Network Switches

I love the ECM.  Its very natural sounding, perhaps a touch warm ( which I like ).  Vocals are so lifelike ; its a bit spooky at times.  It does need a good 50- 100 hours break in.   I had several prior DACs including Bricasti and Linn; and this is much more natural and organic sounding.  Its definitely a keeper.  Rob at Audio Art sells them now and he is great to work with.

 

Couple of questions for you regarding your post.  Would I be better served with an LPS for the network switch or my router/modem?

And where would the Network Acoustics ENO be positioned?

@rivinyl 

IME, LPS are overkill for mass produced network switches and/or router modem. Aforementioned iFI wall wart is more than adequate for them. You would position ENO between your switch or router and ECM. In order words, ENO should be the last device before Ethernet signal enters your ECM. 

And thank you for your feedback and referral on ECM. It does aligns with what I’ve been reading online. 

I added the effe isolator - Dawn Technology Limited in front of the Grimm. This adds optical fiber in the network feed to the streamer.

A Sablon network cable feeds my Grimm MU1.

A Sablon digital XLR feeds the Mola Mola Tambaqui.

All other network cables are inakustik CAT 6 Ethernet cables.

 

 

@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!

@toyman 

Thank you for referencing effe-01. The price point makes it a very attractive alternative to conventional fiber optic modules and conversion Ethernet switches + wall wart power supplies. I am using a very similar device albeit a very high price point. 

@audphile1 …please check it out. 
https://www.effe-i.com