will be installing the two of the FS P/N: UMC-1S1T, to determine if they will truly be viable in my digital ecosystem. This type of FMC will also be beneficial I believe if you are using the FCBG110SD1C01, this is truly as nice a sounding transceiver as the 1475 in a 1.25g FMC also. 110SD1C1 is a better value as it comes with the Corning BIF FO cable. 

 

100M/1G/2.5G/5G/10GBase-T to 10GBase-X SFP+ Unmanaged Fiber Media Converter - FS

Again, thanks.

@cowhorn You pretty much got it. I used to experiment with various rfi shielding materials placed around the router, but with wifi off makes much less sense, not sure it was doing anything other than retaining rfi in router in any case. Also nice to have router that's ping test capable, I know it can be done with computer as stated in some previous post, but for most of us with dedicated music streamers this not possible. The ping test allows one to determine quality of ISP. One may want to upgrade or change ISP if ping test results poor. Much depends on geographic distance to ISP servers, closer is better. Finally, router close to modem, modem and router close to audio system.

 

Now if some router manufacturer would come out with router with optimized clocking, LPS and wifi off does job of noise suppression.

Another newbie question...

I have read in this thread about optimizing one's router or having an "optimized router". I assume this means supplying a good LPS to the router, using quality cables, and turning off the wi-fi function inside the router.

Is there anything else that goes into router optimization?

Head on over to CDW 1475 are outstanding. 

FYI, for anyone shopping for the Finisar SFP modules. The ones sold by Sonore and Small Green Computer are the Finisar FTLF8519P3BNL. It took some doing to get the actual part number from them, but to their credit when asked, they made no claims about improved sound quality from upgrading to these Finisar SFP modules. Hope that helps anyone considering trying these.  

Thank you. I understand now.

@cowhorn Unless your ISP service has capability of offering more than one IP address you can't do this. For most of us we have only one address assigned as 192.168.1.1, can't have two routers assigned this address.

 

I had forgotten about the fan thing, use them underneath my 845SET amp chassis, 845 tubes are space heaters. Still, seems to me any component that runs hot enough to impact reliability is not correctly engineered. I no longer settle for this as there are plenty of good network devices that don't have this heat issue.