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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

surlydale
nubiann
95 posts
 

anx0003

Hi Ian. Yes I agree, what I meant was related the necessity of employing two conversion boxes. Where as I only need one with the Lumin X1. That being SFP out of the converter and back into the SFP into Optical cage on the Lumin side.

The whole point was to kill any EMI/ RF and maintain the Galvanic Isolation as the packet data is converted to an electical signal inside the Lumin.

In my view gaving the SFP Optical cage inside the Lumin is more logical and effective than streamers that only have the RJ45 ethernet in as they have to convert copper to optical and back again before even getting the data inside the streamer.

The latter method can re-introduce the noise into the copper side of the converter boxes before entering the non optical input equipped streamer. 

I can only speak to my results which have convinced me that I have found the best solution for me in getting data from internet into the Lumin. 

All the best and thanks for your points which I perfectly understand.

opathy's avatar
opathy
46 posts
 

Why did you buy your stuff to begin with if it’s harsh sounding?

opathy's avatar
opathy
46 posts
 

And if it got harsh by adding stuff put it back the way it was when bought.!!

Post removed 
kairosman's avatar
kairosman
302 posts
 

First Lumin, MSB and Playback Designs, and now almost all serious streamer manufacturers are emphasizing fiber optic inputs, I have been using that input on my Lumin X1 for years, the difference in noise floor is so noticeable that even my tone deaf wife can easily tell between LAN and fiber optic inputs. The listening fatigue the OP reports is a real thing for some when switching to fiber optic, personal preference and hearing sensitivities are legit reasons, I don’t see this topic as controversial; the OP is wondering if there is a problem somewhere that can be fixed, I would say NO since the fatigue showed up only after the switch to fiber optic. Of course the synergy of the system could be tweaked if he upgraded another component in his system, but why do that when he was enjoying his system prior to his onset of upgradeitis? We should not encourage upgradeitis UNLESS the $ and joy associated with being a gearhead is confirmed by the OP. Just my 2 cents of course.

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