[rodthebod]

I'm interested @rodthebod BTW, what voltage are the PSUs ?

OK, the supplied PSU's are 5v, in fact the modules can receive anything from 5v to 12v which is nice. This is what you get, the FMC's are slightly cheaper until the 16th April due to a sale. You can order just the modules and save a few euros from here https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...der_detail.order_detail_item.2.1c586368PNP8Bg

I hope this link works but if it doesn't then just search for '1 Pair Gigabit 100/1000M A/B SC Ethernet Fiber Switch Media Converter Rj45 Optic Transceiver 20KM fibra Switch with Power Supply'. They are supplied on the Xicom store all for around €31 including the 10m fibre cable (€5) and carriage to Malta.

The fibre cable has to be ordered separately you will need the SC-SC type, the shortest I found on Xicom was 10m but that was a good thing because I could try the fibre modules direct to my router to the R26 through a hole in the floor! On checking just now Xicom seem to be not supplying the fibre cable now but searching Aliexpress you should find many places offering SC-SC single mode fibre cable perhaps even in shorter more practical 1m lengths.

Trying the FMC modules from the router to the DAC instead of Cat 5/6 cable or Cat7 made an instant major improvement, you think then job done.......

BUT, I found for the very best results is to try to get rid of that bad electrical noise being carried along the cat cables from the router in the music server path.
This is done by the use of a wifi extender (I use an old plug in the wall type 300mbps Linksys with an RJ45 socket, I stopped using it years ago, to be fair you only need a 100mbps capable unit for audio)

This wifi extender is there to 'isolate' the router from electrical noise, the extender is then connected via cat 5/6 cable (no earthing ground) to a switch (which should be LPS powered). This switch on the 'clean side' allows the R26 to be connected along with an audio server so the digital source for the R26 is isolated from the router.
So the switch powered by a nice clean LPS just has the wifi extender via RJ45 Cat5/6 cable, Rpi3 media server via RJ45 Cat5/6 and R26 via FMC modules connected, nothing else.

I only listen to my own music stored on a 2TB USB drive for best and am not interested in streaming via the internet apart from Vanced Youtube music via LDAC bluetooth which sounds good but not on quite the same level as the Minimserver/R26 Lan route. The audio server I use is on a Rpi3 with a laptop USB drive running MinimServer (most importantly powered by 5v/3a output of an Allo Shanti LPS, this thing delivers really good sound having used many Rpi3 configurations of DAC and streamer over the years)

An FMC module is then employed between switch and R26 to further isolate the R26 from any residual electrical noise from the switch and Rpi3 running Minimserver.
The FMC module at the switch end is powered by a LPS (Zero Zone 5v-12v dual output around €70 from Aliexpress a few years ago, see pic) at 5v for the module.
You could argue that the supplied 5v plug in the wall supply would work OK as any electrical noise would not be transferred to the R26 along the fibre and you would probably be right. I did try one on this end of the FMC cable and it worked fine, but call me paranoid using a cheap switch mode power supply along with all my mains isolating transformers to clean things up for my kit just seems wrong to me so LPS is used, or......

A 5v phone battery bank works as well with no noticeable degradation in sound and a decent sized bank will last days. The FMC modules have plenty of flashing lights whilst they work so tuck them away if you like listening in the dark!
The other output from the ZeroZone LPS is set internally at 12v to power the old 100base linksys 8 port switch I stopped using years ago because of its speed, really the slower the switch the better (100base rather than 1000base) less internal hf noise, so older kit is your friend here.
The final bridge from the FMC module powered by the second 5v output of the Allo Shanti LPS goes to the R26. It's important to use very short Cat7 or 8 RJ45 links (0.25m ideally) I use a Dblocker inline filter, this is mentioned at the beginning of the thread as a tweak and I found it to work, just cleaning the soundstage up a little.

To summarise, biggest bang for buck is employing the wifi extender then the FMC then short Cat7 or 8 links to the R26. Use of Cat5 or 6 from the wifi extender and from Music Minimserver to switch is also important as these cables isolate the ground which can offer a pathway for electrical noise to be transmitted.
Changing the standard 2.5A factory installed fuse to a 3.15A made an improvement too but I'm way too set in my ways to go the way of the expensive fuse upgrade path...

Placing the R26 on Carbon Fibre isolator feet along with all my kit makes way more of an improvement to the sound overall, it helps having all my equipment on pure carbon fibre supports (Stands Unique) too. But the biggest upgrade was using ex military paper in oil output capacitors on my Zero Zone cloned Conrad Johnson preamp, wow what a difference. Changing to military spec 6N2P tubes was a great upgrade but then I went for the PIO 32uf instead of 2.2uf as standard....... what a difference. Anyway this is off topic, go for the FMC modules you won't be disappointed, it's what you don't hear on first trying them that shocks you, all that space and depth in the soundstage.

 

[Brummle]

Damn @rodthebod you really went all in, in your efforts to improve the SQ

Have you also tried swapping the stock fuse on the R26?
I see some people claiming it has a major effect, but I'm a bit sceptical about the ROI in sound quality there..?

 

[Brummle]

Sorry @rodthebod , I saw now that you actually also did mention a fuse swap

 

[Brummle]

OK, the supplied PSU's are 5v, in fact the modules can receive anything from 5v to 12v which is nice. This is what you get, the FMC's are slightly cheaper until the 16th April due to a sale. You can order just the modules and save a few euros from here https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...der_detail.order_detail_item.2.1c586368PNP8Bg

I hope this link works but if it doesn't then just search for '1 Pair Gigabit 100/1000M A/B SC Ethernet Fiber Switch Media Converter Rj45 Optic Transceiver 20KM fibra Switch with Power Supply'. They are supplied on the Xicom store all for around €31 including the 10m fibre cable (€5) and carriage to Malta.

The fibre cable has to be ordered separately you will need the SC-SC type, the shortest I found on Xicom was 10m but that was a good thing because I could try the fibre modules direct to my router to the R26 through a hole in the floor! On checking just now Xicom seem to be not supplying the fibre cable now but searching Aliexpress you should find many places offering SC-SC single mode fibre cable perhaps even in shorter more practical 1m lengths.

Trying the FMC modules from the router to the DAC instead of Cat 5/6 cable or Cat7 made an instant major improvement, you think then job done.......

BUT, I found for the very best results is to try to get rid of that bad electrical noise being carried along the cat cables from the router in the music server path.
This is done by the use of a wifi extender (I use an old plug in the wall type 300mbps Linksys with an RJ45 socket, I stopped using it years ago, to be fair you only need a 100mbps capable unit for audio)

This wifi extender is there to 'isolate' the router from electrical noise, the extender is then connected via cat 5/6 cable (no earthing ground) to a switch (which should be LPS powered). This switch on the 'clean side' allows the R26 to be connected along with an audio server so the digital source for the R26 is isolated from the router.
So the switch powered by a nice clean LPS just has the wifi extender via RJ45 Cat5/6 cable, Rpi3 media server via RJ45 Cat5/6 and R26 via FMC modules connected, nothing else.

I only listen to my own music stored on a 2TB USB drive for best and am not interested in streaming via the internet apart from Vanced Youtube music via LDAC bluetooth which sounds good but not on quite the same level as the Minimserver/R26 Lan route. The audio server I use is on a Rpi3 with a laptop USB drive running MinimServer (most importantly powered by 5v/3a output of an Allo Shanti LPS, this thing delivers really good sound having used many Rpi3 configurations of DAC and streamer over the years)

An FMC module is then employed between switch and R26 to further isolate the R26 from any residual electrical noise from the switch and Rpi3 running Minimserver.
The FMC module at the switch end is powered by a LPS (Zero Zone 5v-12v dual output around €70 from Aliexpress a few years ago, see pic) at 5v for the module.
You could argue that the supplied 5v plug in the wall supply would work OK as any electrical noise would not be transferred to the R26 along the fibre and you would probably be right. I did try one on this end of the FMC cable and it worked fine, but call me paranoid using a cheap switch mode power supply along with all my mains isolating transformers to clean things up for my kit just seems wrong to me so LPS is used, or......

A 5v phone battery bank works as well with no noticeable degradation in sound and a decent sized bank will last days. The FMC modules have plenty of flashing lights whilst they work so tuck them away if you like listening in the dark!
The other output from the ZeroZone LPS is set internally at 12v to power the old 100base linksys 8 port switch I stopped using years ago because of its speed, really the slower the switch the better (100base rather than 1000base) less internal hf noise, so older kit is your friend here.
The final bridge from the FMC module powered by the second 5v output of the Allo Shanti LPS goes to the R26. It's important to use very short Cat7 or 8 RJ45 links (0.25m ideally) I use a Dblocker inline filter, this is mentioned at the beginning of the thread as a tweak and I found it to work, just cleaning the soundstage up a little.

To summarise, biggest bang for buck is employing the wifi extender then the FMC then short Cat7 or 8 links to the R26. Use of Cat5 or 6 from the wifi extender and from Music Minimserver to switch is also important as these cables isolate the ground which can offer a pathway for electrical noise to be transmitted.
Changing the standard 2.5A factory installed fuse to a 3.15A made an improvement too but I'm way too set in my ways to go the way of the expensive fuse upgrade path...

Placing the R26 on Carbon Fibre isolator feet along with all my kit makes way more of an improvement to the sound overall, it helps having all my equipment on pure carbon fibre supports (Stands Unique) too. But the biggest upgrade was using ex military paper in oil output capacitors on my Zero Zone cloned Conrad Johnson preamp, wow what a difference. Changing to military spec 6N2P tubes was a great upgrade but then I went for the PIO 32uf instead of 2.2uf as standard....... what a difference. Anyway this is off topic, go for the FMC modules you won't be disappointed, it's what you don't hear on first trying them that shocks you, all that space and depth in the soundstage.

Can I ask where you got the Carbon Fibre isolator feet ?
Sounds interesting!!

 

[rodthebod]

Can I ask where you got the Carbon Fibre isolator feet ?
Sounds interesting!!

Well at the risk of being slightly biased, but do read some of the old reviews, these were manufactured and sold by my old UK based company Stands Unique, I've kept the site going so old customers can still get spare parts, see here:
http://www.standsunique.com/productrange/accessories/energymanagement.htm

When we retired in 2013 I placed the company into dormancy so no one could nick our name having traded for nearly 25 years and built up considerable good will which is everything in hifi. I still have Carbon Fibre Isolators though which I reserve for old customers who still keep in touch. It's the posting that is the difficult part nowadays, it's so dear compared to twenty years ago!

The Carbon Fibre Isolators are supplied in three's so the old milking stool principle applies to give good integrity to the connections which is so important in transferring energy, the pultruded carbon fibres of which there are millions bonded together act as a proven mechanical filter material that is placed onto a point that works as a spike does giving a high frequency connection filter. The Carbon discs are drilled with a precise hole to anchor the disc so the brass point doesn't actually make contact, the circumference around the top of the point does onto its sides, adding to the precision contact.

The effect is very obvious with better imaging and especially vocals and cleaning the bass with better sense of timing. They work under all components power amps, source kit and even bookshelf or smaller near field monitor speakers. I've sold them since 1989 and never had a negative response, I can say that they make more of a difference than cables do! Which is a bold statement but true. We had over 500 UK specialist hi-fi dealers back in the day including John Lewis and sold the Carbon Isolators in the thousands. The CFI's were developed with Les Wolstenholme of Avondale Audio (RMS audio) fame back in the 80's who is still delivering outstanding audiophile equipment and more controversially producing amp modules that make Naim equipment work properly. If you have ever been to the old Chesterfield HiFi shows I was there with Les organising and featuring in them.

I've popped a few pics of a fraction of our old ranges, knock your socks off looking on the web site, but these, unfortunately, I cannot supply these pieces anymore as I'm retired in Gozo, Malta and not in old Blighty anymore!

 

[Brummle]

I have ordered the FMCs from Alibaba now, I'm really looking forward to new listening experiences
Thank you guys !! Really appreciated;

I might also give the fuse swap a try, if I can find a positive review of one that won't set me back more than 50 EUR or so..

 

[camrector]

In did the FMC solution for around €31, two modules and fibre cable using Aliexpress, if anyone is interested I'll post links. That €31 even included two on plug switch mode power supplies so at lease one should be changed to a decent linear power supply on the clean side which will cost extra. Result using the FMC with LPS was an obvious improvement to the overall sound, much better background detail and believability with better imaging.

Yes my $200 included linear power supplies.

 

[Fluty]

I have ordered the FMCs from Alibaba now, I'm really looking forward to new listening experiences
Thank you guys !! Really appreciated;

I might also give the fuse swap a try, if I can find a positive review of one that won't set me back more than 50 EUR or so..

The Gustard fuse is excellent and they recommend a 3.15 amp value for the R26. I can confirm (as will others here) that its a very worthwhile upgrade.

 

[Jake2]

Well at the risk of being slightly biased, but do read some of the old reviews, these were manufactured and sold by my old UK based company Stands Unique, I've kept the site going so old customers can still get spare parts, see here:
http://www.standsunique.com/productrange/accessories/energymanagement.htm

When we retired in 2013 I placed the company into dormancy so no one could nick our name having traded for nearly 25 years and built up considerable good will which is everything in hifi. I still have Carbon Fibre Isolators though which I reserve for old customers who still keep in touch. It's the posting that is the difficult part nowadays, it's so dear compared to twenty years ago!

The Carbon Fibre Isolators are supplied in three's so the old milking stool principle applies to give good integrity to the connections which is so important in transferring energy, the pultruded carbon fibres of which there are millions bonded together act as a proven mechanical filter material that is placed onto a point that works as a spike does giving a high frequency connection filter. The Carbon discs are drilled with a precise hole to anchor the disc so the brass point doesn't actually make contact, the circumference around the top of the point does onto its sides, adding to the precision contact.

The effect is very obvious with better imaging and especially vocals and cleaning the bass with better sense of timing. They work under all components power amps, source kit and even bookshelf or smaller near field monitor speakers. I've sold them since 1989 and never had a negative response, I can say that they make more of a difference than cables do! Which is a bold statement but true. We had over 500 UK specialist hi-fi dealers back in the day including John Lewis and sold the Carbon Isolators in the thousands. The CFI's were developed with Les Wolstenholme of Avondale Audio (RMS audio) fame back in the 80's who is still delivering outstanding audiophile equipment and more controversially producing amp modules that make Naim equipment work properly. If you have ever been to the old Chesterfield HiFi shows I was there with Les organising and featuring in them.

I've popped a few pics of a fraction of our old ranges, knock your socks off looking on the web site, but these, unfortunately, I cannot supply these pieces anymore as I'm retired in Gozo, Malta and not in old Blighty anymore!

Terrific story @rodthebod , thanks for sharing. Anecdotes like yours enrich this place. I expect Malta is not a bad spot to retire to.

Appreciate your very thorough description of your ethernet chain setup too. I like the layers of isolation and attention to detail.

 

[camrector]

@rodthebod
I want those brass feet sooo bad!!!

 

[rodthebod]

I have ordered the FMCs from Alibaba now, I'm really looking forward to new listening experiences
Thank you guys !! Really appreciated;

I might also give the fuse swap a try, if I can find a positive review of one that won't set me back more than 50 EUR or so..

Really as far as fuses go, a decent 3.15A €2 quality fuse will do the trick I noticed a difference using an old Hewlett Packard fuse from a laptop power supply from the 1990's, all the components of these supplies are top quality back then and were very expensive.

 

[rodthebod]

Terrific story @rodthebod , thanks for sharing. Anecdotes like yours enrich this place. I expect Malta is not a bad spot to retire to.

Appreciate your very thorough description of your ethernet chain setup too. I like the layers of isolation and attention to detail.

@rodthebod
I want those brass feet sooo bad!!!

If you want to try some I could get some to the local Gozo village Post Office when it's open... They were £26 back in 2010 but as they are new old stock I'd still offer them at that price plus post and packing (which I'd have to quote for depending where you are) BTW the brass machined cones were produced by John Michell Engineering (of GyroDeck Turntable fame) because he was one of the only UK based companies with the precision lathes to produce them, the underside of the cone has to have a concave centre so they lay flat on any surface.

 

[camrector]

If you want to try some I could get some to the local Gozo village Post Office when it's open... They were £26 back in 2010 but as they are new old stock I'd still offer them at that price plus post and packing (which I'd have to quote for depending where you are) BTW the brass machined cones were produced by John Michell Engineering (of GyroDeck Turntable fame) because he was one of the only UK based companies with the precision lathes to produce them, the underside of the cone has to have a concave centre so they lay flat on any surface.

I’ll PM you!

Hope I didn’t just ruin your retirement lol!

 

[BShaw]

I’ll PM you!

Hope I didn’t just ruin your retirement lol!

Meeee too! BTW Cam, I told him to charge you current inflated rates

 

[Jake2]

Meeee too! BTW Cam, I told him to charge you current inflated rates

Hey no queue jumping @BShaw !