Advice on Optical Ethernet Conversion

@jimboman Congrats on the Bricasti M3, that is what I also have and I like it a lot. As I mentioned previously, I run an ethernet cable directly from the OM into the Mdx network card on the M3. Is that how you are also using your OM? For me the OM sounded better than the Etherregen, but it seems like for your system/network, the results were less significant. Yes, checking the boxes seems to be what happens sometimes and at least now you know you have that part sorted.

Hope you enjoy your Bricasti!

@sfpeloton 

I’m loving the M3.  It’s a significant improvement to my system. Very musical and articulate.

I run the OM via fibre direct into a Lumin U2, then to the Bricasti via Lumin’s dedicated USB port.  My M3 doesn’t have the Ethernet option.

im looking forward to experimenting further with DSD upsampling, just to see how the M3 DSD sounds versus USB.  Fun!

Best, JAMES

Got it. Your OM is on the upstream side of the fiber whereas mine is on the downstream side and feeds directly into my DAC. That probably explains some of the differences we are observing. Your Lumin probably does a very good job of feeding a clean signal to the M3.  

@sfpeloton 

Yes, the Lumin/Bricasti seems to be a lovely pairing.  Really enjoying it.

Took a look at your system page - nice stuff!  For DSD playback, did you have to set Roon to play DSD over DoP?  I tried sending native DSD via upsampling on the Lumin, but the Bricasti wouldn't play it back.  I'm thinking it's because my M3 doesn't have the MDx upgrade board in it (yet).  Going to reach out to support to see if I can get it working.

Speaking of box-checking, curious about your experience with the Mundorf cable.  That's from your LPS to the OM?  Did you feel it improved the SQ?  If so, can you describe the improvement?  Thanks.

Best, JAMES.

Hi @jimboman. Thanks for the kind words. I have an Audionet Amp heading to me to try replacing the Hegel, but it already sounds pretty great as is.

I am running Roon on a Sonicorbiter i9 optical server and going through fiber to the OM. I can upsample to NDSD and feed that without PCM conversion to the M3. I think native resolution vs DSD upsampling are pretty close in sound quality, but I have a preference for the slight sound improvement with the NDSD signal path on the M3. I know at least one other person here that prefers native with no upsampling so it is best to try it for yourself and decide. I do think bass is a little more prominent/full without upsampling, so it depends on whether that is something you prioritize.

Many times I have tried something in my system hoping for an improvement and end up disappointed by the change or lack of change. As for the Mundorf, I wasn't expecting too much from this cable. I was pleasantly surprised to hear a small but clearly noticeable improvement in ease (lower noise?), resolution and dynamics with this cable. Importantly, this is with the LPS and OM just ahead of my DAC so I think clean power here is critical. You may see less of an improvement given your network configuration where the Lumin is directly ahead of the M3.