2. digital
  3. 177790-7401

Ethernet - Analog/Digital Signal Clean Up

Curiosity got the better of me recently and I tried a pretty cheap tweak where I used two Fiber Optic converters between the eero access point and my Lumin U1 Mini streamer. Converted from copper Ethernet to fiber optic then back to copper and then into streamer using my Supra Cat8. 

I was pleasantly surprised with the improvements this change had brought into my system and now I am wondering if I can do better. One other aspect of the current configuration that I don’t like is the clutter - each unit comes with it’s own power supply and add to that a fiber optic cable. I already have a spider web of wires and am not looking to add to that. 

Objective is to have as much noise, RFI and EMI removed before it reaches the streamer. 

Seeking opinions on the following units from those who had tried them in their systems:

  1. English Electric Network Switch 8 (Silent Angel is pretty much the same thing)
  2. Uptone EtherREGEN (currently out of stock)
  3. Network Acoustics Eno (box or streaming system)

 

What is your experience with these units?

Anything else to add to the above list? 

 

Thanks in advance!

128x128audphile1
rms456
40 posts
 

@toyman , let's know how they work in your system. The purpose of the two filters is that one blocks crud from the source, the other from induction along the cable.

Try to use non shielded cables in the chain, the sound was rough and hard compared to plain jane, so no need for expensive cables either as most of these are shielded. 

rikkipuu's avatar
rikkipuu
242 posts
 

I have the 8Switch and ER and a SOtM switch.

I have the 8Switch between the home router and ER (turned around) to moat the signal to the SOtM.  I found a SOtM dcbCat7u better between the SOtM switch and my streamer than the ENO Ag in the same position.

I was unhappy with fiber between the ER and SOtM.

lollipopguild's avatar
lollipopguild
125 posts
 

I'm currently playing about with all this - trying to get the best out of my Zenith Mk3.

I've tried the Sotm ISOCAT7, basic fibre setup and NA Eno.   Of the three the Eno is my favourite, though it's only a day old so hope to hear further improvement.  Like others, I felt the fibre option sounded dynamic and detailed yet brittle.  Impressive in the short term, but wearying to live with.

I'm happy where I am now with:

Netgear Orbi satellite (wifi backhaul)  =>  AQ carbon  =>  TP-Link 5-port switch with iFi iPower X  =>  Eno streaming system  =>  Zenith Mk3

So, unsure whether to sell off the Sotm.

Does anyone think I'll get any benefit from putting it between the Orbi and the TP-link switch, or perhaps between the switch and the Eno?

 

audiom3
141 posts
 

@audphile1 wrote:

Set up 5 and 6: The FMC in the chain reduced noise, improved imaging and soundstage but with the FMC I could hear thinner mid and lower bass (although clean and tuneful the bass was just slightly lacking), less slam. However, as I said, because of the improvements achieved here I think this a better configuration than the EERO direct into Lumin. The NA Eno between FMC and Lumin did not help with the thinned out midbass and bass. 

This is correct.  Kind of?  The bass seemed thinner because it (fiber isolation) was stripping away distortion.  And if you have big, powerful speakers (Legacy Focus SEs in my case) this is 100% welcomed.  Actually any time you remove distortion - anywhere in the audio frequency band, it is never a bad thing, IMO.  Going fiber all the way from router to FMC before streamer is even better.  Much better actually.  And of course a filter (band-aid) won't help restore lowered distortion unless it's adding it's own distortion to the signal!

sns
3,003 posts
 

I was planning on trying the Muon as next streaming experiment, the following review gives me pause.https://youtu.be/CCLFJgwf21o

 

This for placement between router and server, already tried fiber and audiophile switch without success, preference is router powered by lps direct to server.

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