Sonore opticalModule Deluxe

[vortecjr]

This production run was a lot of work and we appreciate the feedback…enjoy!

[AudioFiber]

Is there any way I can get on a wait list for the opticalModule?

[vortecjr]

I can do better than that...we have units in stock now! 

https://www.sonore.us/opticalModule-Deluxe.html

[AudioFiber]

That's great! I just ordered one.

 

Thanks very much!

[Markus8]

Has anyone experience with placing the OM next to a WiFi router causing a drop in sound quality or is the case / shielding sufficient enough to avoid any interference ?

 

@dancauseHow did. the performance evolve in the meantime and what are your experiences so far?

[Foggie]

How is one to tell difference between this latest deluxe and the previous deluxe from a 1-2 yrs ago since its the same casework?

[89reksal]

If no decal on bottom (I assume you mean the visible bottom of the unit itself) then definitely not a new version?

[AudioFiber]

I received my oM late last week Set-up was a breeze (knock wood!) and the sound is considerably improved--more "liquid" and natural-sounding. Subtle, but very apparent if you give a careful listen.

 

However, my unit does not have a QR code on the bottom. I personally don't care about that, but just as feedback--the QR code isn't (or wasn't) consistently applied to the new units. Or, I received an older version, but I don't think that's the case.

 

Thank you for a great product! The opticalRendu and the opticalModule have elevated my system more than I thought was possible.

[Cormorant]

1 hour ago, AudioFiber said:

However, my unit does not have a QR code on the bottom.

 

My new unit doesn't have a QR code on the bottom either.

 

I have both V1 and V2 in house.

 

There is one noticeable difference between V1 and V2 that can identify them.  The Ethernet activity LED blinks when there is packet traffic on both versions.  On the V1 opticalModule, the activity LED is on the upper right side of the Ethernet port.  On the V2 version, the activity LED has been programmed to be the light on the upper left side of the Ethernet port.  

 

The opticalModule Deluxe needs to be plugged in, turned on, with Ethernet and Fiber connected, and active on a network to check the version via activity LEDs.

[Johnnydev]

My new unit doesn't have a QR code on the bottom either.

 

@cormorant: can you describe the difference in SQ?

[vortecjr]

Sorry for the confusion:) All pre-orders and recent orders are the current design. It’s possible Andrew has not implemented the sticker for pre-orders or did not implement the sticker yet. I’ll try to sort this out today for you. Worse case we can tell from the order date and from a revision number on the board. 

[Cormorant]

5 hours ago, Johnnydev said:

@cormorant: can you describe the difference in SQ?

 

The new version is a step up in overall clarity.  It's a nice upgrade.  The Sonore team did excellent work on the new module.

 

With the additional resolution across the frequency spectrum, treble is more present.  That changed the tonal balance of my system.  I'm making other changes in the system to restore a natural tonal balance.  I'm thinking some people are going to prefer sticking with V1.

[Superdad]

51 minutes ago, Cormorant said:

I'm thinking some people are going to prefer sticking with V1.

Knowing what I do about the technical improvements incorporated into the new version, I am confident that most anyone who carefully compares it to the prior will be quite pleased with the latest.

 

Which is not to imply that there is anything at all deficient in the prior opticalModule Deluxe. Owners of that version should not feel compelled to switch. Perhaps it will be nice to allow more new users to obtain the available production of the product. 

Sonore had to work VERY hard to obtain all the chips for this first run of the revised design. (And the global situation for parts has only improved very slightly.) For six months UpTone has been advance-buying parts for the still-in-development EtherREGEN Gen2, and when we finally reach production in the next few months I am strongly going to prefer that the first 500 units go in large part to first-time buyers…

 

Anyway, congratulations to Jesus, Adrian, Andrew, and John Swenson. Sweating out 6~9 months without stock of a very popular product was no fun for them. Glad to see good times arrive again! 

[Markus8]

I guess also with the right LPS and cable the new OM will perform amazingly well. Getting mine finally tomorrow :)

[AudioFiber]

I'm sorry for the off-topic post, but I have tried repeatedly to login to the sonore support forum. Every time I am told "invalid username or password." I have reset my password three times--all to no avail.

 

If someone from sonore could help me out I would really appreciate it. I can't even find a way to contact anyone on the forum--since I am not logged in, I can't post.

 

-end of interruption-

[89reksal]

17 hours ago, Cormorant said:

There is one noticeable difference between V1 and V2 that can identify them.  The Ethernet activity LED blinks when there is packet traffic on both versions.  On the V1 opticalModule, the activity LED is on the upper right side of the Ethernet port.  On the V2 version, the activity LED has been programmed to be the light on the upper left side of the Ethernet port.

Thanks Cormorant. For the right or left side of ethernet port, is this looking from rear towards connectors or looking from front of unit? Mine has amber coloured led between ethernet port and power input. No sticker on bottom. Unit was ordered Oct 10 and delivered Oct. 13.

[Cormorant]

31 minutes ago, lasker98 said:

For the right or left side of ethernet port, is this looking from rear towards connectors or looking from front of unit? Mine has amber coloured led between ethernet port and power input. No sticker on bottom. 

 

Looking from rear with power input on right. 

 

My V2 has a green flashing activity light on the left of the Ethernet port. 

 

My V1 has an amber flashing activity light on the right.  Like yours. 

[89reksal]

Thanks again. That's not what I was hoping to hear.

[Superdad]

4 hours ago, lasker98 said:

Thanks Cormorant. For the right or left side of ethernet port, is this looking from rear towards connectors or looking from front of unit? Mine has amber coloured led between ethernet port and power input. No sticker on bottom. Unit was ordered Oct 10 and delivered Oct. 13.

 

3 hours ago, Cormorant said:

Looking from rear with power input on right. 

My V2 has a green flashing activity light on the left of the Ethernet port. 

My V1 has an amber flashing activity light on the right.  Like yours. 

 

I don't have a current unit here to check, but you gents do know that the LED color is generally an indication of 100Mbps or 1Gbe connection. So you could be getting confused based on what you have attached. 

 

And @lasker98: Sonore was out of stock on opticalModules all year, so it seems highly doubtful that your October 2022 unit could be of the prior version.

[89reksal]

Thanks Superdad. I feel better already 😃.

 

My OM Deluxe has the ethernet connected to my Bryston 3.14 dac. I have no idea if that's 100 Mbps or 1Gbe. The fiber into the OM is 1Gbe. I guess I'll find out what version I have soon enough.

 

I also have an Etheregen that I've been happily using for the last year and a half or so connected (via fiber) to a Sonictransporter. To clarify, the Sonictransporter is connected via ethernet from Etheregen b side. The a side is using the sfp port connected to a Mikrotik css610.... sfp port. The second sfp port on the Mikrotik is connected to the OM.

[muski]

I received my new Sonore opticalModule Deluxe this week. I'm shocked how much RF/EMI noise it removed—big reduction of harshness, lower noise floor, better detail, more mid-bass oomph. Given it replaced a $20 TP-Link FMC, I shouldn't be that surprised, but it again shows the music-destroying pervasiveness of noise in listening chains coming from places you might not suspect. Nicely done, Sonore!

 

My chain: SonicTransporter i9->PhoenixNet->opticalModuleDeluxe->Singlemode Fiber->opticalRendu->PhoenixUSB->SRC-DX->mScaler->opto-DX->Chord DAVE->Focal Utopia. Mostly Sablon cables, lots of Vibrapods and various power upgrades

[Cormorant]

27 minutes ago, Superdad said:

I don't have a current unit here to check, but you gents do know that the LED color is generally an indication of 100Mbps or 1Gbe connection. So you could be getting confused based on what you have attached. 

 

All my testing is at 1Gbe, verified by my Unifi network manager.

[89reksal]

I just received an email from Andrew at SGC confirming my unit is definitely the new version. Thanks Andrew.

[Cormorant]

11 minutes ago, lasker98 said:

I just received an email from Andrew at SGC confirming my unit is definitely the new version. Thanks Andrew.

 

Ok, that is good. With that information, putting it together, here is my current theory.  Is it correct?

 

* opticalModule Deluxe V1 flashes an amber (orange) LED on the right Ethernet port side for 1Gbe packet traffic AND 100 Mbps traffic.

* Per SuperDad, an amber LED is usually used for 100 Mbps speeds, green for gigabit speeds.

* John changed this "bug" in firmware in V2 such that the flashing green LED on the left shows 1Gbe packet traffic.

* For V2, the amber flashing LED on the right is still used to show 100 Mpbs speed traffic.

* lasker98 has a 100 Mbps network from his opticalModule to his Bryston DAC.

* lasker98's opticalModule Deluxe V2 correctly shows a flashing amber LED on the right.

* The left green LED vs right amber LED is a convenient way to tell V1 and V2 apart, but only for 1Gbe networks.

[Markus8]

4 hours ago, muski said:

I received my new Sonore opticalModule Deluxe this week. I'm shocked how much RF/EMI noise it removed—big reduction of harshness, lower noise floor, better detail, more mid-bass oomph. Given it replaced a $20 TP-Link FMC, I shouldn't be that surprised, but it again shows the music-destroying pervasiveness of noise in listening chains coming from places you might not suspect. Nicely done, Sonore!

exciting to see that there is such a great improvement over a generic FMC. 
 

btw: does Sonore recommend single mode oder multimode connection ?