Optical Isolation?

[Zuman]

Hello, All. I pay a great deal of attention to cost when curating my hifi system. Most of my gear is preowned or demo, and I don't have the resources to employ a "let's just try and see what happens" approach to achieving incremental improvements.
I'm interested in exploring possible benefits from optically isolating the digital side of my system from possible network noise. Currently, my digital configuration is:
-Pachanko Constellation Mini SE server with their Stellar external power supply running optimized Roon and Audirvana under optimized Windows. Operated via generic Android tablet running Roon and Audirvana remote apps;
-Server connected to basic low-cost audiophile-recommended switch (Netgear GS108E) via M101 Nova Ethernet cable;
-Switch connected to eero Pro 6E mesh router node via Wireworld Starlight Ethernet cable;
-Server connected to Denafrips Terminator DAC via Audioquest Diamond USB cable.
90% of my digital listening is to WAV or FLAC files stored locally on the server, with the remainder being TIDAL streaming via Roon.
How would you implement optical isolation into this system at the lowest cost that is likely to achieve worthwhile improvement? I'm obviously not looking for a ne plus ultra application, but rather one that would result in worthwhile improvement while revealing a pathway that may result in further gains with future investment?
Thank you.

 

[ssfas]

It's going to be tricky because you're doing the heavy lifting on a Windows machine and connecting it direct to your DAC with usb. You really want the heavy lifting processing done on your network and sent over fibre to a streamer/DAC.

An option would be to get a good budget streamer like from EverSolo for well under $1,000 or something like this:

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You can then implement fibre for about $300 like this:

Get a switch with fibre optic ports (Netgear is fine - about $100).
Connect the server to the switch.
Run fibre from the switch to a fibre media converter near the streamer/DAC. Trendnet is a good brand.
Run a very short ethernet cable to the streamer, use existing usb cable to DAC.
Stick an iFi low noise power supply on the FMC. I think Trendnet needs 9v.

Just make sure the FMC and cable are compatible (multimode is fine). You will need a transceiver for the switch fibre socket, but if you get a LC/SC fibre cable and the FMC has a SC input socket, you won't need a transceiver on the input end.

This has worked for me for about a decade, I have a much more sophisticated managed Ubiquiti switch (about $350), VLAN isolation ($100) and a LAN isolator and DC filter (Stack Audio - $750).

 

[Zuman]

That's excellent input. Thanks!

 

[FT251]

I have this. I put it before my audiophile switch. Then a Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy CryoSilver Reference CAT8+/RJ-45 ethernet cable to my Aurender.

LHY Audio EFI | Beatechnik

STOCK: Ready to ship within 2-3 business days.

www.beatechnik.com

 

[ssfas]

I have this. I put it before my audiophile switch. Then a Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy CryoSilver Reference CAT8+/RJ-45 ethernet cable to my Aurender.

LHY Audio EFI | Beatechnik

STOCK: Ready to ship within 2-3 business days.

www.beatechnik.com

@Zuman 's problem is that his server is connected directly to his DAC via usb. So big windows-based server doing heavy processing copper-wire connected to DAC. Putting a fibre bridge further up the signal path doesn't solve the problem. He really needs to move the processing onto his network switch and isolate that from his DAC with fibre optic, which requires a separate streamer.

Frankly, with such an excellent R2R DAC, he could stick HQ Player on his server for $300 and consider the Denafrips Arce streamer for under $1,000, which has HQ Player NAA onboard (as does the Innuos streamer linked above).

I don't know much about Denafrips, except that I seriously considered his machine and bought Holo May only because one was available locally with a home trial.

 

[FT251]

Place it between the eero Pro 6E mesh router and the netgear switch, everything connected to the switch is isolated.

 

[ssfas]

Place it between the eero Pro 6E mesh router and the netgear switch, everything connected to the switch is isolated.

I think this is @Zuman 's set-up.


Most streamers are low noise, the better the streamer the lower the noise and they usually run off 15w. Servers draw a lot more power, Windows consumes a lot of power, even my little headless Mac Mini M2 consumes about 180w. He will likely benefit from moving the server so it is isolated from the DAC by fibre. As he is using the server as a transport as well, he will need a standalone streamer. The layout I suggest isolates the DAC from the router, switch and server.

 

[Zuman]

I think this is @Zuman 's set-up.
View attachment 151416

Most streamers are low noise, the better the streamer the lower the noise and they usually run off 15w. Servers draw a lot more power, Windows consumes a lot of power, even my little headless Mac Mini M2 consumes about 180w. He will likely benefit from moving the server so it is isolated from the DAC by fibre. As he is using the server as a transport as well, he will need a standalone streamer. The layout I suggest isolates the DAC from the router, switch and server.

That is exactly my configuration, ssfas. Thanks again!

 

[ssfas]

That is exactly my configuration, ssfas. Thanks again!

I assume you would look at Innuos or Denafrips streamers.

There is one from iFi called Neostream that has a fibre input, which saves on having a FMC and power supply. It's a little of $1,000 and runs off 9v DC. It's Roon Ready and has I2S out that should work with the Denafrips and might be better than USB. You'll have to ask Denafrips folk. It doesn't have HQ Player NAA, should you be thinking of that (as many Denafrips owners do).

Innuos Sense is becoming extremely powerful, things like multi-room using uPnP, previously one of Roon's USP's. These days a server has to be considered in the context of whole house audio. I have about 12 or 13 Roon endpoints covering about 30 speakers throughout the house.

 

[Republicoftexas69]

Great site to seek knowledge my friend, or it will confuse you even more

Optical Network Configurations

I have successfully used a gigabit ethernet connection between a Netgear Switch (1000base-T) to a TP-Link MC220L fiber media converter (FMC) over LC-LC Duplex OM3 fiber to MC220L to DN2800MT motherboard (NAA). SFPs successfully used with MC220L: Finisar FTLX8571D3BCL (supposed to be 10g but works...

audiophilestyle.com

 

[ssfas]

How To Optimize Digital Streaming With Optical Fiber - The Absolute Sound

How To Optimize Digital Streaming With Optical Fiber -

www.theabsolutesound.com