Fiber or Eithenet

I recommend Linkup CAT 8 - 26AWG from your router to SGC. Send a message to manufacturer through Amazon for custom length.
https://a.co/d/cmi1QmN

Just to clarify SGC is next to the router in another room.  Looking to pull cable from a switch next to the SGC to my audio room some 50 feet away.  It is that cable I need to put in place.  Thanks for the recommendation.  

Sorry new cable will go from switch next to SMC in a separate room  to audio room connecting a Bricasti M1 with network card.    

That long a run get a quality Media Converter like the Sonore Optical Module. https://www.sonore.us/opticalModule-Deluxe.html

Finisar SFP FTLX1475DFBCL and LC-LC-SM-DX-0S2 Corning Fiber. https://www.amazon.com/Fiber-Patch-Cable-Single-Duplex/dp/B00T89DIQW/ref=asc_df_B00T89DIQW/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693418895745&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2785120018893449731&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1026899&hvtargid=pla-353208159507&mcid=de49865fd06b37f29def0e7ae4fca560&th=1

For 50FT run, Linkup cable would be more than adequate for your application. 

@tkrtrb125 - Thanks for the recommendation.  I'm using a Sonore Optical Module today right in front of my DAC.  I guess I'm asking if I should convert to fiber at my switch next to my router, run 50 feet of fiber and convert to ethernet just in front of my DAC or run 50' of ethernet and convert to fiber and then back to ethernet just in front of my DAC. Is there a SQ advantage to one?  

@testrun I am running the Sonore Optical Modules also and had a 75 foot run to my listening room. Pulled all the CAT5 out and ran with CAT8. During covid said the hell with it, pulled OC Fiber and the difference was night and day. Also people are recommending CAT8 cable and it is shield tied at both ends. I prefer CAT8 but use Telegartner unshielded RJ45 connectors as a drain so I am not getting any RFI/EMI from the cable and the drain direction is going away from the switch   . https://www.telegaertner.com/en/online-catalogue-datavoice-office/modular-plugs. in my entire network for my listening room I may have 6 meters of CAT8 from my cascaded switches to my Sonore OM. Hope this helps. You can PM me with any other questions on my setup.

@tkrtrb125 

just to be clear you much preferred Ethernet (cat8) over fiber for your long run and the a short run of fiber to clean it up.  

It should not matter what is before the optical cable.

@yyzsantabarbara 

So are you suggesting running all fiber if possible?

No, just the "last mile" just before the DAC should be fibre. All the analog gremlins should not be able to travel in the glass fibre cable into your DAC.

Using all fibre would not hurt and maybe cheaper or easier. I do not know the costs. It is not something I am wanting to do but if I had the option, I likely would have chosen fibre.

I have Sonore Optical Rendu's for the final mile before the DACs. I used to own a Lumin X1 DAC that had a fibre input in the DAC. A great feature but I sold that DAC.

I tried fiber optic converters and didn’t like the sound with Bricasti M3. Going copper without switches and converters to me sounds best.
I use EERO mesh network and a short run of good Ethernet cable (1m Purist Audio) from EERO node to streamer.

Fiber works for me, but it terminates into the fiber port in my Sonore Sig Rendu SE Opt. so there are no converters near my system.  Even when I used a converter for the final fiber endpoint, I never heard any detriment to using fiber.  Plus, I know of no "audiophile approved fiber" yet so no need to worry about having the latest and greatest version.

“I guess I’m asking if I should convert to fiber at my switch next to my router, run 50 feet of fiber and convert to ethernet just in front of my DAC or run 50’ of ethernet and convert to fiber and then back to ethernet just in front of my DAC.”

@testrun

Avoid conversion back n forth. If I have a choice between ethernet cable or fiber, I always pick ethernet cable based on my comparison. Fiber or ethernet, best way to settle this is to buy both and listen in your system. Keep the one that sounds best to your ears.

What @soix stated is a reasonable approach, I do think you need some isolation and I will tell you why. I recently moved to a new room away from my router, and as a quick solution while I debated running cables, I bought a TP-Link extender with an Ethernet port and used that. One day I decided to see how a hardwired link would sound and I ran my 30’ Blue Jeans CAT 6 cable across the floor between rooms. This had significant negative effects on sound, I was quite surprised. You might try the extender approach before you start running wire. 

Yes I am running all fiber and using cat8 between the switches. I am fiber copper fiber. With Quality media converters and SFP like you have in place you will not have any sound quality issues. Some have issues by using cheap Amazon converters and SFP. With CAT8 it is shielded at both connectors and can cause your cable to become and antenna for RFI and EMI, that is why I have a drain by un shielding the downstream connector, no transmission into my streamers or switches. 

@lalitk 

Kind of arriving to the same conclusion.  Just try and trust my ears.  I just don't want to pull both cables.  

Thanks everyone for sharing experiences and solutions.  Right now I think I'm going to pull ethernet and be happy with it.  Thanks again.  Good listening!!

Same here,  most of my network is fiber . Only converting to supra cat8 where I have to and only short runs. 

No good reason not to try it - you can buy two converters and 15M of fiber cable for $70.  Run it across the floor to try it, before pulling cable through the wall.  Later, even if you choose to use Ethernet cable, you can buy a shorter fiber cable and try incorporating the converters as an optical break at the end of the Ethernet run.  

Fiber when ever possible. It usually has higher bandwidth, is less affected by noise, magnetism, and other interference. Also it has less drop over distance vs wire. 

As a word of caution, most cables that say they are Cat8 usually do not test out that way. It's very important that they use cat8 ends, and install them correctly. 

@testrun good decision. I would also recommend trying a passive filter like the iFi LAN iSilencer between your Ethernet cable and streamer. Depending on the Ethernet implementation in your components and the length of the Ethernet cable, it is possible to get an improvement. If you buy from Amazon and it doesn’t make any difference, return it. 

Don't understand why anyone would convert to fiber at end of chain, converting to fiber should be done at beginning of chain. Cheap fiber converters certainly not optimal, and transceivers do make a difference, industrial grade Finisar 1475 was my choice after trying others. Corning optical cable top level, I use After Dark version. If your going to do fiber conversion cheaping out will result in second class performance.

What comes prior to fiber conversion matters greatly, fiber can't bring back what's lost prior to the conversion. Where ethernet remains, isolation and quality ethernet cable a must, entire chain must be optimized.

Fiber when ever possible. It usually has higher bandwidth, is less affected by noise, magnetism, and other interference. Also it has less drop over distance vs wire. 

As a word of caution, most cables that say they are Cat8 usually do not test out that way. It's very important that they use cat8 ends, and install them correctly. 

@mswale Some decent streamers are designed to successfully decouple/isolate the above mentioned making the upstream ethernet/fiber infrastructure tweaks a bit pointless. Some don't and benefit from the same.