Advice on Optical Ethernet Conversion

@sns "I should also add the Mundorf diy DC cables made a far larger difference than I was expecting"

I can second this observation. I tried both the Sonore DC4 and a Ghent GAC-4/1 star quad and didn't hear much difference over a cheap stock cable. However, when I used the Mundorf, I was extremely pleased with the improvement in speed and resolution with no downside to my ears. Always nice to have a significant improvement from a relatively cheap purchase.

I realize the thread is 4-5 months old now and I am not sure what the OP went with for a FMC, but I can wholeheartedly recommend the latest Opticalmodule from Sonore over the Etherregen. I was using the Etherregen with SFP optical in on one side and then an ethernet cable on the other side to my streaming DAC (Bricasti). I read in another forum that the OM deluxe was better than Etherregen. This is what my ears also told me as well. Surprisingly better.

@sfpeloton Yeah, I was skeptical DC cables could make that much difference until the Mundorf. Thinking about upgrading to deluxe versions of both OpticalModule and OpticalRendu.

Thanks for your comment, @sfpeloton 

I meant to circle back to say I ended up purchasing the OpticalModule Deluxe with a SGC linear power supply.  In testing it with the cheaper FMC, I would say the audible difference was marginal, but the overall quality seemed more refined.  And, it seems that part of this hobby is checking off boxes: so even if it's not a dramatic improvement, you know you've got that area of your system covered with a quality piece.

I also took @sns advice, and added LPS to my router and have split my network into computer side and audio only.

Finally, I just acquired a Bricasti M3 to replace my Benchmark DAC3 -- and that is proving to be a meaningful upgrade.  Really enjoying the music more now.

Best, JAMES.

If you could explain how Ethernet protocol benefits from it? Conversion is performed hundreds of time when data travels to you - optical, electrical, satellite, etc. Makes no difference. There is no 'stream' from server to you.

@jimboman Congrats on the Bricasti M3, that is what I also have and I like it a lot. As I mentioned previously, I run an ethernet cable directly from the OM into the Mdx network card on the M3. Is that how you are also using your OM? For me the OM sounded better than the Etherregen, but it seems like for your system/network, the results were less significant. Yes, checking the boxes seems to be what happens sometimes and at least now you know you have that part sorted.

Hope you enjoy your Bricasti!