How to resolve poor sound quality with AS6 switch using fiber?

swo

I bought a AS6 switch and an FMC converter to upgrade the fiber connection to my streamer. I am disappointed because the SQ dropped when I installed them, compared to standard ICT converters. And I am not getting support from sales to resolve this issue. What to do?

Jayce

Hi,

Sorry that we did not help resolve this in time.

Fiber isolation can help reduce electrical noise and ground noise passing through the network connection, but it does not always guarantee better SQ in every system. The final result can still be affected by the SFP modules, fiber cable, power supply, grounding, network structure, and the streamer/DAC itself.

May I ask if you have let the units run in for some time, and also tried listening again after the units have been powered on for at least 30 minutes?

Please also let us know your full connection chain with the AS6 and FMC, so we can better help check where the issue may be.

swo

Hi Jayce,
I let the units run for at least a week to run them in and I keep them always on. The connection chain is like this:
Modem
UTP cable/RJ45 – U-green Cat 8
FMC –
Fiber module – TL-SM311LS TP-Link TL-SM311LS SFP Singlemode module (TP-Link)
Fiber cable – RL9915 ACT LC-LC 9/125µm OS2 Duplex fiber optic patchkabel 15 M
Fiber module -TL-SM311LS TP-Link TL-SM311LS SFP Singlemode module (TP-Link)
AS6 switch –
UTP cable – Audioquest
Streamer
USB cable – Audioquest
DAC/Pre

And recently I changed the Fiber modules for: BlueOptics Finisar FTLF1318P3BTL. That gave some improvements but still not on par with the 'cheap' ICT solution with the TP link modules in TP-Link MC220L Gigabit Ethernet Media Converters. So advice and a solution is still wanted.

Kind regards,
S