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Sonore OpticalRendu

I've been using the OpticalRendu (original version) that I bought from Small Green Computer 5 years ago and it's been a revelation in my system. I have it paired with Roon and streaming from Tidal and my own library of music stored on a Synology NAS. 

I don't have a dedicated listening room, so the benefits from the optical signal and connection have been a huge plus for me. There is better separation of instruments, bigger soundstage and just a more relaxed presentation of the music compared to other ethernet streamers that I've tried. And perhaps less surprising, the noise floor was very low.

I've been tempted to try a better power supply and eventually upgrade to their flagship Signature Rendu, but there is no going back to ethernet streamers. I'm also planning to run a fiber optic cable behind the walls directly from the Rendu to my Ubiquiti switch, which has an SFP port and this will allow me to remove the fiber media converter in the chain. I'm not sure if this will improve the sound, but it simplifies my network.

Also, shoutout to Andrew at SGC for the great after-sales support when I've run into minor network problems with routers and double NAT issues. 

 

lpw
2 responses Add your response
sns
3,756 posts
 

 Both the lps and going optical from switch will be worthwhile. No switch mode power supplies anywhere in streaming chain should be your eventual goal. I too have been contemplating move to the Deluxe version of OR.

yyzsantabarbara
5,065 posts
 

I have 3 OpticalRendu’s ROON Only version. I also have the audiophile power supply and cable for Sonore in 1 of the 3 Rendu’s. If I had to do it again, I would not buy the expensive audiophile power supply and cable. I cannot tell a difference, and I have a very revealing system, especially the RAAL SR1a earphone part of the system.

I have 3 network switches from a $150 Ubiquiti switch (today $450) and 2 others that are $75 and $50. These have both RJ45 and SFP support. I take the fiber from each switch and go directly to a Rendu. Again, no difference in sound.

I compared the OpticalRendu (when I had only 1) with the Lumin X1 streamer part of the DAC, and the PlayBack Designs STREAM-IF. The STREAM-IF was not used with the PLINK fibre, only SPDIF. These 3 all sounded very different in an apples-to-apples comparison. The Lumin was louder and aggressive sounding (in a great way). The Optical Rendu was more refined sounding, The SPDIF based STREAM-IF was in-between and maybe my favorite. I loved all 3. I ended up selling the STREAM-IF since I was no longer going to spend $24k to buy the PBD Dream DAC (uses PLINK). The Lumin X1 DAC was surpassed by my Schitt Yggi+ OG and even Yggi+ LIM DACs.

When any of my OpticalRendu eventually dies I will get the Lumin U2 streamer, which seems like the Lumin X1’s streamer section.

 

 

 

 

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