Network Acoustics Eno Streaming System vs SGC Optical Isolation System

Just read through this whole thread again. Such a vault of great information!

I’m still gathering information on what route (no pun intended) I’m going to take on optimizing my network before my streamer.

I’m planning to upgrade my streamer soon...currently using an Ifi Zen Stream and likely going to invest in the new Pulse line from Innuos soon.

But first, I want to focus on the cabling to the streamer before doing that.

My options: Go cheap and get some fiber converters and some of those low priced ethernet filters from amazon...or do a step up from that with a Sonore Optical Module or...skip all that and get a N.A. Eno or something similar.

Also my initial upstream gear is basic modern and router from Spectrum on wall warts...so there is work to do there too.

I do have one question though that I can’t figure out the answer to. I’m not very well educated in ethernet networking and switches so ...my question is

Why are some of you utilizing a switch downstream right before the streamer?

For instance:

Say someone has a fiber converter at their router and then has 10 meters of optical cable going up to another fiber converter near the audio system. At that point they could run an ether cable out of the converter ...potentially employ some kind of ethernet filtering device and on into the streamer.

What purpose would a switch right there do? You go ethernet out of the converter into the switch and run the ethernet filter out from one of the ports on the switch into the streamer?

Thanks in advance

JS

JS are you saying:

Ethernet > FMC > optical (10 meters) > FMC > Ethernet > Switch (?) > streamer

Here’s what I have:

Switch > Ethernet > FMC > optical > FMC > Ethernet (0.5”) > streamer (Roon end point)

One of the ports from the switch is then:

Switch [same switch as above] > Ethernet > Roon Nucleus server

Switch is needed in my case for server and streamer, but I’ve also heard on other threads that audiophile switches clean up the signal even more before the FMCs. I’m having the FMCs [essentially last FMC with LPS] clean up the signal after my generic switch and right before my streamer. I haven’t heard of adding a switch after FMC utilization, but perhaps people are? I’ll let more experienced people chime in if such is the case.

@toro3

yes that’s what I’m saying. I think there were a few here who have said they have such an arrangement and I’m trying to figure out why. Perhaps I was reading that wrong though.  I don’t have a need for a nucleus so will likely use a scenario like you’ve described except adding a more budget Ethernet filter after the last fmc and before the streamer

I received my Muon system 3 days ago, it only has 20 hours burn in time, and I haven't put a switch yet between the router and the streamer, but wow!

Already, the sound is so much more natural. I was anxious it wouldn't do a big difference, it's counter intuitive to spend so much money on an ethernet filter. But it works, my streaming setup is no longer fatiguing, it makes all the difference. Now I can just sit back and enjoy the music, so for me it is worth every penny. I can't wait for my switch to arrive to see if there is anymore improvement on an already superb sounding setup.

Highly recommended to anyone that wants to remove the digital glare from the streaming chain.

That’s great news

very encouraging

I went a more budget route and just received a SOTM iso-Cat7 filter

haven’t plugged it in yet

Iso Cat7