Network Switches

+1 on the iFi

Additionally, if a guy is stuck deep in the weeds/chasing some noise through the ethernet infrastructure... but, if the speaker is some lackluster li’l matchbox and the room is low resolution chaos, all this ’ethernet stuff’ (for instance) wouldn’t matter a whole lot.

[probably 90+ % of tweakers swimming in the neurotic ocean]

You can also pick up an iFi LAN iSilencer on amazon and combine it with a better cable. I wouldn’t waste money on a $500 switch. 

If there is more than 1 source/streaming device in the same room requiring an ethernet input, the case for the switch is even there.

Otherwise, I assume most everyone here does some optical decoupling (pair of FMCs or executed in similar fashion). 

For a single streamer in a room (which is all that most guys have)

Ethernet port on wall ----> [FMC---->optical cable --->FMC with lps]---->’good’ ethernet cable--->ifi silencer inserted into streamers port

No unnecessary switch needed in the chain

 

my personal opinion based on my personal systems.

Others may have different results .

I have four audio systems in my home ranging from

2k "used" for a flipping switch, you say?....Right, right, Ted Denny is so deserving, ain’t he? I should dissect his crap one day and compare it to a Cisco 100 dollar run of the mill for ya.

But, ’you got what you paid for’, said Denny, I bet, mmhmm (facepalm).

Bet he is a EECS PhD too from Devry, eh?

Synergistic Research has one of the best Ethernet hubs and cables. Good independent reviews online. Can buy used around 2K. If you are streaming a lot and have a good system, it is well worth it.

@kirkwallace 

A FMC Fiber coupling pair will not just protect your gear, prevent it frying from extraneous power anomalies (lightning, etc), it will also serve as a effective noise mitigation solution for hifi.

This is how the chain would flow

a) Ethernet port on wall ------->

 

b) FMC#1 + Transciever (plug the transceiver into your FMC) ------->

https://www.optcore.net/product/101001000base-t-sfp-fiber-media-converter/?attribute_pa_plug-type=us

https://www.optcore.net/product/msa-1g-sfp-sx-multimode-transceiver/

 

c) Patch cable (for decoupling) ------------>

https://www.optcore.net/product/25348/?attribute_pa_cable-length=1m

 

d) FMC#2 ---------------------------->

If you only have a single streamer, use the same model as FMC#1 +transceiver to complete the FMC pair.

If you have multiple sources/streamers in the same room requiring an ethernet input use this multiport model that takes your patch cable.

https://www.optcore.net/product/mc-gsa28-l/?attribute_pa_plug-type=us

Power FMC#2 with a decent linear power supply as you are concerned about the quality of everything in the chain from FMC#2 onwards (after the fiber decoupling occured).

 

e) High quality Ethernet cable now running from FMC#2 to any of your streamers....such as a Audioquest Cinnamon, Vodka, etc depending on what your budget is               ---------->

 

f) You can plug that high quality ethernet cable directly into a streamer....or use additional filtering...ie. you can plug that cable into a isilencer ifi , which in turn plugs into the streamer.

Here’s maybe a different alternative to the ifi isilencer..

https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/DXE-ISO-PLUS-2

There are many such ethernet filters out there (mileage may vary)....

 

Don’t get too crazy ocd with the quality of your transceiver, filter etc though...Getting a big bold better speaker and treating your room with some diaphragmatic absorption, QRD diffusers, etc would bear a lot more fruit.

“If you want to eliminate any noise into your streamer or dac, convert the Ethernet to fiber then back to Ethernet at the streamer/dac.”

@rbstehno , @deep_333 and anybody else who knows,  I’ve been thinking about trying this, as an empirical experiment. In my case, I’ve got a cable modem capable of 2.5Gb speed, but my ISP tops out at 1.3Gb, going into an eero 7 which then connects to a standard unmanaged ZYXEL switch, which itself is connected only to a Roon Nucleus One and my streamer/dac (all integrated into my NAD M33), which has an iFi silencer in its port.

So, as i don’t have or need 10Gb capability, do i need anything beyond 2 media converters and a length of 1000 BASE-LX or SX fiber cable?  And is LX (single mode) necessary —or better - when the run will be less than 1 meter?   Assuming SX is fine, do these converters fit the bill?

https://www.cablesandkits.com/cabling/fiber/media-converters/mcmmsc-1gb/pro-4528/

Anybody have recommendations for fiber?

will this do the trick?

https://www.cablesandkits.com/mc/om3-lc-lc/fam-531/fp-3818/

thanks!

Hope you didn't fall for this foolery....no breakthrough here from Cen gra d

It is essentially reading to me as.....plug a nvme data drive directly into the motherboard...lol. Any half way decent gaming PC in the past 5 years will be running NVME drives. (facepalm)...

If you want, I can tell you how to build a top notch "streamer" at home by yourself for less than 2k....make it sound better than a 100k streamer from Switzerland or sonething! what do you think?

Here's a secret..it will be a custom PC in a console type case...you can call it a "streamer" though.

 

 

data transmission. Eschewing internal USB transmission, they use their own proprietary way of transmission and got a patent for it (for what that's worth).

 

Here's the preview of a review from 6moons and here's the companies spiel on their streamer. Analysis from those of sharper minds would be appreciated.

 

All the best,

Nonoise