At Small Green Computer, we have updated our optical isolation bundle to include a linear power supply on the clean end
Is optical mostly a waste of time versus Ethernet?
The only value I see with a fiber optical cable is if you have a long long run.
All the noise coming into an optical fiber is preserved and comes out the other side. I guess there is a value in not creating more noise while it is traveling through the optical cable. But if it's a short run of two Feet then is it really worth it. Seems a well shielded Ethernet cable would do just as fine without all the hassle of converting to optical which is a pain in the ass.
I always thought there was value with optical but it seems they're really may not be. Maybe I'm wrong. It seems a switch likely produces a lot of noise and inserting an audio grade switch is very prudent and going optical really doesn't solve switch noise problem. The benefit of re-clocking offered by a decent switch to clean up the signal is worthwhile.
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Based on my experience, optimal implementation of these units is to use lps, best power cords, all plugged into power conditioner, this on both FMC. I've also used portable lithium ion battery pack to power FMC, so that would be option if no power conditioner or power conditioner not reachable. The one thing you don't want to do is plug the switching power supply (wall wart) into same ac line rest of audio system on. All switching power supplies back feed noise into ac lines, no no for audio. |
Optical fiber cable doesn’t carry noise like a metallic core Ethernet cable. I switched from Ethernet cable connection between router and my Weiss 501 to dual FMC converter boxes, optical fiber connected and immediately heard more details in the music so I’m guessing the noise floor was lowered. This was a sub $200 experiment that I liked and kept. |
@goofyfoot sns stated you do not want wall warts or switching power supplies on the same leg as your system. Look at small conditioning strips. |
@juanmanuelfangioii So what started out as being a very cost effective way of improving sound quality when streaming, is actually another expensive proposal given the need for separate power strips at both ends of the converters. So it looks as though I'll keep relying mainly on my local file sources via my external hard drive, given its vast improvement over streaming. And, I would imagine that within a year, technology will change and some other antidote will present itself and what is considered as a viable option today, will then become antiquated. |
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