Ethernet to SPF converters. What's your experience?

@hgeifman I listened to it for a bit last night.  I didn't do an a/b comparison, but it seemed as if the sound was softened a bit.  Detail was still there, but a little less sharp if that makes sense.  I need to do more listening.  It's tough to do a quick a/b comparison because my streamer has a pretty large buffer.  It will continue to play music for a while even when the ethernet cable is disconnected.

Below is a link to the converter.  It's a $20 piece.  I found the cable on another website and it sells for $60 to $70, so it may be ok.  I don't know what the converter is doing internally.  I have a hard time thinking that a $20 box is adequate and wonder if a better converter should be used?  

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MG48FD5/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?pf_rd_p=386c274b-4bfe-4421-9052-a1a56db557ab&pf_rd_r=6S7Z98730046XKR0S1AQ&pd_rd_wg=zUtST&pd_rd_w=IDZb3&content-id=amzn1.sym.386c274b-4bfe-4421-9052-a1a56db557ab&pd_rd_r=23b7f430-9bf4-4c03-bb91-c21c16054d98&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1

@sls883 

My research says “A $20 Ethernet to optical converter can be okay for basic and short-distance use cases, especially if the speed requirement is Fast Ethernet (10/100 Mbps) and the network distances are modest, up to a few kilometers for multimode fiber. However, spending more money usually gets you better build quality, longer distance support (single mode fiber for tens of kilometers), higher speeds (Gigabit Ethernet), more features like duplex modes, better reliability, and often better warranties. Cheaper converters might be good for casual or home use but may lack durability and advanced performance.

More expensive converters often support gigabit speeds, single mode fiber for long-distance links, better build quality, industry standards, and diagnostic features, which can be worth the investment for professional or critical use”. 

I suggest you use your current converter for 2 weeks and then decide.  I am not familiar with Converters and suggest you do more research.  Hopefully, others reading this post will have more information.  

There are multiple streamers like Esoteric, HiFi Rose, Lumin that have SFP data ports... With something like that you can go direct to your router with SFP+ 10gig fiber, if you have something like a Ubiquiti UDM router.

I just have a shielded CAT7 from my Eero Gateway Pro to my Aurender streamer, it has a double isolated network port.. someday I might invest in a high end switch and expensive patch cords but my system sounds great as is and I mostly listen to my library which is uncompressed music files from the internal SSD so I don’t know if it would be worth it...

I have had the following chain for 4 years: router/modem->fiber-optic->Melco S100 switch->fiber-optic->Lumin U1/X1

I have had a more complex variation too in another system.

In a resolving system the difference between copper LAN and fiber-optic is not subtle in favor of fiber-optic - the result mostly of a lower noise floor. BTW I am not talking only in systems that are expensive, you don't need to spend mega bucks to get high resolution, despite what a lot of snooty audiophiles might claim.

My 2 cents.

Best thing to do is to try. Just remember

1. all these switch mode power supplies used with network switches and converters throw noise back into AC line

2. Routers, converters and switches generate a fair amount of RFI and EMI

Connect these gadgets to a completely different circuit from your audio system and keep them away from cables and electronics. Run a longer Ethernet cable or a fiber cable, whatever your streamer accepts to keep all this noise away. 
 

In some cases you might get an improvement, in others you can make it worse. I would start with the basic router to streamer connection, live with that for few days then add a switch. Listen for another few and introduce the fiber conversion. Quick A/B is never a good idea and will most likely steer you wrong