Network Switches

@audphile1 

I don’t think 26awg version better but it definitely much more flexible. The 22awg version as you know is bit stiff.

@lalitk cool. Thanks! 

FWIW, I have placed this between my switch and streamer, It did lower the noise floor. I cannot detect any detraction of sound quality, harshness etc. with it installed. Just a lower noise floor IMHO. No SMPS. I use a good power cord on it too. (WW Silver Electra 7)  This replaced an Network Acoustics Eno filter system, which I felt it compressed dynamics a bit. 

 https://www.beatechnik.com/product-page/lhy-audio-efi

@fthompson251 

Thanks for mentioning this product. Fiber optic isolation converters in audio applications is gaining traction, especially in digital front-end systems where noise reduction and signal purity are critical. A device like LHY Audio EFI works without stripping away the dynamics since it’s keeping the signal transmission over conventional RJ45 cable. I am using a similar device and it’s indispensable in my system. 

The main reason for lower noise floor is optical conversion, it breaks the electrical continuity eliminating ground loops and EMI/RFI contamination.

@fthompson251 @lalitk I too have found optical conversion to be worthwhile, and there is optimizations to be had here as well. I'm running Sonore OpticalModule to OpticalRendu, optimization of these devices via DC cables, DC plugs, LPS, AC cables, power conditioners, transceiver modules. 

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.

@devinplombier , got it; makes total sense. Thank you. 

I have returned the iFi silent power unit and for now, i am going replace it with a  duplicate the double StarTech/Finisar optical “moat” with the OM4 Corning glass in between the switch and M33 (i.e, the last ethernet segment to use your nice phrase). I may just leave the connection between the modem & router, alone for now. (I put aslightly better power source in to the router a couple weeks ago; maybe that is sufficient, given the “moats”.)

The original GigaFOILv4-INLINE (here) was basically an optical isolator, similar to the LHY product. The same folks that brought us the GigaFOILv4, DJM Electronics, now offers the fancier looking, Streaming Audio Ethernet EMI Filter (here) that uses “proprietary Digital Signal Processing (DSP) techniques” and costs about 4x as much.  Maybe it works better. Does it work better than the Network Acoustics ENO 2 that uses transformers to isolate, or the more expensive MUON PRO?  Who knows? Two $30 converters and two $80 LPSs may perform just as well, or not.  I have tried multiples of these things in my own system and the only thing I learned for sure is that they just keep costing more. In the end, we all seem to find our own path.

I agree, probably not optimal for multiple conversion, ethernet>optical>ethernet. Thru trial and error I found using OpticalRendu as my streamer was beneficial in a number of ways,. Firstly, Roon sound quality superior using two streamer setup, Roon core on first streamer, Endpoint on the OR which is designed for this purpose only, second benefit is the single optical conversion, third, OR optimizes usb vs what I'd get out of most streamers. 

Certainly one could go optical out of router route, the issue is not all optical interfaces equal, the Sonore and other audiophile converters provide superior optical interface. I and many others have compared generic to optimized solutions, this is the general consensus. 

@sns  we are using Edisoncreation Silent Switch OCXO II ver. Standard and the Fiberbox III ver. Standard. Also have had great results with Sonore Opitcal Module Deluxe V2 in tandem, with my Innuos Statement. 

@lalitk  have you ever experienced any ground loop issues when using the double shieded 26awg linkup Cat8 Ethernet cables?

@kirkwallace 

No issue whatsoever. 

Good to hear. Thank you.  

I've got a test cord coming tomorrow.  The system is sounding so good now -- the media converters with those finisar SFPs & the Corning OM4 fiber seem to be magic -- it's hard to imagine any improvement, but I'm eager to expirement to see the effect, if any, of replacing an unshielded cat 6a cord for the last foot into the M33 (streamer, DAC, integrated amp all in one) with this shielded one. 

Just to close the loop on this, the shielded Cat8 cable arrived and seems fine.  No real change over the Blue Jeans Cat6a that I can discern. But some peace of mind knowing that that last foot from optical to the streamer/DAC/amp is now also shielded from EMI and RFI, without having created any ground loop hum. Were it more than $10 at stake, I might consider returning it, but as is, I am inclined to keep it.