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!

audphile1
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,809 posts
 

“I cannot hear it in my system then it provides no value to me.”

@mitch2 

I couldn’t agree with you anymore. There are so many variables in play when it comes to digital streaming. No two setups are alike, so experimenting from plethora of options in switches, filters and other tweaks is the only way to know what works or doesn’t work in your system. In my experience, I found ENO filter to be way better on its own in terms of performance upgrade (again in my system) than many other options currently available in ENO’s price range.

mitch2
4,342 posts
 

This weekend, I plan to simplify further by moving my HD Plex LPS to power my modem and router then 45 feet of Cat 8 directly out of the router to the area where my system is and into the Gigafoilv4 (optical isolation) which will be powered by its own LPS, then the Network Acoustics streaming cable into the ENO and into my server.  The server uses the JCAT USB Card XE so I run USB from the server to may DAC.  Later, I will take out the Gigafoilv4 and try it with just the ENO.

sns
4,081 posts
 

Lps on modem is interesting! My present modem supplied by cable company, has internal power supply. perhaps I should look into new modem with external power supply. Powering router with lps was very worthwhile upgrade, I could see this as nice. upgrade.

petaluman
195 posts
 

Several mentions of the Sonore OpticalRendu, but there is a simpler way if you don't want the extra boxes this requires.  Their Signature, ultra, and microRendu devices are ethernet in/USB out devices and have worked well for me.

mitch2
4,342 posts
 

So I moved things around and my digital signal path is now cable in > modem > router > Silent Angel Bonn N8 switch > Gigafoilv4 > Network Acoustics eno > Mojo Audio server/streamer > Mojo Audio DAC…

The modem and router are powered by two separate DC outputs from a single HDPLEX 100W LPS and the switch and Gigafoilv4 are powered by one each of these 5V LPSs that seem to work quite well for 5V peripherals.

All Ethernet cabling is good quality CAT8 with gold connectors except the run between the Gigafoilv4 and the eno, which is Network Acoustics’ own eno Streaming Cable, and from the eno to my server/streamer, which is the short, captive eno Streaming Cable.

The Gigafoilv4 provides optical isolation just before the eno and streamer/server and is much more convenient than using dual converters and a separate optical cable. The eno provides further isolation using transformers and I am not sure whether this is redundent with the Gigafoilv4.

The Bonn N8 switch is currently located near the modem and router but I also have the option to run the Ethernet cable directly from the router to the Gigafoilv4, without the switch. I may try that option later. I honestly cannot say whether this reconfiguration and adding LPSs has been an improvement, but the system sounds good.

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