mattjtaylor2809

Any updates to this post, I'm keen to hear the results of the testing of various DDC's. I'm also keen to hear whether anyone has had any positive results with an Innous Streamer (I have the Zen Mini III + LPSU) & a PS Audio DirectStream Jnr. I'm currently feeding the Innous via an EtherREGEN (B side > Innous LAN RJ45 connection) Streamer RJ45 out to PS Audio BridgeII. This seems to be my best SQ set up...USB > PS Audio not as good. Finally, I'm pretty sure the PS Audio DirectStream re-clocks incoming signals (maybe like the Holo's), would there a DDC make no difference? I appreciate the only way to truly know is to buy one & demo but it does become expensive if it doesn't work. For interest sake, the DDC I did have my eyes on was the Gustard U18.....for the $$, is this a good/best choice.....needs to have PS Audio compatible i2S output. Cheers Matt

Hi Guys, I did find stock availability an issue of the Mikrotik in Australia but did manage to find one. In terms of difference to the SQ, I just found it a bit clearer, more immediate, detailed & crisp compared to the MC110's which did lower the noise floor but in retrospect maybe were a bit dull, if that makes any sense? This was comparing the SQ with the ER in front of my Innous, 1st with the MC110's for about a week & then swapping them out for the Mikrotik....I didn't think it was subtle. Cheers Matt

Hi All, I'm no expert but for those of you thinking about using a TP Link Media Converter MC110 or MC220, I'd shelve that idea & seriously consider buying the Mikrotik switch CSS610 for about $100 US as this has given me a boost in SQ using the SFP+ port direct into my ER A side. I've been using the TP Link MC110's for years which did the job in reducing "digital glare" but the Mikrotik is another leap forward for the same money. Just make sure you buy the correct fibre & ports. Cheers all Matt

I think Aqua use the Ethercon connectors as I do at work.

Confirmation from the builder of my Cat8 cables, i.e, "I use an EtherRegen myself with my cables. The cables have no grounding connected between outer shield and connectors. Telegartner does provide for this in instructions with a drain wire but I choose not to have a ground connection in my construction." That clears that up. Cheers all Matt PS - I'll keep the config as it for a while (i.e. ER in between Innous Server/Streamer on the A Side & my DAC on the B-side) but I'd say the SQ has decreased as it's become more strident, sibilant & I've lost any form of top end detail....quite fatiguing but I'll persist for a few more days.

These are the cables I bought 18 months ago & are currently installed. https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/649815803-finest-digital-solution-premium-ethernet-that-outshines-the-competition-no-risk-purchase-20-off/?utm_source=featured_ad&utm_medium=web&utm_content=category&utm_campaign=category-featured-ad-click&utm_term=649815803 The Telegartner connectors are the same connectors that Shunyata, Siltech and CrystalConnect use on their Multi Thousand Dollar Ethernet cables. The Telegartner Connectors are Impedance matched and shielded, to ensure the flow of data without external influence. The silver cables I have are 22 gauge and made in the USA by a Military Defense Contractor for an Audiophile Cable distributor that supplies me with raw cable. The surface area of the silver coating is polished to a perfect surface. This cable is specifically designed for the audiophile market and it is the latest CAT8 Ethernet standard. This standard calls for individual shielding on each twisted pair and a braided shield over the 4 twisted pairs. It has a 10%+ Silver coating (not Plated), over Solid Core audio grade OFHCC Copper cable. This is greater than 25% more copper plus silver over a normal 24 Gauge cable. This increased, 22 gauge cable requires special Terminations that accommodate the larger cable size. The Silver cable's increased gauge and silver coating, offers up silent EMI/RFI characteristics and minimizes errors and internal reflections. The increased gauge gives more depth, detail and range. To put pricing into perspective, AudioQuest CAT7 Vodka which is 10% Silver and uses Telegartner CAT6 Terminations for 1.5 Meters, is $469 US or $620 CDN.

I've just looked at the GentAudio website & I'm happy to buy some new RJ45 cables but it's not obvious that either version they have for sale is ungrounded at one end or does that not matter, as long as the shielding isn't connected to the outer connector? With this design, does Cat 6 or Cat8 matter, I like the look of these ET12 Cat8 cables? https://www.ghentaudio.com/pc/et12.html I started to read John's DIY DC Power cable thread but at 51 pages long...😬 Cheers Matt

When referring to the metal shield on the Supra Cat 8, are you referring to the gold metal outer casing (see below) or deeper inside the cable? I'll contact the guy in Canada who made the cables & ask whether he's grounded both ends. BTW - If you did have a grounding issue &/or differing potentials, what would this sound like? Cheers Matt

Is this a problem? I spent a bit of money on these specifically shielding Cat8 cables which have been highly recommended & have led to big improvements in SQ....I don't understand why after installing an ER I should then go backwards to un-shielded Cat 5 cables, seems counter intuitive?

Well it works, I'm not convinced its better s I feel its missing a bit of warmth but that could be anything, time of day, my state of mind etc...I'll give it a few weeks to bed in & then switch back to placing it in front to see what I prefer. A-Side: ER with network via SFP/Fibre, Cat8 RJ45 out to Innous Zen Mini into LAN port B-Side: Cat8 RJ45 into Bridge on PS Audio DirectStream Jnr Rear of Innous, LAN port connected only Port Pic I'm sorry but Cat8 from B-side of ER direct into DAC. Cheers all Matt

Wow...lots to take in. I didn't get the opportunity to play with my set up yesturday but hopefully will later today. I did like the fact that the Zen Mini had bridged Ethernet, the idea of connecting the LAN to one port & then the STREAMER port direct to a noisy switch before then heading back to your DAC made sense. However, maybe in this example, the ER is working as an even better "Bridge" & the signal isn't travelling back to the main switch but to the A side of the ER, then isolated to the B side feeding the cleanest signal into the DAC. So, in theory, this should work. Innous connected to the network via the SFP+ fibre connection music streamed to Side A via RJ45 conection Isolated & music signal sent to DAC via clean B side via RJ45. I'll know soon enough. Cheers all Matt PS- I've been told a few times now to remove the ROON Core from the Innous, if I were to go back to having the Core on my office PC, is it still ok, even beneficial to have the music stored on the internal memory of the Innous, it's just removing the processing heavy ROON software that can create noise? Cheers Matt

Thanks everyone, I'll have more time to play tomorrow, I've also emailed Innous to better explain the difference between the LAN & STREAMER ports on the Innous. Not sure I'm keen to move the core back to my PC however but will look into how quick & easy this may or may not be. I may also look again into a NAS

Thanks Guys, I'll fiddle around with the config to see if I hear any uptick in SQ by moving the ER in-between the Innous & DAC. I'm assuming like this after reading the comments? I'm guessing that the RJ45 connection from the ER to the LAN port in the Innous isn't necissary but I'm not sure? As I've only ever used the Innous with a RJ45 into the (LAN) port & then out (STREAMER) into the DAC, I'm not familiar with other configs, especially if I remove the network connection to the LAN port, will it even work if only connected to the STREAMER output? I have also read about not having ROON core on your streamer but it's not something shared by Innous & I did buy the Zen Mini after 1-2 years of research & even very close to building my own streamer, when it 1st came out as great way to remove ROON core from my main PC in my office. I'm not that tecky so having a NAS doesn't appeal. Cheers Matt

Update....I've just installed the Mikrotik switch & have connected the ER via the SFP connections & wow....I wasn't expecting that. The crisp detail remains, if anything it's even more crisp & detailed but the mid-range which I though was a bit recessed post install of the ER is now back in spades as well as more bass & better defined...it's not subtle. I'll leave it like this for a week or 2 then see whether moving it in-between streamer & DAC makes any significant diff. Current "Happy" State

I've attempted to capture the x2 options in this graphical representation of the networking of my streamer > DAC & how best to configure the ER If the best location for the ER is between the Innous & the DAC (as above) then.... 1. Just run Cat8 > MC110's (removes noise) > LAN input of Innous > STREAMER output via Cat8 > A Side ER / B side ER > Cat8 > DAC OR.... 2. Above but also use the SFP+ output on the switch to A side ER? I'm assuming if I were to remove the CAT8 cable from the STREAMER RJ45 output of the Innous it would stop working or will the output now come via the optical connection, back via the switch? My concern with option 2 is will this actually improve the sound &/or actually cause issues with x2 network access points into the ER? I'll start to set up option 1 & at least listen for any improvements of having it set up infront of the Innous. Thanks for all your patience Matt