Sonore Opticalrendu vs Auralic Aries G1.1

The OpticalRendu is great streamer, especially if matched with OpticalModule (just became available again and top grade LPS on both. I use Uptone JS2 with my OR. Observe many others using Sonore optical equipment with top echelon streamers/servers for two computer setup. In my setup I vacillate between using my custom build streamer in one computer setup, in this mode streamer connected directly to dac via usb. In two computer setup custom build streamer connects to OM and OR, OR connects to dac. At the moment I'm preferring second setup with OR streaming Roon via Squeezelite.

Using a FMC in front of an OpticalRendu improves the sound by a little bit. I have 2 OpticalRendu’s in my office hooked up to 2 DAC’s, which are both connected to a Benchmark LA4 premap (and 1 DAC also connected to a tube amp).

I am able to do some side-by-side comparisons very easily. Especially when I use the GROUP stream option in ROON. One of my Optical Rendu’s does not have an FMC in front of it and the other one does. The one that has the FMC seems like a cleaner window into the music. It is not a lot but worth investigating since an FMC is not expense.

Only problem for me with FMC’s is 2 of them failed on me (cheap ones) so I am now using a spare EtherRegen in reverse order as an FMC. I think any reliable FMC will suffice.

BTW - The idea of using the FMC in front comes from Jon Swenson, the designer of the EtherRegen and OpticalRendu.

not sure i am following

the optical rendu by definition requires a fiber/optical input to feed it its digitized music signal... which it in turn converts back into electrical form, to be sent to the downstream dac via its usb output

so i am not sure how an opticalrendu can possibly be operated without an fiber media converter in front of it

another way of saying this is the defining difference between the optical rendu and its predecessor ultrarendu (or microrendu) is specifically the fact that it does the electrical-to-optical-and-then-back-to-electrical processing, in order to remove the electronically generated and transmitted noise from computer boards/chips, power supplies, network switches and so on...

@jjss49  You are correct. I believe yzzsantabarbara has fiber router or modem?

I mention the Sonore OpticalModule as it is an optimized FMC, with superior clocking and internal power supply vs the generics.

Micheal Lavorgna of Twittering Machines has review of Signature RenduOptical (OpticalRendu with built in LPS), he's had some top echelon dacs and streamers in his personal system, OR has improved every streamer/server and dac inserted into system. I hear exactly same improvements he does in this review, https://twitteringmachines.com/review-sonore-signature-rendu-se-systemoptique/

Many individuals over at audiophilestyle forum also use OpticalRendu products with top echelon streaming setups, including Chris Connaker, founder of Computer Audiophile, now Audiophilestyle.