Optical vs Ultra Rendu.

I too had less than successful experience with audiophile switch, YMMV. With my second ethernet out of server, switch is made superfluous, only adds detour with another added ethernet cable and switch. I use lps on my router, nice upgrade, router only feeds server, no return of signal back to router, simply goes from server to, in my case FMC. With ethernet and optical the shorter the path the better. Very few servers offer second ethernet out, with exception of Antipodes and Sonicorbiter I9, which is optical out. I simply don't understand this omission with most servers since it requires the above roundabout with either switch or router.

Most servers designed without separate streamer in mind which creates the need for switches for those who want to try separate streamers or streamer/dac, usb out of server not for everyone.

The easiest way to get what you need if going with OpticalRendu, as mentioned above get the FMC bundle from smallgreencomputer. Your setup would be:

modem>router via ethernet cable> server via ethernet cable> optional switch via ethernet cable>FMC (included in bundle) via ethernet cable>OpticalRendu via optical cable included in bundle>dac via usb cable. If you get the bundle no need to worry about getting proper FMC, can be confusing as there are different type optical connectors. Don't worry about lps for everything but the OpticalRendu, the lps sold by smallgreen computer is fine, you could always try other lps at later date.

Your setup would be modem>(via ethernet cable)router>FMC>(via optical cable)OpticalRendu>USB in on dac. OpticalRendu $1500 plus FMC $25 or so, $6 optical cable, plus lps for opticalrendu and FMC (optional lps). Get good power supply for OpticalRendu, best you can afford.

At some point you may want to look into getting a switch rather than going out from relatively noisy router.

I can only compare directly to SOTM SMS200 Neo with two FMC, all powered by lps. OpticalRendu not an insignificant upgrade to that setup, really plays in different league, significantly lower noise floor and far more relaxed presentation. I presume lps used with OpticalRendu important, I use Uptone JS-2.

Sorry, can't help with UltraRendu, but based on a number of impressions from various reviewers OpticalRendu and/or Signature version both improve on some much more expensive streamers. OpticalRendu is really special IMO.

One needs to think holistically when setting up streaming system. Network should be set up to take advantage of best input on dac. While some dismiss usb, usb is often best input on dac, many dac manufacturers have taken great pains to maximize usb format.

So, assuming usb superior input on dac, streamers such as optical and ultra rendu become viable and/or optimal streaming solution. The problem with usb in many streaming setups is using the common motherboard usb out on most servers, this is far from optimal. One must use one of the various usb renderers/improvers like Uptone usbRegen, Innuos Phoenix usb or any number of others to take advantage of full capability of dac usb input. OpticalRendu will eliminate any need for further usb rendering.

One must use FMC, optical out server or optical out switch in front of OpticalRendu, also must use LC format for optical module, this to make sure optical cable will be compatible with OpticalRendu. My present solution uses Bidi Gigabit Multi mode SFP LC FMC (purchased from Amazon) with 5v Teradak LPS, eventually will go to Sonore OpticalModule with LPS when chips become available for unit.

@high-amp I presume the LPS sold with Sonore bundle is fine, but assuming one gets full value with more expensive LPS, may not be optimum lps for OpticalRendu. As I mentioned previously, I use Uptone JS-2, aprox. $1k lps, I haven't tried another lps with my unit so can't ascertain for certain value of this lps in sound quality of my setup. I can only say major upgrade over SOtm, SMS200Neo which I also powered with the JS-2.

@high-amp I may have assumed too much with my above scenario for your setup. While server is technically feeding the FMC, your ethernet connection to the FMC would come out of router, assuming you don't have switch.

A couple reasons why some use switches in addition to routers. One is they may have an excess of devices on network such that router doesn't have enough ports. Second is router is noisier environment than switch, therefore, switch is acting as filter, some may have better clocks and/or fiber out (Cisco switch mentioned above is one, UptoneEtherRegen another), and then adding the lps is adding to filtering effect. Also gets rid of complexity, getting rid of FMC and another ethernet cable.

Yes, the SFP modules need to be compatible, the OpticalRendu uses LC type connector, it does come with the unit. And yes, slowing down to 100Mbps and single mode are reportedly better, although the single mode not universally reviewed as superior. The purpose built FMC is the Sonore OpticalModule, presume this will result in further reductions in noise and provide better clocking vs. generic FMC's.

The reason I believe some find switches effective in their setup vs mine where I didn't is due to second ethernet port on my server. In my case router or noise is ONLY feeding my server, second port feeding first FMC completely filters network noise, the rerouting or detour required by adding switch only serves to complicate my network path, more direct path superior for me.I assumed cleaning network feeding prior to server would provide superior sound quality, in my case the added complexity  trumped the lower noise floor resulting in more info but cookie cutter images, totally unnatural, and this with audiophile switch with built in lps.  For those without second ethernet port on server, one is forced to use usb from server (usually noisy as it comes directly off motherboard) direct to dac or back to router or switch in order to add streamer, the router dirty, switch cleaner. For most comparing a second ethernet port out of server vs router or switch is impossible as their server's don't have the second ethernet port. I understand the point I'm making here is therefore moot to most, I keep reiterating the second ethernet port in threads because this was one of the most effective network optimizations I've experienced over the years I've been experimenting with network optimization. I would suggest for anyone looking to get a new server, and planning on running a separate streamer now or in the future they get one with second ethernet port! Another point here is that what's downstream of server is far more important than what's upstream, true in my experience and I've been told this from a number of personal conversations with the people at Uptone and Network Acoustics.

@high-amp Don't put too much on your platter for the time being. Get the bundle and I5 and you'll be good to go, actually doing really well! You can upgrade router/switch later on, the bundle will supply vast majority of high quality streaming for you. I don't know which dac you're using, but this may be worth looking at down the road with these network upgrades, dac really most important component in the entire setup.