Ethernet cable extension upgrade

[ian]

I can´t stand this anymore; it´s a non argument. You don't tell your child to first try out what it feels like to put the hand on a hot stove. So you enlight it with real knowledge.

Can't disagree with that but it depends how you enlighten your child.   

[TransFi]

I so love it when folk who haven't tried something come in with disparaging remarks. You are of course entitled to your opinion but if you'd started with something like "This doesn't make sense to me...." that would be OK but you're basically saying Vic and his friends are idiots 

Anyway I've tried it.



I played quite a few tracks from my test playlist using my Auralic Altair streaming DAC.  At first I thought I could hear a difference but as I tried more songs I decided I really couldn't hear any improvement.  Lots of factors in play here of course, different system to Vic's, different room etc.  Auralic, according to reviews, have gone to great lengths to reduce noise so maybe it the Altair doesn't need any extra help in this area or maybe my hearing isn't good enough to hear the difference but it's usually good enough to hear other changes to my system.

So, it was worth a try given I respect Vic's opinions but not for me.  If anyone else wants to have a go I'm happy to post the bits on for the price of postage.

The Auralic is supposed to excel via wifi connection. Did you swap to ethernet just for this test?

[Clive]

Am I correct in thinking that Ethernet inputs sometimes or even often feature transformer coupling to provide isolation?

[willbewill]

Am I correct in thinking that Ethernet inputs sometimes or even often feature transformer coupling to provide isolation?

Yes galvanic isolation, optical is another option. But I believe these are installed to prevent grounding issues eg. Hazards of lightning strikes and protection of medical equipment etc

[ian]

The Auralic is supposed to excel via wifi connection. Did you swap to ethernet just for this test?

I actually use ethernet as default.  The Auralic is fussy with routers - they recommend certain types which does not include my Sky router and I've never had much luck with the Auralic over wifi.

[Johnjc]

Hi Ian
Does your streamer have a built in FMC. I think some of the Aurelic streamers have them

[Johnjc]

Just to say I am one of Vic audio buddies. I am using the throttle cable on an Aurender ACS100 as waiting for a Aurender A15 to try out.
In my system I get a reduced noise floor.I am not sure I will need it with the A15 time will tell.
What Eric demonstrates in the article with measurements is a reduction in noise. ( This is clearly shown in his article)..
I must admit I never really understood why people get so annoyed by what other people are doing. Fair enough if you don't believe this can stop common mode noise, I am totally fine with this.
This is not a dangerous mod to try or expensive mod. No one is going to be making lots of money from it and will only appeal to a small minority of individuals.

[ian]

Hi Ian
Does your streamer have a built in FMC. I think some of the Aurelic streamers have them

By that I'm assuming you're talking about the Femto Master Clock and yes, my Altair does have that technology.

[Clive]

My position with digital tweaks is that I’d like to believe they aren’t required but my experience is that low cost noise cleaning brings benefits.  Without wishing to open up a USB topic I’ll like to recall my experience with streamer to DAC USB cables.  I tried a few exotic USB cables - I heard no difference from basic USB cables.  The only cable that did improve sound was a USB cable that came with my Toshiba HDD, it had a ferrite clamped on it by Toshiba. Presumably Toshiba don’t fit the ferrite for no good reason.  This supports my preference for simple tweaks.

Reverting to the common mode filter about which Vic very kindly shared information.  The write up about the filter shows measurements demonstrating the reduction in noise.  My experience with the filter is that in some configurations of my simple home network it provides a significant benefit.  My broadband is FTTC so it’s copper from the cabinet.  I use FMCs (Fibre Media Converters) before my integral streamer/DAC.  Without the FMCs I don’t find the CM filter does anything noticeable.  With the FMCs (which on their own improve the SQ) the effect is very obvious.  I can only think that the noise present without the FMCs swamps what the CM filter is doing.

Everyone’s network will be different so this really is something that will help some situations and not others.  Eg I suspect that Auralic put a lot of effort to filtering noise so maybe there’s little effect due to the CM filter.

[williamsunique]

In theory, not in practice, that same old argument.  Those who are blessed with theory knowlege using their cleverness to try to disprove those who actually physically experiment .  Unless one has practically proved that this is indeed black magic then the only basis for your answer is what you have read in text books or been taught.  I myself if I was interested to implement this (I don't stream) I would at least try it out before coming to an opinion.

Paul

[Johnjc]

By that I'm assuming you're talking about the Femto Master Clock and yes, my Altair does have that technology.

Fibre Media Converter
Sorry I should have been more specific

[ian]

I had to look that up!  Never seen an FMC mentioned in Auralic literature.  I'm actually thinking of getting Auralic's recommended router - a Netgear Nighthawk R7000 to try it out over wifi.

[Johnjc]

I know they use in some of their streamers
Maybe voodoo for some. But can be quite effective.

[stratokaster83]

In theory, not in practice, that same old argument.  Those who are blessed with theory knowlege using their cleverness to try to disprove those who actually physically experiment .  Unless one has practically proved that this is indeed black magic then the only basis for your answer is what you have read in text books or been taught.  I myself if I was interested to implement this (I don't stream) I would at least try it out before coming to an opinion.

Paul

Epistemologically, knowledge is defined as "justified true belief". Unfortunately, the majority of audiophile wisdom fails to satisfy this definition on the account of being neither justified nor true. Instead, to understand what's going on, we have to go back to the 5th century BC, when Protagoras famously declared that "a man is the measure of all things." In other words, the accounts offered by members of the audiophile community are mostly of anecdotal nature and so tainted by individual perception as to be entirely meaningless in the context of wider search for truth.

 

[ian]