Cheapest way to enhance SQ with digital streaming

While I hate to say this, as generic FMC can be very nice upgrade, one can still further optimize optical. Generic FMC use pretty lousy clocks and noisy regulators, last FMC in chain injects it's own noise into network, and this, most likely close to dac which is worst place to inject noise. So, we replace last FMC with Sonore Optical Module, much better Femto clock and four low noise linear regulators, less noise, better timing for less jitter. I have one coming supposedly in July (chip issues), I expect good things.

Just goes to show for every upgrade in streaming, there is yet another upgrade. Streaming  and network optimization has yet to reach a static optimal solution.

@romney80 Thank you for the FMC advice, greatly appreciated.

But you have just sent me down a rabbit hole 😉

Continuing experimentation with optical continues causing me to reassess its value in all instances. I've been using generic FMC, with lps and quality power cables prior to server for past month or so, thought I had pretty good handle on sound quality. So went back to router with lps, nice power cord straight into server (optical remains post server), much better sound quality sans FMC. This back to original configuration, always like to do A>B>A comparisons to check for confirmation bias.

IME, the two FMC, while having slightly lower noise floor, in the sense I could hear lowest level info slightly easier. it was at expense of more analytical presentation. More hifi than sense of realism I get without FMC. Transparency really took a hit with the FMC, more closed in, veiled sound quality, Decreased sound stage size, less image dimensionality, less air around performers, all contributed to less sense of performers in room.

My take is generic FMC may take more than give. Less than optimal implementation of optical for reasons given in my last post, added complexity with streaming chain may also be liability.

This sounds worth trying, as I've never been all that happy with the sound that I get from streaming. Admittedly, I'm not that technically savvy. I have a standard modem on the second floor and from there, I run an ethernet cable to my Bryston Pi in the attic and then from the Pi, I run a USB cable to my Ayre DAC. Would I just connect the first of those boxes at the end of the ethernet, close to the Pi or would the first box be closer to the modem?

Also, there's an affordable switch from English Electric which is owned by Chord. It's getting good reviews. It may be worth taking a look at.