2. digital
  3. 177790-7401

Ethernet - Analog/Digital Signal Clean Up

Curiosity got the better of me recently and I tried a pretty cheap tweak where I used two Fiber Optic converters between the eero access point and my Lumin U1 Mini streamer. Converted from copper Ethernet to fiber optic then back to copper and then into streamer using my Supra Cat8. 

I was pleasantly surprised with the improvements this change had brought into my system and now I am wondering if I can do better. One other aspect of the current configuration that I don’t like is the clutter - each unit comes with it’s own power supply and add to that a fiber optic cable. I already have a spider web of wires and am not looking to add to that. 

Objective is to have as much noise, RFI and EMI removed before it reaches the streamer. 

Seeking opinions on the following units from those who had tried them in their systems:

  1. English Electric Network Switch 8 (Silent Angel is pretty much the same thing)
  2. Uptone EtherREGEN (currently out of stock)
  3. Network Acoustics Eno (box or streaming system)

 

What is your experience with these units?

Anything else to add to the above list? 

 

Thanks in advance!

128x128audphile1
antigrunge2
1,366 posts
 

I have the following setup:

cat8->DXE filter->Lhyaudio ocxo switch->etherregen on Antelope audio 10m clock->DXE filter->Emo EN70HD->InnuOs Zenith Mk3->USb->Holo Audio Titanis->Intona Isolator 2.0 Industrial->Antelope Audio Zodiac Platinum on 10m clock. The clock, USB connection and Dac are all powered by Sean Jacobs DC3/4 Lps, the Etherregen by Zerozone 2020 LPS.

Admittedly this is a ridiculous amount of boxes, yet: it took me 3 years to not only figure out the right components but also the sequence.

 

My principal lessons are as follows: avoid any noise from EMI/RFI/Ground level through galvanic isolation, use shielded cables on digital connections and get the best clock you can afford to control the DAC, ethernet and USB connections. Use digital filters on any clock or ethernet connections. I have not played with optical but worked hard in finding good ethernet and USB cables (0nto cat8 and Intona Reference USB)

 

 

audphile1's avatar
audphile1 OP
4,352 posts
 

All…

Tons of good info guys thanks!

@tuberist make sure you use your best Ethernet cable into the streamer. I have already done the comparison you’re about to do.
If possible plug the converters into power conditioner. Difference is not night and day but significant enough at least in my system to keep this set up. I tested this with several songs and consistently heard more natural tone, better imaging and soundstage than what I get with eero direct into Lumin. Depends on your streamer, system, room, etc. YMMV. 

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,902 posts
 

These cheap fiber optic modules create a bunch of noise on their end , try’s UptoneAudio etherregen at both end with a fiber optic much cleaner blacker back ground fiber optic electrically don’t bring noise But if the signal is jittered full of noise to start it delivered a flawed signal to start ,I compared these head to head ,

land in my system fiber sounds a bit thinner , the key is a great hum Sonore is the best but $$ , 2 uptone Audio Ether regen are a good 2 nd choice .

agillis
8 posts
 

You can try putting a liner supply on the FMC on the clean end. That will redice the noise a bit.

Another good device is the Sonore opticalModule. You need the opticalModule and the Linear supply for it so two boxes but the upgrade in sound is well worth it.

 

Or you could get a Lumin X1. It has fiber networking built in!

itsjustme
681 posts
 

Basically says you have ground noise and should be using isolators and a dedicated low noise power supply on the clean side that’s kind of Kluge the way you’ve done it but it’ll Help I guess

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