I would like to point out that the op has a Weiss DAC, and he is looking for more detail! And yet some of you people think Weiss is too detailed and analytical! ![]()
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.
Like a few others in here I have read some people claim fiber is the way to go, "it removes noise and will make your DAC sound better" so I gave it a shot, using lesser connectors than Finisars from my Cisco switch to my Etherregen, and like the op I found it was a little too "crisp" to borrow @wsrrsw ’s term. More edgy, less relaxed. Bottom line is I tried it and don’t use it now.
Others claim fiber eliminates noise. Well, sure, but converters do introduce jitter into the system. Sonically, it may introduce more jitter into the music than the electrical noise it removes, from what I have read. This increase in "detail, air, resolution" or however one interprets this may be just increased distortion. I believe that is what is happening, at least from my experience, is part of that transient that was not resolved satisfactorily due to noise or jitter.
All I know is the more I upgraded over the years, the better the components I use, that includes cables, the less the sibilance on voices, the less the chuff of air being emitted from wind instruments, the cymbals had less splash but more of a metallic sheen, and the breathe of a singer just sounds less powerful, but more realistic. And yes, the longer I can listen without thinking "I need a break now". Yes, jitter is fatiguing to our brain.
But, implementation is everything.
Lumin users claim it works with their streamers. I have never heard a Sonore, but have read good things; I am sure they do a better job of mitigating the jitter than a cheap device designed for networking, it was designed by John Swenson after all, who knows more about networking jitter than every poster on ASR combined. And Playback Designs uses a proprietary optic link in their components, they are world class digital engineers with reportedly some of the best digital on the planet, so if they are using optical there must be a good reason. (hint, cuz it sounds good)
It was a good experiement, but I’m not ready to start throwing more money at this.
My thoughts exactly. Save up for some Stack Audio or Network Acoustics stuff. Tempus is on my wishlist.

