Ethernet to SPF converters. What's your experience?

I've had a rocky hate love relationship with fiber.  I've tried numerous SPF's and fiber's and DAC's with very mixed results.  

I will vouch for the Sonore SystemOptique's ability to lower noise floor.  I have 4 optical converters between my EERO 7Max router and Lampizator DAC with 3 switches in-between.  I have 2 Sonore OpticalModule Deluxe's, a Sonore Signature Rendu and an Uptone EtherRegen which is both a switch and converter.  

I just recently added the second OpticalModule upstream of the streamer and immediately noticed the lower noise floor.

I have an OpticalModule after the streamer as I use the Ethernet output which I find superior to USB.  The OpticalModule feeds the SignatureRendu and the USB output is then converted to S/PDIF with an Antipodes DDC as S/PDIF input sounds better in my DAC than USB.

I had an email discussion with Jesse at Sonore about adding the OM vs their less expensive FMC before the streamer and he gave a somewhat cryptic answer that the didn't think the OM would be superior but that some clients reported to him that adding an OM before the streamer was an improvement over the FMC.  I think he knew it was system dependent and he was being conservative regarding the cost/benefit.

My simple understanding of noise on ethernet cable is that it acts as an antennae for EMI and RFI and also carries groundplane noise so adding a fiber break removes those gremlins.

I also use filters on all my ethernet cables which are SOtM except for a Network Acoustics ENO Ag which I have between my router and first switch.  Filters remove EMI and RFI and can be a place to start if hesitant to muck with fiber, FMC's OpticalConverters, SFP's and DAC's and LPS's for all.

If you have any SMPS's, even non audio SMPS's on the same electrical line as your gear.  I would get rid of those before doing anything else.  

Digital data arrives intact, period. It also arrives with a whoe bunch of electrical junk. In my experience, with a highly resolving system, SFP removes on type of junk and replaces it with a different variety of junk.

In my system, I get better results with high quality cables and sophisticated swtches, I find wired connections to be superior to optical conversion setups...

I can't say that I noticed much difference to sound quality using SFT over regular ethernet cable to connect my streamer and switch. That may down to the streamer already being isolated by the Melco S100 switch, which did give a marked improvement.

My experience is excellent after much trial and error. I had the standard FMC boxes with the fiber in-between in my system. Depending on your system setup it can be excellent or a bit sterile. It’s really that system dependent. 

Based on changes made, it didn’t go so well one time. Then with other changes it was much better. You really don’t know until you try. For under $100 though, it’s certainly worth a try. 

What I discovered far superior was using Cisco boxes. First I tried the Cisco Catalyst 2960. I used two of them with fiber. It was very good. The Catalyst easily bested the generic FMCs. Then I read the Cisco Meraki was better. So, I got a used pair and tried those replacing the Catalyst. 

That’s even better. I removed the Merakis’ internal power supplies which took all of five minutes. Looking to convert the second closer to the streamer to an LPS connection as I heard there’s significant benefits there. 

Others have gone with even additional modifications to the Meraki with good results. Regardless, you can try it out for a fraction of most of these other audio network switch options. According to Alpha Audio in Holland, the Meraki tested high on its group test. They only used ethernet though not a combination of two with fiber in between I believe. So the Meraki tested great in that application too.

Using the Blue Jean ethernet cables in my fiber router setup. Out from the router to the Cisco Meraki. Then the second Meraki also uses a very short version into the streamer. Running generic Finisar branded transceivers in the Meraki. Transceivers have impact in any application as I've learned. Results are excellent. 

Hi,

Apologies for my ignorance… I am interested in isolating my nagra streamer from my noisy Ethernet line with fiber. 
 

I am thinking of trying this TP-Link MC220L | Gigabit SFP to RJ45 Fiber Media Converter:

https://a.co/d/02T9bgNh
 

for this I am hoping to use a better power supply  it is listed to require 9V/0.6A  I can’t seem to find a good quieter power supply with this rating  

could you all point me to a good one?

am I on the right track?

thank you!

richard