Connecting a Streamer

[rollo]

  OK reading lots of comments about using optical connection. For me as of now a Ethernet comes in from FIOS service to a Router Ethernet from Router to Server. USB to DAC. Where and how do I use Optical ? Would it be between Router and Server ? Service to Router ? All of the above ? Or can a Ethernet switch clean it up ?


charles

[ejk]

The optical u r referring to is fiber. 2 of the units below go before your streamer. Ethernet in and out with fiber to the receiver then out of reciever with ethernet to your streame. Short cales of course. The Fiber reduces noise.

[ejk]

.sorry pic is too large to post Amazon search ethernet to fiber convertor.

[James Edward]

I?m just throwing this out there- maybe Charles is referring to the connection between his streamer and DAC?
If so, the optical cable would replace the USB to DAC that is currently in place.

It is thought by some that a non-metal device such as optical between the pieces prevents the transfer of electrical noise nasties.

Charles also mentions an Ethernet switch. I don?t know about that, but recently I changed from a Wi-Fi connection to wired Ethernet cable from my router to my streamer. As soon as I plugged in the Ethernet cable, the sound quality took a dive. Further ?research? found that the hard wired connection can also send noise through to the streamer, which a Wi-Fi signal does not.

So? I bought this to see if it would work as advertised, and it seemed to do the trick. https://stackaudio.co.uk/smoothlan/?v=0b3b97fa6688

There are many variations of similar devices, some for less money, some for more. I started a thread here about this and will add to this thread when I find it.

It?s not clear to me exactly what Charles was referring to, but I hope this helps someone out there.

[James Edward]

It was discussed in this thread-
https://audionervosa.com/index.php?topic=9157.0

[ejk]

I tried the Smoothlan and I ended up with megativ e effectsYMMV.

[Nick B]

I looked at optical briefly and specifically at Small Green Computer. More boxes and wires and pretty expensive too for some of the products. Thankfully I don't have a noise issue with my system.

http://smallgreencomputer.com/

[ejk]

I looked at optical briefly and specifically at Small Green Computer. More boxes and wires and pretty expensive too for some of the products. Thankfully I don't have a noise issue with my system.

http://smallgreencomputer.com/

The setup from Amazon is less than 100 dollars and highly praised

[Nick B]

I looked at optical briefly and specifically at Small Green Computer. More boxes and wires and pretty expensive too for some of the products. Thankfully I don't have a noise issue with my system.

http://smallgreencomputer.com/

The setup from Amazon is less than 100 dollars and highly praised

Can you provide a link to the Amazon stuff? Both my ethernet and Neotech silver/gold digital coax sound very good

[rollo]

  Yes converting Ethernet from router to Fiber Optic to Streamer. Was talk of reducing noise. Also the copper wire of the Ethernet cable is noiser than Fiber optic according to reviewer. Installing a linear power supply on my router was a huge improvement over wall wart. Wall warts just suck. iFi makes the best however a linear power supply is much better.

charles

[ejk]

I looked at optical briefly and specifically at Small Green Computer. More boxes and wires and pretty expensive too for some of the products. Thankfully I don't have a noise issue with my system.

http://smallgreencomputer.com/

The setup from Amazon is less than 100 dollars and highly praised

Can you provide a link to the Amazon stuff? Both my ethernet and Neotech silver/gold digital coax sound very good

https://a.co/d/gW0CuY7

[Nick B]

I looked at optical briefly and specifically at Small Green Computer. More boxes and wires and pretty expensive too for some of the products. Thankfully I don't have a noise issue with my system.

http://smallgreencomputer.com/

The setup from Amazon is less than 100 dollars and highly praised

Can you provide a link to the Amazon stuff? Both my ethernet and Neotech silver/gold digital coax sound very good

https://a.co/d/gW0CuY7

Thanks. A nice simple box for a great price. When I was with the Vegas audio club, I can't recall any of those guys doing optical. I also have no idea what a really high-quality optical cable costs.

[ejk]

I looked at optical briefly and specifically at Small Green Computer. More boxes and wires and pretty expensive too for some of the products. Thankfully I don't have a noise issue with my system.

http://smallgreencomputer.com/

The setup from Amazon is less than 100 dollars and highly praised

Can you provide a link to the Amazon stuff? Both my ethernet and Neotech silver/gold digital coax sound very good

https://a.co/d/gW0CuY7

Thanks. A nice simple box for a great price. When I was with the Vegas audio club, I can't recall any of those guys doing optical. I also have no idea what a really high-quality optical cable costs.

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/ do a search here for fiber optic amd sfp's the rabbit hole is deep. I would post linls but I  in the Carribean and service stinks

[Nick B]

I looked at optical briefly and specifically at Small Green Computer. More boxes and wires and pretty expensive too for some of the products. Thankfully I don't have a noise issue with my system.

http://smallgreencomputer.com/

The setup from Amazon is less than 100 dollars and highly praised

Can you provide a link to the Amazon stuff? Both my ethernet and Neotech silver/gold digital coax sound very good

https://a.co/d/gW0CuY7

Thanks. A nice simple box for a great price. When I was with the Vegas audio club, I can't recall any of those guys doing optical. I also have no idea what a really high-quality optical cable costs.

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/ do a search here for fiber optic amd sfp's the rabbit hole is deep. I would post linls but I  in the Carribean and service stinks

Thanks. A good website and maybe high quality cables as well. Enjoy your vacation and be careful about too much sun and too many tropical drinks 🍹

[ejk]

Ok I will post the fiber optic/switch I was using. Like I said previously this has worked very well based on Youtube reviews and forums.

qty
1 or as many as you want https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VVFB8VX?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_9&th=1
1-https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S98YLHM?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_12
2-https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0716XT1QT?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_14&th=1