Sonore opticalRendu

[latenz]

Hi

I think of building a new server with i9 as rooncore and maybe Hqplayer4...now I am asking myself if I should go with an optical Ethernet pcie-card direct to opticalrendu or if the optical module is always suggested ? So it’s Server with jcat Femto Ethernet-Pcie to om and or....

thanks

[barrows]

28 minutes ago, latenz said:

Hi

I think of building a new server with i9 as rooncore and maybe Hqplayer4...now I am asking myself if I should go with an optical Ethernet pcie-card direct to opticalrendu or if the optical module is always suggested ? So it’s Server with jcat Femto Ethernet-Pcie to om and or....

thanks

Questions like these are very hard to answer.  Really, it probably "depends"!

 

What would the quality level of the internal optical NIC be?  What would the quality of the power supply to that NIC be?  If one can guarantee that the internal NIC is as good os the opticalModule, and the power supply to it is also very good, then the performance should also be very good...  But I have not yet heard of any audiophile NICs with good clocks and ultra low noise regulators such as are used for the opticalModule.

 

There may also be an advantage to doing the conversion to optical in the simpler, lower noise environment of just the opticalModule (or a stand alone ordinary FMC with good power supply for that matter).  Some here have reported advantages to adding the opticlModule vs using the optical output direct from a router or switch (commercial products).

 

There are so many possible Network configurations which will "work" that it is impossible to know every possible "best" configuration.

 

At this point I would advise that using the opticalModule, with a really good dedicated power supply, would probably be the "best" option, as the opticalModule does include a low phase noise clock and very good linear regulators, parts which one is not likely to find in a commercial NIC, but unless one tries every option one cannot be sure.  I would go with a short run of CAT 6 or CAT 6A to the opticalModule wherever the server and Network gear is located, then a long run of optical cable to the audio system with the opticalRendu (or Signature Rendu SEoptical) for the set up most likely to produce the "best" possible performance. 

[vortecjr]

Update notice

 

For those experiencing playback issues with HQ Player NAA we have an update available. Go to Apps / Software Manager and press Update. Wait for the Back to Main Menu link to appear and Reboot. This update can take a few minutes depending on your system.

[R1200CL]

On 7/1/2019 at 3:32 PM, latenz said:

Hi

I think of building a new server with i9 as rooncore and maybe Hqplayer4...now I am asking myself if I should go with an optical Ethernet pcie-card direct to opticalrendu or if the optical module is always suggested ? So it’s Server with jcat Femto Ethernet-Pcie to om and or....

thanks

 

.....or wait for the optical version of SonicTransporter i7 or i9 😀

 

(i9 probably not necessary)

[R1200CL]

On 5/11/2019 at 11:37 PM, vortecjr said:

When we open up sales on the opticalModules this week you will be able to purchase one from the opticalRendu webpage without shipping fees imposed. Any cheaters will have their purchase refunded. 

 

Isn’t this offer available still for opticalRendu bought early ?

[vortecjr]

2 hours ago, R1200CL said:

 

Isn’t this offer available still for opticalRendu bought early ?

Not any more.

[rickca]

@JohnSwenson you made a number of enhancements to the opticalRendu (vs the ultraRendu) beyond just optical networking.  Naturally, the whole optical thing has been the focus of much of the discussion because many of us have never used it before.

 

How much of the improved sound quality of an opticalRendu vs ultraRendu is attributable to those enhancements unrelated to optical input?

[cat6man]

14 hours ago, rickca said:

@JohnSwenson you made a number of enhancements to the opticalRendu (vs the ultraRendu) beyond just optical networking.  Naturally, the whole optical thing has been the focus of much of the discussion because many of us have never used it before.

 

How much of the improved sound quality of an opticalRendu vs ultraRendu is attributable to those enhancements unrelated to optical input?

 

be quantitative please, to at least one decimal point!

 

[JohnSwenson]

19 hours ago, rickca said:

@JohnSwenson you made a number of enhancements to the opticalRendu (vs the ultraRendu) beyond just optical networking.  Naturally, the whole optical thing has been the focus of much of the discussion because many of us have never used it before.

 

How much of the improved sound quality of an opticalRendu vs ultraRendu is attributable to those enhancements unrelated to optical input?

The optical by itself means NO leakage current gets through to the Ethernet PHY, this is significant. There is another significant side effect of the optical circuit which is a "reclocking" of the data right next to the Ethernet PHY, it is not because it is optical,  but because the reclocking is done by a very good chip and it is close to the PHY. Those two together account for maybe something like 80% of the improvement.

 

Other things are a clock distribution system that uses incredibly low phase noise buffers, and an improved power network which has lower noise and significantly lower impedance over a broad frequency range. The regulator feeding the VBUS pin on the USB jack is much better than before, so if you are using a buss powered DAC, or even one that uses VBUS for its input circuitry, that will also make an improvement.

 

John S.

[BCRich]

OK, just went all in on the Optical Rendu, Optical Module, Sonore ultraSupply and Optical Cable!

Now to put my ultraRendu up for sale.

Can’t wait.....

Mike

[vortecjr]

33 minutes ago, BCRich said:

OK, just went all in on the Optical Rendu, Optical Module, Sonore ultraSupply and Optical Cable!

Now to put my ultraRendu up for sale.

Can’t wait.....

Mike

Nice! What PS are you using with the oM?

[BCRich]

The Uptone LPS-1.2...

[vortecjr]

6 minutes ago, BCRich said:

The Uptone LPS-1.2...

Okay you have this under control!

[BCRich]

Thanks, would have loved to have gone really really all all in with the SE, someday.....🤔!

[jbm0]

3 hours ago, BCRich said:

Thanks, would have loved to have gone really really all all in with the SE, someday.....🤔!

 

I got my SE updated with the full-on Tier III upgrade/update to optical flavor, and I've been quiet here about it, but I can report that... it sounds very very good.

 

Like... I waited to do the upgrade until after the initial opticalRendu batch had shipped, so that I could use an opticalRendu while the Signature Rendu SE was off getting surgery.  And the opticalRendu sounded quite good, using the best power supply I had available in the house at the time capable of supplying enough current (a JS-2).  But when the optical-ized Signature Rendu SE came back, and got installed right where the opticalRendu had been... there was another leap in the direction of naturalness and unfettered energy.

 

I wish I had the budget to buy another for another system in the house.

 

Now... YMM obviously V, and I believe that the opticalRendu takes another step toward being its best when powered by the new Sonore power supply through a short high-quality DC cable, but still – the Signature is really good, and you should hear it.

 

(FYI, this particular setup involved the Rendus feeding the USB input of a Holo Spring 2 KTE via a Curious USB cable, in case you're curious).

 

Yes, this is completely anecdotal and there was no formal testing.  I just played some familiar and demanding tracks before and after a component swap.

[BCRich]

Thanks for the insight. My DAC is a Bryston BDA-3 and I’m using a Lush 2 USB Cable. As far as Power goes my existing LPS-1.2 will be on the Optical Module and the Sonore Ultra Power Supply will be on the Optical Rendu.

The Bryston is really good, been toying with the idea of the Holo 2 so I can do DSD512 via HQ Player but I feel the Optical Rendu with the oModule will be really good and the better result in terms of sonic’s.

It is never ending, a Sonic Transporter is on my to do list as well. That may happen during the Black Friday sale.

Enjoy the Music!

Mike

[cat6man]

fyi...........LPS-1.2 runs my opticalRendu just fine here (YMMV)

also using LPS-1.2 on oM

 

oR feeds TotalDAC reclocker

[BCRich]

37 minutes ago, cat6man said:

fyi...........LPS-1.2 runs my opticalRendu just fine here (YMMV)

also using LPS-1.2 on oM

 

oR feeds TotalDAC reclocker

I ordered the Sonore Ultra PS and have a LPS-1.2 as well. My understanding is that the ability to use the 1.2 on the oR depends on the DAC.  We shall see.....

[R1200CL]

On 7/6/2019 at 1:28 AM, BCRich said:

My DAC is a Bryston BDA-3

Do you know if that DAC use any Vbus power ?

Or if the Holo does ?

[R1200CL]

13 hours ago, cat6man said:

fyi...........LPS-1.2 runs my opticalRendu just fine here (YMMV)

also using LPS-1.2 on oM

 

oR feeds TotalDAC reclocker

Probably because no Vbus power is needed on that DAC. 😀

 

Are you using 9 or 7V on the oR ?

 

My system has now been stable for a long time. 
I find 9v sound better. (And more stable as I use 100 mA Vbus power). 

[vortecjr]

Earlier in this thread we talked about using a SFP to RJ45 Copper Module for use with an opticalRendu or opticalModule. Internally these SFPs are much more complicated compared to an optical SFP, but could be useful for some. This is one I having tested it here with my units and works well.

 

https://amzn.to/2YFb8FF

 

 

[Matias]

So this essentially makes the opticalRendu into an ethernet input device like the ultraRendu, with the advantage of optical isolation and the enhanced regulators of the opticalRendu. Interesting!

[rickca]

22 minutes ago, Matias said:

So this essentially makes the opticalRendu into an ethernet input device like the ultraRendu, with the advantage of optical isolation and the enhanced regulators of the opticalRendu. Interesting!

How can you get optical isolation if you use an SFP to RJ45 copper module?

[Matias]

I thought it did, but apparently I got it wrong.

[Summit]

1 hour ago, Matias said:

I thought it did, but apparently I got it wrong.

 

Don’t feel bad, I am also at lost why someone would want to buy an opticalRendu and then not use it for optical transmission 😕.