Hello
@Gunnar
Having some issue with the "quote" functionality, but re:
"...the sound will be ”less good” with optical directly into the streamer compared to a LAN connection. The optic should be installed earlier in the chain." comment, I have tried a few things, sometimes settling on what seems to make sense, even if listening is not a clear winner for what to do.
I think Emile's comment was largely based on the electro-mechanical noise difference between optical signal processing, vs. ethernet, with respect to the Extreme.
I like optical, but it is fair to consider, when ethernet is still in the chain, we are adding multiple conversions if we go back-and-forth between the two technologies. We have the conversions, as well as the power supplies and cables to consider.
I actually left my Extreme with fiber direct for a long time after Emile's comments and other users' feedback. I ran MM and SM fiber, as well as Cat6 and a cryo-ed unshielded ethernet cable at the same time, since cable is relatively cheap, compared to labor and
hassle to pull the lines. So, easy for me to switch/test.
But, eventually, I swapped back to ethernet, and it was fine, so I left it.
Originally, I had my PFBuffalo modded switch close to the Extreme, short cable in, both with fiber and ethernet tests. That was fine, but with boxes and cables, kind of messy. I don't like things messy and congested.
So, I moved all my network gear upstairs (main floor. audio is in basement), and pulled a dedicated line. So, I have an IT closet (sounds grand, but is tiny) with modem, router, switch, and the ~10 meter run to the audio room.
At the moment, I do not have fiber (aside from ISP service) in my chain, but I did set it up with a short fiber "patch" early in the chain, to test that application, which works fine. Even a one-meter patch to create isolation was good.
Here is/was my thinking about optical: it is great to isolate electrically. I live in NE US city with a lot of RF "pollution" nearby. I could not test this radiation, but I can see five or six neighbor wireless radios with my phone, and I have a place that makes radios used by the military close-by and always testing. Giant antenna arrays on the roof.
I mention this because I assumed from this, I was in a radiation soup, and optical would be a better solution; however, when I switched back to ethernet, things still sound great. Remember, there is the caveat that I have the MSB ProISL optical converter into the dac...so still benefitting from optical.
Sorry if I rambled on too much to reply to your simple question. And to add a layer: soon Taiko will have their NIC and switch. I think their guidance will be to have it close to the Extreme. So, I will be back to some more messy boxes.