OpticalBridge Master Plus or PRO (2 units = 1 OpticalBridge)
There are many permutations of the Reiki Audio OpticalBridge. Here you can personalise your OpticalBridge by selecting whatever combination meets your needs and your budget. You will of course need TWO OpticalBridge units to form a complete OpticalBridge, or you can use a single OpticalBridge unit just before your streamer if it has an SFP port. Every OpticalBridge unit is fully duplex in design ie. will automatically convert electrical to optical or optical to electrical with no configuration required.
We assemble by hand and try to maintain sufficient stock of most models for immediate despatch; if we do not have stock of your chosen model(s) we will let you know within 24 hours. Non-stock orders should be shipped within 3-4 weeks. Thanks for your understanding.
Choosing or configuring your OpticalBridge
The 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.
Designed to be installed just before your streamer to ensure that the latter receives the cleanest possible signal, each OpticalBridge consists of two OpticalBridge units: one on the input side to convert the ethernet signal to optical and one on the output side to convert that optical signal back to ethernet. We made a deliberate design decision to maximise isolation by using two self-contained 5mm 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.
We still make the OpticalBridge Servant variant (without the copper lining of the Master) but due to overwhelming demand for the OpticalBridge Master, the OpticalBridge Servant is now only available as the upstream half of an OpticalBridge PRO/PRO Statement. This has allowed us to greatly reducde the number of product variants in our store and make for a simpler shopping experience.
Every OpticalBridge unit comes with
very low noise SFP module
0.5m Single Mode optical cable to provide the bridge between the units
0.5m and 1m CAT6 ethernet cables to connect the output unit to your streamer
Every Optical Unit includes:
5mm milled and anodised aluminium case
Audiophile quality circuitry: high quality components, well laid out including discrete Ethernet Port magnetics
Internal silver-plated OFC wiring with PTFE insulation
One ethernet port
One SFP port
One grounding post (optional use)
No LED’s, no pinholes
External low noise PSU
Weight-specific isolation feet
OpticalBridge Masters have our unique dual shielding which adds copper lining to the class-leading 5mm milled aluminium 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.
Plus or PRO?
The Plus models include an iFi iPower ultra low noise PSU for a modest price increase (and cheaper than buying one elsewhere at RRP).
The PRO is our ultimate model and comes with one of our custom-designed PRO linear PSUs.
Our shop includes the following pre-configured OpticalBridges:
· OpticalBridge PRO/PRO Statement - OpticalBridge Servant (no copper lining) on the input side, OpticalBridge Master on the output side, 2x PRO linear PSU’s
· OpticalBridge PRO/PRO Extreme - 2x copper-lined OpticalBridge Masters, 2x PRO linear PSU
Each OpticalBridge comes with the required pair of SFP modules and a 50cm Single Mode optical cable.
OpticalBridge Master Unit: W120mm x D138mm x H33mm inc feet Weight 700g
PRO PSU: W250mm x D138mm x H70mm Weight 2.75kg
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 aluminium 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).