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Post by Slinger on Aug 30, 2023 12:57:03 GMT
The audiophile rule-of-thumb seems to be " Anything that passes a current requires a burn-in period". Whether that's right or wrong, or even how long that period is, your ears will usually tell you ...as long as your brain isn't hoodwinking them.  |
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Post by MartinT on Aug 30, 2023 13:00:50 GMT
Sound stage has become wider with more things coming outside of the speakers and there seems more natural details to instruments without any sign of them being brighter . Playing and singing is more natural and there is an enhanced feeling that this is real people performing . Mix layers are easier to hear and identify but it is not so that the music sounds as if it has been exposed it just sounds more of a whole . Perfect description of what several of us using that Cisco AOC have noted. It's quite remarkable that an optical link can sound so different, isn't it? |
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bencat
Rank: Quartet
Posts: 353
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Post by bencat on Aug 30, 2023 13:25:42 GMT
You are not kidding given that it is really just a tube in to which light is directed your head says that so long as the light gets from one end to the other then it should make no difference at all . Then again the addition of sfp,s at each end and the quality of those plugs is probably of more significance in this case . Not too sure what is involved in the make up of an sfp that might be my light reading for the next couple of days and try and understand what they are doing and what is significant for them . Again I suppose the issue is these are not anything to do with Audio they are made for a very different purpose and what might be important and desirable for large scale networking may not be what you should look for in a a cable in a digital audio chain .
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Post by stellabagpuss on Aug 30, 2023 15:09:25 GMT
My Cisco has arrived....Will report back soon in comparison to Finisar.
Looks like a genuine Cisco that has a hologram sticker.
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Post by stellabagpuss on Aug 30, 2023 19:42:12 GMT
Okay, So firstly l tried the Cisco SMF on the R26 end,and left the Finisar SMF connected at the server end.
First thing l noticed, after a few plays of go to tracks,bass has more oomph and is definitely more solid though the lower bass guitar scales. l would also say midrange sounds more open, and definitely less nasal, or hard.
Next l run both on the Cisco....Aha now we are cooking, soundstage opens up a bit wider, and more confirmation of my earlier comments.
As l am writing, l am giving Sade Promise a play,taken from the JPN Blu Spec CD remaster, l only played this album two days ago, and it's sounds more musical and natural to me Compared to the Finisar. Now l am not going to paint the picture that the Finisar,is really poor, it isn't l could easily live with it, it's not that you get more resolution, it simply a sound balance,the Finisar has a slightly colder harder midrange,dosent have the lower end ability.
ln short...the Cisco SFP is a keeper.
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bencat
Rank: Quartet
Posts: 353
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Post by bencat on Aug 31, 2023 11:52:36 GMT
Well today have been listening to my Three Way Active system and the Cisco cable has had a little time to bed in . Not sure that i could say the sound has improved from the first plug in but it still sounds very good indeed and considering the spend I would call this very good value . My TV a 55" LG LED has developed a fault with both sides having gone dark and just a band in the middle with correct back lighting so it has gone to the menders . I have bought a new 55" LG OLED which will be delivered later today . When I put the optical link in the first time the picture on the LED improved and became quite a bit clearer and less issues with fast moving pictures . I am expecting the OLED to be an improvement on its own but would have been nice to see if the Cisco cable showed an improvement in picture . Will just have to hope that everything goes well with my installing and cabling up the new screen .
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Post by orange55 on Mar 10, 2024 8:14:59 GMT
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Post by MartinT on Mar 10, 2024 8:25:40 GMT
It's a DAC (Direct Attached Cable). I just don't see the benefit being as it remains an electrical cable. It loses the isolation of fibre optic to reduce jitter of the opto-converters - ok, that's a trade-off. But he's comparing it with separate SFPs and fibre and they don't sound as good as a good AOC.
The price is also off-putting.
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Post by orange55 on Mar 10, 2024 9:13:55 GMT
Agree with MartinT. I was reading it thinking, not sure I see the point of this. Plus the reviews don’t really compare it, as you say. |
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Post by assisi on Apr 2, 2024 5:39:08 GMT
It's a DAC (Direct Attached Cable). I just don't see the benefit being as it remains an electrical cable. It loses the isolation of fibre optic to reduce jitter of the opto-converters - ok, that's a trade-off. But he's comparing it with separate SFPs and fibre and they don't sound as good as a good AOC. The price is also off-putting. Like many things, there are advantages and disadvantages. Whilst with the optical there might be the advantage of isolation there is also a possible disadvantage. The Ear net review says “ SFP optical cables are driven by a PMD (physical media driver) which converts the optical signal to an electrical one. Using copper avoids this extra processing and allows the PCBs in the devices at either end to have a direct attach[ment] to one another”I have a Cisco AOC that I like very much. I intend to get on loan a Melco to compare. |
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Post by MartinT on Apr 2, 2024 6:19:53 GMT
Great. Personal experience is always best.
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bencat
Rank: Quartet
Posts: 353
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Post by bencat on Apr 2, 2024 9:20:46 GMT
Have to agree with Martin,s comment and it needs to apply to any of the suggestions for changes . Every set and house is different as are the quality or otherwise of the network we each use . I have found that using SFP input network switches both upstairs and downstairs with devices then connected to each switch gives me the best results in my situation . I have also been to listen to other systems were a straight ethernet connected switch is better . The more I deal with digital the more I feel there are no hard and fast rules you need to try on site and with your system to see what works . Above all trust what you hear there are lots of people (I include myself in this but I am getting better) who will dogmatically say this is the right set and this will sound better . Not always the case you advice and suggestions are helpful but may not always be the improvement in your system that others get . There is one essential though and this will never change . Only make one change at a time and listen for extended period to that one change and decide if it works or not . Multiple changes at the same time make it harder to know just what made the difference .
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