A Reiki Audio OpticalBridge brings no-noise networking to those using ethernet wired connections. There is no need to lift carpets or floorboards to replace your existing ethernet cabling; a short optical connection will give just as much benefit as a longer one, as noise cannot cross an optical connection.
The Reiki Audio OpticalBridge PRO/PRO Extreme consists of TWO OpticalBridge PRO units with TWO custom-designed PRO fully linear power supplies. This is the ultimate manifestation of the OpticalBridge! The upstream unit is used to convert the ethernet signal to optical and the downstream unit does the opposite, converting that optical signal back to ethernet; each unit is duplex meaning either can perform the upstream or downstream conversion.
We made a deliberate design decision to maximize isolation by using two self-contained cases; this also makes the OpticalBridge incredibly flexible in its configuration as you can upgrade the input and output sides independently should you wish to do so.
Note the grounding posts which allow each optical units to be grounded to the chassis of its respective PRO PSU. The PRO PSU is grounded internally to earth via the earth pin of the IEC outlet, but the grounding post can be used to attach the chassis to a grounding box or other grounding system if you use one.
OpticalBridges have our unique dual shielding which adds copper lining to the class-leading 5mm milled aluminum case. We also apply additional copper shielding to the SFP port and make selective use of RFI/EMI absorption material to provide the best possible performance at this very last stage of the audio chain before your streamer.
A word on grounding:
Many audiophiles swear by the importance of effective grounding of all their system components; our experience suggests the difference is system-dependent but we wanted to ensure that our OpticalBridge units not only makes grounding easier for those committed to its use but also provides for future flexibility; you don’t have to use the grounding post at all but it’s there if you change your mind.
While the case of an AC-powered device grounds to earth as standard, via the earth wire in its AC mains cable, most DC-powered devices do not. The OpticalBridge grounding post makes it easy to ground its aluminum and copper chassis; you can use a grounding wire such as our RakuGround+ or RakuGround PRO to connect the unit to the grounding post on our PRO PSU (effectively making the Optical Bridge case an extension of the PRO PSU case), to a grounding box, or to a grounding plug (these are typically yellow plugs which fit into a wall socket and the only metal pin on them is the earth pin).