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The indisputable benefit of fiber for music

I've read a lot about fiber's audible superiority to Ethernet, and most of it I have taken with a grain of salt.  1GigE is plenty fast for just about anything, and it is balanced and galvanically isolated. The one area where fiber is clearly a better choice for music systems is lightning protection.

It is not uncommon for lightning to enter a home via the cable TV's coaxial cable. This can easily jump the millimeters from coax to Ethernet to Ethernet. So if you are like me, and rely on Ethernet cabling to stream to avoid any Wifi issues you are also creating a possible lightning path from the external Internet provider's connection all the way to your fancy audio gear.

In this one situation I have to say, the use of a 1m or longer fiber cable is the superior solution. I'm considering using this at the junction between the cable TV modem and my router, therefore isolating all of my streaming devices at once.

Best,

Erik
erik_squires
rikkipuu's avatar
rikkipuu
278 posts
 
Check out posts by Kenny123 at WBF.  My experience is limited to Startech SFP1000ZXST which I found overly bright.  Sonore's Multimode SFP's and cable which I found overly dark.  And Finisar 1318 which I enjoy.  Kenny recommended Finisar 1324 which I finally found on ebay and are being delivered shortly.

I have a Startech fiber and an also waiting on another fiber cable to be delivered.

To answer your question about the ENO filter I just removed mine and immediately found the sound dull glossed over and lifeless in comparison, but if I didn't have the ENO I would probably think it sounds good.  The ENO is between an EtherRegen and SOtM sNH-10G which are connected by the fiber and both clocked by a MutecRef10.  I just put the ENO back and all's well again.  And for full disclosure there is  SOtM dCBL CAT7 between the ER and ENO, the ENO cable is very short.
rikkipuu's avatar
rikkipuu
278 posts
 
sorry Kennyb123
mitch2
4,013 posts
 
You are apparently using plug-in SFP devices.  I am using the linked stand-alone converters and powering the one located in the vicinity of my gear with an HD Plex LPS instead of the wall-wort that it came with.
richtruss
163 posts
 
Please note that the ENO filter will only work with Media Converters where the RJ45 connection will work at 100Mb/S. Converters like the TP-Link MC200 will only work at 1Gb/S so won’t work with the ENO filter. The MC100 is a better choice.
mitch2
4,013 posts
 
Hi Rich,
The info for the MC200CM says "10/100/1000Mbps."  So does that mean it "always" operates at the max 1Gb/S?   I did order two of the MC100CM converters so if I want to try the ENO I will have the appropriate Ethernet out speed.
I am strongly considering giving the ENO a try but I am a little trigger shy having had too many small boxes here that did next to nothing for the sound.
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