PC's optical fiber based digital streaming front-end

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by Puma Cat, Mar 6, 2020.

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  1. Puma Cat

    Puma Cat Friend

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    I had a request in the Turntable "Show us your Spinners" thread to describe the rest of my system but thought posting about the digital streaming setup in that thread would be off-topic, so it is posted here for reference.

    Regarding the fiber-optic digital streaming system:
    At the highest system level: the music server is a Mac MIni in my bedroom/study 40 feet away from the main audio rack, which serves as a Roon Core and pulls digital music files from an external Thunderbolt hard drive & sends the music files’ data via OM-1 specification Tripp-Lite LC/LC optical fiber to an Uptone Audio EtherREGEN Ethernet switch in the main audio rack. The EtheREGEN converts the optical data back and to an analog voltage, and passes via copper Ethernet to a SOtM SMS-200 UltraNeo Network Bridge. There are clear & audible benefits from using a run of optical fiber.
    In more detail:
    In the bedroom/study, the Mac Mini music server is hard-connected to my home network via a Shunyata Sigma copper Ethernet cable to an RJ45 jack of a Pace Router (one could also use an Ethernet switch as shown below). Also connected to one of the Pace Router’s RJ45 jacks via copper Ethernet is a Sonore OpticalModule fiber-media convertor. The OpticalModule re-clocks and converts the analog digital voltage from the copper Ethernet provided by the music server to light and sends it downstream to the main audio rack. In the EtherREGEN Ethernet switch that is in main audio rack, there is another optical transceiver in an SFP cage. The EtherREGEN takes in the incoming optical data, reclocks it, and converts it back to the analog voltage, which is sent via another Shunyata Sigma copper Ethernet cable to the SOtM Network Bridge. The SOtM SMS-200 UltraNeo also has a very good clock and sends the data to the Schiit Gungnir DAC via a Shunyata Alpha USB cable.
    [​IMG]

    The streaming setup with EtheREGEN and SOtM SMS-200 Ultra Neo and their respective power supplies are shown here.
    [​IMG]


    The purpose of using the optical fiber is:
    1) Its inexpensive and easy to route for long runs
    2) It blocks RFI and EMI
    3) Most importantly, it prevents the transmission of high-source impedance leakage current from switch-mode power supplies from being transmitted down to the Network Bridge and DAC. This is key because high-source impedance leakage current causes increased clock phase noise, which is audible.
    Review of the EtherREGEN Ethernet switch and explanation of the impact of network switches on sound by Hans Beekhuzen are here:

     
  2. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    you really oughta check out a Yggdrasil A2 with Unison. you could easily drop 94.92% of the digital headache/power supply stuff and be 112.84% happier. I'm halfway pulling your chain, but 100% serious.
     
  3. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    dislike given for linking two of the most dumbassary YouTube video links of all time.
     
  4. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    You should watch it in his native language, it flows better. ;)
     
  5. fastfwd

    fastfwd Friend

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    It sounds like you've put a lot of thought into the system. What made you choose fiber over Wi-Fi?
     
  6. onesonido

    onesonido New

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  7. fastfwd

    fastfwd Friend

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    Clearly.
     
  8. onesonido

    onesonido New

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    Thanks for the warm welcome with a touch of sarcasm.
    Liking this forum already.
     
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  9. Puma Cat

    Puma Cat Friend

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    I had problems with connectivity and dropouts after installing a video doorbell. Wifi can sound good but its seems one needs "industrial" wifi for it to work well. A hard-connection of copper Ethernet or fiber sounds better, at least in my home.
     
  10. Puma Cat

    Puma Cat Friend

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  11. famish99

    famish99 Friend

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    Why not explore Dante based solutions?
     
  12. Greg121986

    Greg121986 Almost "Made"

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    Last edited: Mar 7, 2020
  13. onesonido

    onesonido New

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    Nice, And agree 100%
     
  14. onesonido

    onesonido New

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    Nobody said they are, Is just an opinion :)
     
  15. onesonido

    onesonido New

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    Ubiquiti is not industrial and works very well. Is what I use for some of my endpoints which have to use wifi due to location.
    I do give you that not every setup is the same and what works for me could not work for you but you would not know till you try it. Good luck.
     
  16. gaspasser

    gaspasser Flatulence Maestro

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    The dislike is for citing a “science-based” review. I would rather read your opinion if you’ve heard it.
    I’m a physician and have to deal with people reading “science” websites for medical opinions based on nonsense. Science is peer-reviewed and vetted by multiple people who can reproduce results with similar equipment. Amir’s review is opinion and you know the saying about those and assholes, right ?
    There are some well-respected members here who note that the Ether Regen makes a positive difference. I don’t know because I’ve never heard one.
    I would like to know more about it and the Sonore Optical Ethernet stuff. Thanks for sharing the above @Puma Cat
     
  17. onesonido

    onesonido New

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    Physician that does not understand technology, but does understand the limits of human hearing.... And guess what... There is nothing toi hear :) Throwing tittles out there?... I am a Systems Engineer and I can tell you that does nothing and is no different than a optical to ethernet converter. There I saved me 600 dollars.. I am not calling nobody's baby ugly just putting an opinion with facts out.

    Stick to your expertise and ill stick to mine ;)
     
  18. famish99

    famish99 Friend

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    I'm not going to play the profession card here, but just remember not all that can be heard can be measured. There's a lot we cannot quantify with just a number or set of graphs.

    That isn't to say that I don't have a healthy amount of skeptism, but I'm not going to dismiss it without hearing it first. Especially when there are respected members who have heard the EtherRegen and the Sotm.

    I would state that I've yet to hear a USB implementation that comes close to the level of performance of the Rednet 3, but at least I'm ready to be proven wrong.
     
  19. gaspasser

    gaspasser Flatulence Maestro

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    Wow, you are a real piece of work.
    First of all, have you heard the device you are shitting on? I will assume the answer is no. Second, I only mentioned I’m a physician because my profession is at the nexus of art and science. I’m an anesthesiologist and the main medications we use, volatile anesthetics and propofol- we do not know how they work. They just do. Science has theories but that is all. The brain is too complex of a system for science to fully understand. We and therefore science are limited currently. The same applies to audio and engineering.
    Your lack of understanding makes you a perfect person to worship at the altar of science and Amir’s brand of reviews.
    I highly recommend you open your ears and mind and listen to something before you shit on it. Again, if you listened and didn’t like it or thought it a waste of $ then I would respect your opinion more than citing “science”.

    mic drop
     
  20. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    This thread is dumb.
     
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