If you stream music from the internet, I can't recommend this more highly


I had been using a Roon Nucleus to stream Qobuz, with my Chord Qutest directly connected to the Nucleus. I thought I was getting pretty decent sound quality. And then I got a marketing email from Small Green Computer touting some of their optical gear. The basic idea is that normal cables and connections used to stream from the internet pick up noise of one kind or another (radio frequencies and electromagnetic something or other). But fiber optic cables and their connections/interfaces do not. I don’t know anything about anything, but it made theoretical sense to me, it wasn’t a huge amount of money ($1,400), and with a 30 day return policy I figured I could always return it if I didn’t hear any improvement. Well, I didn’t just hear a slight improvement; it was like turning on the lights in a dark room. Much greater clarity and detail, much better micro and macro dynamics, better timbre to acoustic instruments -- overall just more lifelike. Two quick examples: I’ve listened to some of Steely Dan’s top songs 100s of times over the course of my life, and this is the first time I’d ever noticed a particular and very subtle sound characteristic of Fagen’s keyboard in Babylon Sister. It’s hard to describe, but it’s like there’s a slight sound of air being exhaled by it. The other example: the specific timbre of whatever percussive instrument is used at the beginning of Copeland’s "Fanfare for the Common Man" (a recording by the Minnesota Orchestra). There’s more of a metallic sound than a drum skin sound to it that I didn’t know was there before. The metallic sound starts in the center and then projects out and to the sides, like a wave washing over you. Anyway, I’m just thrilled about having stumbled upon the whole "optical" thing and felt obligated to let others know about it. If you stream music over the internet, I highly recommend giving it a try. (The product I got was the opticalRendu, with the linear power supply option, and the Fiber Ethernet Converter Bundle option.)
128x128hiphiphan
Have you tried HQPlayer?
Good question. I have used HQplayer for a brief trial period. The UI is a bit primitive, but it provides a great learning opportunity to study the effects of filter design on sq. Essentially, one is able to simulate internal DAC operations. But you have to learn the theory first before making good selections for the various filters. A great resource and highly recommended for anyone interested in the topic. I see a lot of people struggle with it.

In my case, I only applied my limited playtime with HQPlayer to a high-quality ESS9018 based DAC and found very few (subjective) differences between the various options. Not enough for me to put up with the poor UI and make it the primary player for everyday use. As an end-point to Roon perhaps it is better suited.

I also think that if one has a high-quality d/s based DAC of recent design, the benefits of using HQPlayer is greatly diminished.

Luisma31, thank you for your comments.
I haven’t noticed any differences myself but others intriguely do, should I say they are delusional or should I give them some credit? I choose the latter, I don’t like to dismiss people experiences, unless at some point I realize they are truly delusional.

I struggle with this as well, because I found myself in the exact same dilemma. First of, I am not an active blogger unlike others here. And one must avoid not to fall into the pit holes, e.g. endless arguments.

The OT headline of this thread caught my attention. And without becoming too confrontational, I asked "What is the problem opticalRendu is trying to solve?" Why does this device makes such a "huge" difference in perceived improvement?

The "improvement" needs to be put into a different perspective and somehow quantified. My approach now: I think the measurementalists are doing a great service to the community and I read, and listen to them. But by no means are they the only authoritative decision point.

Nobody can ever be fully immune to the "aha - this sounds great" effect, because after all it is wonderful hobby (for most). And therefore nobody should be put down for being excited about the improvement of a certain product, unless it is, as you said, completely delusional. Opinion vary...
I’m a retired Network engineer.  I’ve been involved with wiring, packet tracing and what not (source routed token ring yea). Where I run aground in this issue, is the data prior to the DAC. It’s all digital data packets. Electrical interference or noise makes no changes to the data packets themselves. It could cause a packet not to be received, or fragmented. I would think all/any problems with noise/interference would show up in the  analogue signal path. 
Any one?
Electrical interference or noise makes no changes to the data packets themselves. It could cause a packet not to be received, or fragmented.
Could you please re-write this in CAPS, so that everyone can read it :-) Some people believe that expensive shielding and "directional" data cables would somehow improve audio quality. But it's a futile effort to fight a enormous industry and their believers. Only a small amount of education would remedy this. 

Again, I am not saying that microRendu is a flawed product, but I am saying that the value is inflated by misleading marketing and phony claims. 

In extreme cases, some boutique hi-end audio manufacturers will sell you a $30,000 music streamer (network -> USB or SPDIF bridge, or DAC) and make you believe it's a worthy investment. Some people on this thread here can build a better performing streamer for $300 and with expectations of similar results. 
With a very good 75 ohm spdif cable and OTG USB, this allows me to use my Android to my DAC for Tidal MQA-https://www.nobsound.ltd/usb-to-spdif-converter-xmos-xu208-coaxial-optical-toslink-support-source-ou...
Sound pretty good in my system. Not bad for 40 or so bucks.