Network Switches

On the LHY- Audio EFI, recognizing that everyone’s room and other components are different, has anybody been able to compare it to the iFI SilentPower fiber isolator in their systems? From the spec sheets, they seem very similar, except LHY’s seems to have better built in power supply modules.

I’ve been demoing the iFI for the past 2 weeks, and am thinking I wil send it back (thank you Amazon and your 30 day refund policy).  SQ seems to be a touch diminished with it is installed between the modem and router (Eero 7), and largely unchanged if instead I put it betweent the switch and my NAD M33 (using its built-in DAC). (I’ve been powering it with iFI’s iPower X DC Adapter.) The speakers are DALI Epicon 6s, which are super revealing and neutral (by far the nicest part of my set up.)

On the other hand, having installed 2 Media converters (StarTech) with  FInisar FTLF8519P3BNL 1000BASE-SX 2.125Gb/s 850nm LC Connector SFPs between the router and switch (which has the Roon Nucleus plugged into it) improved, ever so slightly, higher frequency precision/details and tighter bass. This seems to have provided a tiny bit quieter background without SQ degradation.  And, as Erik suggested many posts ago, now, if I get a power surge through the COAX coming out of the wall to the modem, it won’t get further than frying the modem and router.

As much as I’d prefer a single box with 1 power supply, if I return the iFi Silent Power I might replicate the double StarTech/Finisar optical “moat” approach to isolate the modem from the router. (With 1m Corning glass OM4 fiber optic that whole bundle is <USD180, vs USD399 for the iFI or USD499 for the LHY.) (I would also see if installing those between the switch and the M33 instead offered any improvement and leave the router exposed— after all we get almost no lightening in Portland so COAX surges are not really a serious concern here.)

Thanks for any advice or observations.

Cheers

-Kirk

@kirkwallace 

You could get a SFP switch, and simply use fiber from your modem on out.

I have also looked at the Sonore options, but found if not using an "optical streamer" ie the optical Rendu, two optical modules were needed ( per Andrew Gillis).  One to convert the ethernet to optical and then another to convert back to ethernet.  Too many boxes and too many power supplies/wall warts.  I would prefer a simpler, one box solution.

@devinplombier that is very interesting. So, just to make sure I am follwoing, as i am quite inexperienced with network technology and options, this means getting a switch that can take ethernet RJ45 (say Cat6a) from the router and has one or more SFPs ports built in that i could attach fiber optic cable (say LC) to, but as the Roon and my M33 don’t have any ports that accept fiber (LC or otherwise) inputs, wouldn’t i still need media converters?

You would need converters at every component that does not natively support SFP.

Typically, the last Ethernet segment - the one that plugs into your streamer - is where optical decoupling is most beneficial if sound quality is the goal.