Cheapest way to enhance SQ with digital streaming

OK, my report.  I bought the two optical gizmos and a relatively short piece of optical cable to connect the two.  Running some supra from my mesh node into the first optical gizmo and then a 1.5 meter AQ vodka out of the second and into my aurender A10 yielded to me on my initial 30 minute session no difference. 

Replacing the supra with the vodka straight out of the node into the aurender yielded more detail and ease, it was a worthwhile upgrade.  But, "cleaning" the digital signal out of my node by "filtering" the signal through the optical devices hasn't made a noticeable difference.  I'll keep it in the system for a while and do some A-Bs but this far its just more clutter.  

@car123 Try lps on second fmc, this should be worthwhile improvement. Don't need to spend a lot of money on this, Teradak or something similar fine.Not surprised didn't hear much difference with fmc in front of server. Adding switch and fmc after Aurrender would make more difference. But then this requires adding usb renderer.

If one wants to both reduce clutter and optimize sound quality, two ways to go. FMC after server, this requires two computer setup, aka separate server and streamer, both optical enabled. The second is one computer setup, optimized usb out of server. With optimized usb out of server, add on filters shouldn't be needed.  This assuming one using usb dac.

As described, this is a simple and inexpensive solution for connecting an audio server to a home network that offers the benefit of immunity to RFI/EMI (except at the converters).  My run is 45 feet long and I am using this fiber into two of these converters.  In my system, I have a hard time discerning a difference between the optical solution and 45 feet of CAT8, but every system is different with different levels of quality and design on the inputs/outputs, connectors, power/grounding, and other factors.  This may not be as much of an improvement for me since my system does not seem to have noticeable noise to begin with.  As some have pointed out, the addition of two converters and two power supplies may have an effect on one's system. I am using LPS to power the converters. I am glad the fiber is working out for your system.  What you described is an example of how to accomplish something without spending big "audiophile" money.

I recently added the Network Acoustics ENO Ag Ethernet filter and their 1M cable.  That filter will not work with the 1000Mbs MC200CM converters so I had to purchase 100 Base converters in order to use the fiber with the ENO.  Also, make sure the fiber cable you purchase matches the converters since there are a couple of different types of cable and I believe I had to switch when I purchased the MC100 converters..  I typically do not like small boxes cluttering up my signal chain, but the ENO is seeming to improve the sound from the incoming Ethernet, although for quite a bit more money.  I am also using a switch after the second fiber converter and before the ENO, with very short CAT8 cables between.

I'll add if your intention is best sound quality, perhaps more clutter provides better sq. Simpler may be betterr, or it may not. I see so many positive reviews on so many setups, if someone has proof of the definitive best setup I'd like to hear it. I'm all for experimentation and reporting results, adds to knowledge base.

Thinking about running these fiber optic cables between rooms, requires cutting holes in walls or floors.  The fiber optic cables have largish terminations because of the clips that hold the two cables into place.  Does anybody know whether one can disassemble the cables from the clips, run them through smaller holes, and then reassemble onto the clips?