The Ethernet cables, Switches and Network related sound thread. Share your listening experience only.

[Roybenz]

Anyone else using the 10Gtek or similar fmc kit that also have fmc from isp into house? What does it change in sound?

I have a fmc into house and a fmc close to streamer/dac. I’m not sure I hear a difference.

 

[kumar402]

Anyone else using the 10Gtek or similar fmc kit that also have fmc from isp into house? What does it change in sound?

I have a fmc into house and a fmc close to streamer/dac. I’m not sure I hear a difference.

If your streamer has good internal clock and has good implementation to cleanup noise in form of EMI\RFI coming from UTP or STP cable you won’t hear much difference anyways by bringing in FMC

 

[EMINENT]

Could anyone rec on Amazon US a good solution for hooking up a streamer to gear via ethernet on a wall with no ethernet jack, please? I have only the isp provided wifi 6 capable router/gateway in the closet.

 

[audiobomber]

I intend to proceed with an optical system, to replace a 50ft generic CAT8 cable and LAN Isolator. I have decided on Corning fiber cable and Finisar SFP, but there are a few FMC's to choose from, at radically different prices; TP-Link MC220L, ADOT MC-1, Sonore OpticalModule Deluxe. Does anyone know how much the FMC affects the sound of a fiber network? It would seem to me that the power supply of the FMC would be the main criterion.

I've been listening to my new fiber optic solution for three weeks now. It took about 100 hours to reach peak performance. I'm using a TP-Link MC220L FMC, Finisar FTLF1318P3BTL SFP's and 15m Corning single-mode glass cable, into my EtherREGEN. The FMC is upgraded with an iPower X 9V SMPS. I am very pleased with the sound of this setup. It eliminates the colouration introduced by an ethernet cable, while providing more transparency & low level detail, with a slightly enlarged soundstage.

I went with the MC220L because it is a commonly chosen, inexpensive option while I research a potential upgrade. The ADOT kits appear to be an off-the-shelf generic FMC, with power supply options. I would not want the multimode cable and SFP's that ADOT supply with their kits, because most audiophiles recommend single-mode.

The opticalModule Deluxe is a very interesting upgrade, but for now I'm on hold to see the new EtherREGEN V2, which should be available in April. The ER V2 can be used as a pure FMC, with 1Gbps ethernet in and 1Gbps fiber out, no other data connections allowed.

The previous discussion in this thread about whether changes upstream of the conversion matter, are answered. My listening tests say that everything in the chain matters. I can clearly hear cable and power supply changes upstream of the optical conversion.

 

[OCC7N]

Yesterday I added a Netgate 2100 router to my chain, just with simple CAT7 cables.

Before:
As usual I have the Baaske MI1005(Network Isolator) close to the end of the chain which is my gamer/streamer/DAW computer, that also has a JCAT USB XE to my DACS. Furthermore using the JCAT USB Enhancer on the motherboard usb ports.

After:
I did not feel any degradation, even this router does a lot of things than just being a router. And oh yeah, I also added a brand new 5meter!! Supra usb cable to the DDC/DI20HE from the JCAT USB XE.

______
Router talk. I have always believed that lowering the IP Adresses(subnetting) will help, and make it more efficient. Even seperating(VLAN) the networks of your music.

1. Best starting point is how many IP adresses do you need? - I have static address for my source/pc.
-my total count is 14 ip adresses available which is a /28 subnet(255.255.255.240)

Efficiency for Management​

Efficient routing consists of reducing network congestion as well as improving the speed and performance of the overall network. When a network is subnetted, different devices communicate with different networks rather than having all devices on one network trying to communicate at the same time. Think of it like an office: if several people are crowded together in a room to discuss different topics, it can be extremely difficult to effectively communicate. Therefore, subnetting is like creating separate conference rooms to discuss each individual topic. With less devices on the network, communication becomes vastly more efficient and effective.
https://www.accessagility.com/blog/benefits-of-subnetting

 

[dingogyffe]

I use 2 modded Cisco Meraki switches (OCXO clock etc.) and Shunyata venom Ethernet cable and both are definately doing good things in an optimated system. Faster, more natural and precise sound.

 

[kingoftown1]

Just connected an LHY SW-8 to my highly customized pc that only plays local files with roon+hqplayer. I kind of hate that it makes a difference, because that puts the my pre-dac box count up to 6, which is absurd.

Right off the bat clarity, detail and image specificity are improved, with a minor tradeoff in tonal density that in my experience usually comes back with burn in. This is with a random no-name flat cat6 running into the switch, and a 1m Furutech LAN-8 NCF cable running from switch to server. Power cord is Supra spc with random plugs put together from the spare parts bin.

The anodization color really doesn't come across in photos well at all. In person, it's more of a dark seafoam. You wouldn't mistake it for another grey box.

But it's not black so it's getting hidden.

 

[OCC7N]

https://ifi-audio.com/products/lan-isilencer/

 

[Roybenz]

Anyone tried the LAN iSilencer?

 

[kingoftown1]

That product page leaves you to speculate if the product fits your use case or performance expectations. It'd be interesting to know what level of surge protection it provides, and some kind of noise reduction vs frequency chart. The internal shots make it look like a switch-lite, made for someone who wants some of the effect of a switch for a single connection, but doesn't want to pay for one or dedicate the shelf space (my non-expert opinion).


For comparison, here's the internals of an MI-1005. There's definitely more going on in the ifi's pcb, it'd be interesting to do a comparison between the two.

Spoiler: Spoiler

Ignore the superficial scratches on the bottom. I totally didn't forget to look under the sticker for the hidden screw.

 

[kingoftown1]

The SW-8 is sounding great ~5 days in. Time to ruin it all and mod the modded switch.

-3M AB5100HF on the clock
-Mundorf Angelique 15.5 awg copper/silver/gold alloy DC umbilical, with crimp connections & pins treated with Furutech Nano Liquid.
-a small piece of fo.q ta-102 on the lid.

If the Angelique works out here I may continue replacing the other wiring (though I don't think it's rated for AC)

 

[dougms3]

The SW-8 is sounding great ~5 days in. Time to ruin it all and mod the modded switch.

-3M AB5100HF on the clock
-Mundorf Angelique 15.5 awg copper/silver/gold alloy DC umbilical, with crimp connections & pins treated with Furutech Nano Liquid.
-a small piece of fo.q ta-102 on the lid.


If the Angelique works out here I may continue replacing the other wiring (though I don't think it's rated for AC)

Ugh thats just filthy porn.

Very interested how that angelique wire works out. I had considered playing with it myself. Giggity.

 

[Jake2]

The SW-8 is sounding great ~5 days in. Time to ruin it all and mod the modded switch.

-3M AB5100HF on the clock
-Mundorf Angelique 15.5 awg copper/silver/gold alloy DC umbilical, with crimp connections & pins treated with Furutech Nano Liquid.
-a small piece of fo.q ta-102 on the lid.


If the Angelique works out here I may continue replacing the other wiring (though I don't think it's rated for AC)

Nice, I have an SW-8 too, it's superb. But still benefitted from adding an upstream Netgear GS108.

Keen to hear how you get on. The 3M tape and Mundorg Angelique sound very cool... I'd been contemplating putting some TA-102 tape on the top of the OCXO as well as the alloy chassis.

 

[kingoftown1]

I really like the Angelique (although it makes me wonder what their silver/gold wire is like). I use 15.5awg x3 runs in the DC portion of my computer's unregulated LPS with great results. It had such a nice natural, real tonality.

Spoiler: off topic

wiring needs cleaned up a bit (& maybe changed to all bright blue), since individual components & positions have changed over time. The Duelund is another test -- usually a vcap resides there.

If the safety implications of solid core external dc cables didn't bother me, I'd try it there too.

@Jake2 the lid is my only complaint about the chassis -- the rest of it is great, but the lid rings too much. Dynamat would also be a good option to try there. Agreed that fo.q would be worth trying on the clock casing. My choice of emi absorber vs vibration damping on the clock was in an attempt to mimic the PhoenixNet approach

 

[dougms3]

I really like the Angelique (although it makes me wonder what their silver/gold wire is like). I use 15.5awg x3 runs in the DC portion of my computer's unregulated LPS with great results. It had such a nice natural, real tonality.

Spoiler: off topic

wiring needs cleaned up a bit (& maybe changed to all bright blue), since individual components & positions have changed over time. The Duelund is another test -- usually a vcap resides there.

If the safety implications of solid core external dc cables didn't bother me, I'd try it there too.

@Jake2 the lid is my only complaint about the chassis -- the rest of it is great, but the lid rings too much. Dynamat would also be a good option to try there. Agreed that fo.q would be worth trying on the clock casing. My choice of emi absorber vs vibration damping on the clock was in an attempt to mimic the PhoenixNet approach

I can attest to the amazing capabilities of the solid core silver/gold mundorf wire.

Thats why every headphone in my collection has had the driver wires replaced with it.