Added a Media Converter Kit

[DiggyGun]

Added a Media Converter Kit to my system, comprising of two, TP-Link MC100CM media converters and an OM2 Fibre Optic Cable.

Fitted it between the final NetGear GS105 switch and the Linn Selekt: Edition Hub

.

Let’s see what happens.

 

[Al ears]

Added a Media Converter Kit to my system, comprising of two, TP-Link MC100CM media converters and an OM2 Fibre Optic Cable.

Fitted it between the final NetGear GS105 switch and the Linn Selekt: Edition Hub

.

Let’s see what happens.

Surely let's hear what happens.....

 

[daveh75]

Added a Media Converter Kit to my system, comprising of two, TP-Link MC100CM media converters and an OM2 Fibre Optic Cable.

Fitted it between the final NetGear GS105 switch and the Linn Selekt: Edition Hub

Why?

 

[DiggyGun]

Why?

Why not!

 

[daveh75]

Why not!

What do you think it's going to achieve?

 

[DiggyGun]

What do you think it's going to achieve?

It’s supposed to reduce electrical noise over the Ethernet cables for the streamer.

You connect it between the final switch and the streamer, thus creating a break.

This is from the ADOT website to provide some background information.
“Behind the 0's and 1's, hi-fi electrical signals are still analogue and susceptible to noise and interference. This additional noise can compromise the integrity of pulse edges, leading to timing errors and jitter.. By breaking the conducted signal and isolating the hi-fi system using fibre optics, effectively removes interference and noise. This allows the data to be communicated to digital components without introducing any conducted interference. The result is pristine audio quality and improved performance.”

I picked up this complete TP-Link kit on eBay for £25, so worth a punt at that price.

On the top level streamer from Linn, the Next Generation Klimax DSM, this comes with a fibre optic SFP port and they recommend using a fibre optic Ethernet cable. However, the DSM I have, the Linn Selekt DSM; Edition Hub does not, so this kit is a way of achieving this.

I’ve been trying it for a couple of days now and the sound is noticeably different. Initial thoughts are that the music appears more relaxed, clearer and detailed, brighter with a wider soundstage with good positioning of the instruments.

I’ll try it for a week or so, then remove it and go back to the existing set up to see what happens. Not expecting any Wow moments but it is interesting to see what it does do.

DG…

 

[daveh75]

It’s supposed to reduce electrical noise over the Ethernet cables for the streamer.

You connect it between the final switch and the streamer, thus creating a break.

Pleased you added a "supposed" in there!

Galvanic isolation is part of the Ethernet spec incidentally....

This is from the ADOT website to provide some background information.
“Behind the 0's and 1's, hi-fi electrical signals are still analogue and susceptible to noise and interference. This additional noise can compromise the integrity of pulse edges, leading to timing errors and jitter.. By breaking the conducted signal and isolating the hi-fi system using fibre optics, effectively removes interference and noise. This allows the data to be communicated to digital components without introducing any conducted interference. The result is pristine audio quality and improved performance.”

Me personally, I'd gnore the spiel from snake oil salesman

I’ve been trying it for a couple of days now and the sound is noticeably different.

Of course it is, and I'd fully expect you to 'hear' differences frankly.

Initial thoughts are that the music appears more relaxed, clearer and detailed, brighter with a wider soundstage with good positioning of the instruments.

I’ll try it for a week or so, then remove it and go back to the existing set up to see what happens. Not expecting any Wow moments but it is interesting to see what it does do.

DG…

I'd bet money, that if someone were to replace the media converters and fibre with a standard Cat5 cable without your knowledge you'd still be 'hearing' differences.

 

[DiggyGun]

Pleased you added a "supposed" in there!

Galvanic isolation is part of the Ethernet spec incidentally....



Me personally, I'd gnore the spiel from snake oil salesman





Of course it is, and I'd fully expect you to 'hear' differences frankly.



I'd bet money, that if someone were to replace the media converters and fibre with a standard Cat5 cable without your knowledge you'd still be 'hearing' differences.

Most insightful.

 

[DiggyGun]

Still enjoying the new set up.

DG…

 

[Al ears]

Most insightful.

Indeed.
Nice to see there are plenty of doubters out there still that are trying to save you money but haven't had the bottle to try it for themselves to make sure.....
Enjoy!

 

[DiggyGun]

Indeed.
Nice to see there are plenty of doubters out there still that are trying to save you money but haven't had the bottle to try it for themselves to make sure.....
Enjoy!

I know. I find their “Better than you” attitude laughable.

DG…

 

[DiggyGun]

I’ve got back to doing some testing of the media converter set up, now the family have left after the weeks holiday and Mrs DG is at work.

Played the following tracks;
- The Dave Brubeck Quartet; At Carnegie Hall; Blu Rondo A La Turk / Take Five
- Art of Noise; In Visible Silence; Paranoimia
- Ben Sidram; Swing State; Swing State
- Bill Evans Trio; Sunday At The Village Vanguard; Gloria’s Step
- Daniel Pemberton; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; Out of the Garage
- Hugh Laurie; Let Them Talk; St. James Infirmary
- John Coletrane; Blue Train (The Complete Masters); Blue Train
- Lou Donaldson; Alligator Boogaloo; Alligator Boogaloo
- Miles Davis; Tutu; Tutu
- Sonny Rollins; Vol. 2; Why Don’t I
- Yello; Flag; The Race
- Leftfield; Leftism; Release The Pressure

Also took the opportunity to tidy up the Network Switch, Media Converters and Cables.

After taking the system back to more basics, I was going to leave it alone. But after reading Linn Docs for something else, I saw the part on Linn recommending Fibre for the NGKDSM. After checking the Selekt DSM I found that there was no Fibre input, so looked for an alternate way of achieving this. Hence, looking at the ADOT system and then going DIY, getting this set up complete for £25. Though, even buying it new, it is still only around £50-60, so not too expensive. The ADOT system would have been £560, some 22 times more expensive.

As mentioned earlier, I found that the volume level was a bit lower and needed to be increased slightly. The separation has widened and the transition from left to right is very defined. Bass isn’t as deep, but more controlled with a greater breadth. With the Jazz tracks, percussion is very clear and detailed, which really makes the rhythm easy to follow. Overall, a very nice toe tapping listening session.

Of the changes (improvements) I’ve made, this has worked the best so far. For £25 this has been a no brainer. Initially I used a lot of Chord products, (EE8, EE1, Signature Super ARAY / Epic / Clearway Streaming cables, SignatureX Mains cable), but as my previous posts have advised, I found that compared to cheaper alternative there was no real significant improvements. (However, I have read on this Forum that the Chord products start making a real improvement the higher you go up the chain, for example; Sarum T and ChordMusic. But then you are talking about serious money).

 

[DiggyGun]

A little bit of cable management to keep the power cables away from the data cables.

 

[DiggyGun]

A bit more cable management.

 

[Juzzie Wuzzie]

DG - I appreciate your cable management. Our respective OCDs look to be on par.

 

[nopiano]

A bit more cable management.

My more rudimentary way of achieving a ‘noise break’ is to use unscreened Cat5 from a Netgear switch, which is now just behind the system rack. Hence I only need a 1metre cable, or 50cm if I really juggle the boxes.

My worsening hearing, and the general lack of noise here (electrically speaking), means I can’t reliably hear any consistent difference between this and directly connecting to the ISP (FTTP) modem/router via a Cat6A cable. But the switch and short piece of unscreened Ethernet cable will ensure no unwanted nasties reach the Linn DSM streamer, an Akurate in my case.

 

[daveh75]

My worsening hearing, and the general lack of noise here (electrically speaking), means I can’t reliably hear any consistent difference between this and directly connecting to the ISP (FTTP) modem/router via a Cat6A cable.

Even with the perfect hearing of a teenager you wouldn't be able to...

But the switch and short piece of unscreened Ethernet cable will ensure no unwanted nasties reach the Linn DSM streamer, an Akurate in my case.

A reminder that ethernet is galvanically isolated by design.

 

[Al ears]

Even with the perfect hearing of a teenager you wouldn't be able to...



A reminder that ethernet is galvanically isolated by design.

Bet you're fun at parties....
if he is happy with his achievements and finds them necessary who are we to tell him otherwise?

 

[daveh75]

Bet you're fun at parties....

I don't do organised/enforced "fun"

But certainly more fun than discussing solutions to non existent problems

 

[nopiano]

A reminder that ethernet is galvanically isolated by design.

I don’t claim to understand all the technicalities, but the screen can apparently convey unwanted signals, given it may be several metres long and act like an aerial. When fitted with metal plugs, as some are, if the shield is grounded at both ends then RFI and suchlike is conveyed to your streamer.

All the time it carries a galvanically isolated stream of 1s and 0s, but this is about the screen acting in an unwanted way - hence a short unscreened length and plastic plugs to ensure nothing can reach the Hifi device. As ever, I think these things are system dependent, as mains, random unwanted electrical noises, other devices (like wall warts and DECT phones), and so on, all vary greatly.

 

[daveh75]

I don’t claim to understand all the technicalities, but the screen can apparently convey unwanted signals, given it may be several metres long and act like an aerial. When fitted with metal plugs, as some are, if the shield is grounded at both ends then RFI and suchlike is conveyed to your streamer.
All the time it carries a galvanically isolated stream of 1s and 0s, but this is about the screen acting in an unwanted way - hence a short unscreened length and plastic plugs to ensure nothing can reach the Hifi device. As ever,

Screened ethernet cable is completey unnecessary in a domestic setting, it's designed for data centres and other industrial/commercial applications where 'noise' could be an issue.

I think these things are system dependent, as mains, random unwanted electable noises, other devices (like wall warts and DECT phones), and so on, all vary greatly.

That old chestnut.

Its like most of the "beliefs" of audiophiles...

I've said it before, but I genuinely feel for noobs who come to hifi forums looking for advice

 

[Al ears]

Screened ethernet cable is completey unnecessary in a domestic setting, it's designed for data centres and other industrial/commercial applications where 'noise' could be an issue.



That old chestnut.

Its like most of the "beliefs" of audiophiles...

I've said it before, but I genuinely feel for noobs who come to hifi forums looking for advice

Can you explain why noise might be an issue, rather than is an issue, in commercial applications and wouldn't be in a home environment?

 

[DiggyGun]

Screened ethernet cable is completey unnecessary in a domestic setting, it's designed for data centres and other industrial/commercial applications where 'noise' could be an issue.



That old chestnut.

Its like most of the "beliefs" of audiophiles...

I've said it before, but I genuinely feel for noobs who come to hifi forums looking for advice

Well don’t give your advice then.

 

[Jasonovich]

Meh, I don't do tidy!

 

[SallyB]

Meh, I don't do tidy!

View attachment 7511
View attachment 7512

Sounds like a new thread - send us pics of the rear of your system - prizes for neatest and most untidy. I won’t be entering, I couldn’t even get a camera anywhere down the back of mine 😀.