Popular Post Fitzcaraldo215 Posted August 29, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2018 Actually, I was going to summarize this thread from my own personal and narrow viewpoint. I agree that audio systems, especiallty those that incorporate PCs and networks, can have grounding issues with potentially adverse effects. Been there and done that myself. So, while the esoteric technical details provided here are perhaps valid and illuminating, may I be allowed to just just shrug my shoulders over any relevance to me? I personally see no need at all to use anything other than good old, metallic USB to my DAC. It works great, even at 5 meters. So, I feel no need whatsoever to play with Ethernet from my PC to DAC, including the necessary intermediary interfaces. Experiments at "improving" that connection via gizmos, Corning fiber, etc. have yielded tiny sonic changes, but none that were actually, in my view, sonic improvements, and certainly nothing at all to get excited about. Any potential Ethernet grounding issue, for me, is only about my NAS to PC connection. So, we have a noisy NAS, which is Ethernet connected to a noisy PC. So what? How does any of that provably get through to and affect the analog output from my USB-connected, galvanically isolated DAC? From long experience in audio systems and with some experience with grounding issues, let me say I took standard precautions. I have 4 X 20A electrical circuits connected at identical length to the same phase of my breaker box. My XLR-connected audio system, the PC and all networking gear are each on one of those circuits. All are directly connected to the same common ground. End result, in my humble opinion, is no grounding issues. I actually have no idea whether my Ethernet patch cords are via connected shields or not. It does not seem to matter at all. So, in the minutia of this discussion, my view is simple, and indeed my approach is quite simple and inexpensive. Maybe all one needs to do do is just pay careful attention to one's electrical distribution system to avoid a lot of potential problems. That has long been true of audio systems and added PCs/networks to them are no exception. tmtomh and plissken 2 Link to comment
Ralf11 Posted August 29, 2018 Share Posted August 29, 2018 what DAC do you use? maybe it is impervious, while lesser ones are not...? Link to comment
Fitzcaraldo215 Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 13 hours ago, Ralf11 said: what DAC do you use? maybe it is impervious, while lesser ones are not...? I use an Exasound E28 with balanced miniXLR outputs directly to my amps and sub. It is George Klissarov's stated philosophy to handle noise and timing issues at the DAC end in USB rather than in the many, many possible upstream nooks and crannies, here there and everywhere in the PC and network. That the PC and network environment are noisy is a given in his view and he attempts to design his DAC accordingly. My experience is that he has been successful. However, I still believe that careful attention to basic and simple electrical and grounding issues is important in any audio system. By that, I do not mean fancy power cords and power conditioners, which are of little to no help. When I first used my PC for audio, there were noticeable ground noise issues with the PC and network plugged into a separate, normal house circuit. But, plugging those into my matched, but unexotic garden variety audio electrical circuits fixed that easily in a snap. My system is dead silent, and the sound is quite excellent. Link to comment
Ralf11 Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 ok, designed to be impervious - I agree it never hurts to do a few simple things to reduce EM noise do you know what GK does in his DAC? does he use opto-isolators? and/or... Link to comment
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