Fiber Optic isolation causing listening fatigue
Just curious if others have experienced the issue I'm having. I have a decently resolving system: Aurender N150>Weiss DAC 204>Wyred4Sound Pre>First Watt J2>Omega RS8 monitors. Not being able to leave well enough alone, in a quest for more detail, I decided to isolate my streamer from the router by dropping in two TP Link fiber media converters separated by a fiber optic cable. Well, initially I got the effect I was hoping for: I heard a great deal more detail in my music. I could hear the singer take a breath where I typically couldn't. I heard nuances of music that typically escaped me. In fact the effect wasn't really subtle. There was much more clear instrumentation separation, etc. However, after about an hour of listening, I started noticing a feel of irrititability, just a general annoyance. I told myself "you're just over-caffinated." But I think the added level of clarity was simply causing listener fatigue.
Anyone else experience this with a fiber optic upgrade? Of course the fiber optic cable will not require break in (it is simply passing light through a channel), but maybe the fiber media converters would need time to settle in? I was trying this upgrade as a "proof of concept" thinking that I would upgrade to a Sonore Optical Module Deluxe if I liked the effect. Now I'm not so sure I'll take the risk in spending more money on this.
I guess I'm just curious if anyone has had this experience. Or might have some thoughts?
Thanks,
Tal
Well here’s another vote for copper. I thought fibber into an EtherREGEN filter was too ‘“crisp” sounding and went back to copper. Don’t have that filter or streamer anymore so no idea how fiber might sound with current rig. But somehow it reminds me of this gem. John Cage |
@surlydale As I think about it your beef could well be the TP Link fiber media converters? That’s my guess having climbed the setting up for digital music learning curve. Digital is fussy and needs a very clean chain from the wall out. Good cabling to an audio grade switch to a filter to ye old streamer. Just add money and serve..Bon Appetit. |
@surlydale here is another converter you can try with return policy. I recommend using high quality Ethernet cables irrespective of your setup. But this unit is something that piqued my interest and at some point I might try it as well. |
word! |
