New SFPs in 'da house!

brad225 said:
OK clueless old non-tech guy here.

Do SFPs plug into the ethernet port of 2 pieces of equipment? Thus allowing you to use fiber between the 2 pieces of equipment?

Thanks
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Hi Brad,
No, the SFPs are actually a specific class of optical transceivers: Small Form-factor, Pluggable. This type of SFPs are usually of two main types: LC/LC or SC/SC. The LC/LC type of SFPs are the specification typically increasingly used for high-end audio applications, e.g. by mfs. e.g. Lumin, Uptone, Sonore, SOtM, Taiko, etc. Here's an LC/LC SFP shown here. They come in different types e.g. multi-mode 850nM, single-mode 1310nM, and are rated to transmit data for different distances/applications.

SFP-pic.jpg


They plug directly in to what is referred to as an "SFP cage", which is the specification for the receiver port for this class of optical transceiver. They are not compatible with RJ45 Ethernet ports, which are completely different, and they are also not the same type of optical connection as TOSLINK, which, if memory serves, are limited to 24/96.

Here's a pic of an SFP cage on the back of an Ethernet switch...
SFP-cage-pic.jpg


Optical has a number of advantages over copper ethernet, including being smaller, thinner, lighter and less expensive to dress than Ethernet, will provide (depending on the spec of the SFP) data over longer distances with less "loss", and most importantly for audio applications, does not pass low-source and high-source impedance leakage current, which have turned out to significant noise factors for digital "streaming" applications where audio quality is of importance. It's also considerably less expensive than running audiophile-grade Ethernet cables over long runs from say, a remote server room to an audio rack. A 30M (~100 ft) run of LC/LC optical fiber only costs about 30 bucks or so.

Corning-LC_LC-cable.jpg


So, here's EtherREGEN (aka ER), which the Mac Mini Roon Core in the "remote server room" is connected to via a Sigma Ethernet cable, and with the yellow 9/125 Corning fiber connected to the LC/LC SFP.
ER-and-SFP.jpg


The LC/LC SFP with the yellow 9/125 Corning fiber runs OUT of ER in the remote server room over to the SFP cage of he Lumin P1 in the main audio rack in the listening area; shown in the photo below.
Lumin-Rear-Panel-LC-fiber.jpg
 
Well, curiosity has gotten the best of me.
I have no idea whether I'll hear any differences by swapping these but I figure this model is a good one to try since it was an early audiophile favorite. I was surprised that FMC/switches sounded different from each other so I will listen with an open mind.

IMG_6455 Large.jpeg
 
Rnrmf said:
Well, curiosity has gotten the best of me.
I have no idea whether I'll hear any differences by swapping these but I figure this model is a good one to try since it was an early audiophile favorite. I was surprised that FMC/switches sounded different from each other so I will listen with an open mind.

View attachment 32610
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Definitely let us know how it goes!!
 
Rnrmf said:
Well, curiosity has gotten the best of me.
I have no idea whether I'll hear any differences by swapping these but I figure this model is a good one to try since it was an early audiophile favorite. I was surprised that FMC/switches sounded different from each other so I will listen with an open mind.

View attachment 32610
Click to expand...

It's high-end audio, so everything makes a difference. ;)

Including the barometric pressure in the room.

The Finisars are a good-sounding SFP. I'm currently using Planet Tech 1310 nM MGB-TL40 SFPs with Corning ClearCurve 1310 nM single-mode fiber for my set-up.
 
Puma Cat said:
It's high-end audio, so everything makes a difference. ;)

Including the barometric pressure in the room.

The Finisars are a good-sounding SFP. I'm currently using Planet Tech 1310 nM MGB-TL40 SFPs with Corning ClearCurve 1310 nM single-mode fiber for my set-up.
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Pretty cool. I'm holding out until next year as our cable company is supposed to start hooking up subs's to fiber to the home, Yeah !
 
CPP said:
Pretty cool. I'm holding out until next year as our cable company is supposed to start hooking up subs's to fiber to the home, Yeah !
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We recently went from copper to our house to a brand new fiber optic line they laid in our neighborhood and right up to my house. It was interesting to note there was an improvement in the sound.
 
Rnrmf said:
Well, curiosity has gotten the best of me.
I have no idea whether I'll hear any differences by swapping these but I figure this model is a good one to try since it was an early audiophile favorite. I was surprised that FMC/switches sounded different from each other so I will listen with an open mind.
Click to expand...

I believe that is SFP+ 10G (for use with SFP+ switches).

For those who need to use a Finisar SFP module with Lumin X1 P1 U2, the appropriate Finisar 1G module is:

Finisar FTLF1318P3BTL.

I have read multiple positive reports from users using this model of Finisar SFP module.

Note that, however, there are fake Finisar.
 
wklie said:
I believe that is SFP+ 10G (for use with SFP+ switches).

For those who need to use a Finisar SFP module with Lumin X1 P1 U2, the appropriate Finisar 1G module is:

Finisar FTLF1318P3BTL.

I have read multiple positive reports from users using this model of Finisar SFP module.

Note that, however, there are fake Finisar.
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That's one reason I delayed trying another SFP module. When I saw audio dealers selling these, my first thought was how easy it would be to print a new label to stick on whatever cheaper SFP module is being passed off as legit. I purchased mine from an authorized dealer for Finisar so I hope they are the real thing. I'll consider trying the Finisar FTLF1318P3BTL as well.

I'm using the FTLX1475D3BTL in my 2 Trendnet switches and they seem to work perfectly. The Trendnet switch doesn't indicate that it supports SFP+ data speeds on the spec sheet but all is working well. I spent a couple of hours comparing back and forth with my Startech SFPGLCLHSMST which sounded very good to me in my system. It's possible that the Finisar sounds better after a lot of comparing. It may be possible that I hear a more vivid sound with better focus and contrast with longer decays. I do/did have a lot of doubt that there could be a difference in sound with these modules but it seems like there is. As would be expected, there is no change in volume level - my SPL meter showed the same peak volume at the same time using either SFP module with the track I played. Maybe auditioning another module will provide more insight into the possibility that these modules sound different.

The Finisar FTLX1475D3BTL is clearly built more robustly than the Startech SFPGLCLHSMST. The Finisar is about 20-30% heavier than the Startech. The Finisar does get hotter to the touch than the Startech, however. The Finisar module is more sealed and likely doesn't release heat as the more open framed Startech.

Here are some pics of the visual differences:
IMG_6477 Medium.jpeg
IMG_6478 Medium.jpeg
IMG_6476 Medium.jpeg
IMG_6510 Medium.jpeg
IMG_6513 Medium.jpeg
 
Rnrmf said:
I do/did have a lot of doubt that there could be a difference in sound with these modules but it seems like there is.
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Yep, they all sound different. The Finisar SFPs are the best I've heard for multi-mode fiber, as are the Planet Tech MGB-series for single-mode fiber.
 
Puma Cat said:
Been reading in-depth Emile's posts on another forum about the SFPs that he found to be the best-sounding SFPs, and what he recommends for use with the Taiko Extreme. So, today I got in two of 'em in to try out.

I got these from Planet Technology Corp., and they are 1000Base-LX single-mode SFPs from MGB-TLX that support transmission up to 20KM over 9/125 fiber.

MGB-TLX-SFP.jpg


SFP-module_1.jpg


I also got in some Corning LC/LC 9/125 fiber to try out as well vs. the Tripp-Lite LC/LC fiber I'm currently using (which has been working fine).
Corning-LC_LC-cable_1.jpg


Going to start out with the optical transceivers first, and then when I get a chance, I'll install the run of the new Corning fiber. Stay tuned...
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Hey Puma Cat - have you tried any of the converter boxes from them? Also, are what are you latest thoughts on this combo?

I have a pair of Finisar FTLF8519P3BNL sitting unused.

Thanks for all the testing you do!
 
MichaelsMinute said:
Hey Puma Cat - have you tried any of the converter boxes from them? Also, are what are you latest thoughts on this combo?

I have a pair of Finisar FTLF8519P3BNL sitting unused.

Thanks for all the testing you do!
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Hi Michael,
Converter "boxes"? Not sure what you mean. Are you referring to Finisar SFP-format fiber-media optical transceivers?

These things? (FWIW, this is a TP link LC/LC SFP multi-mode optical transceiver, not a Finisar)
SFP%20FMC.jpg


If so, then, yes, I've used Finisar SFP optical transceivers. They were my SFPs of choice when I was still using multi-mode fiber, but since transitioning to Corning single-mode fiber, I've been using the Planet Tech SFP optical transceivers.

I changed over from multi-mode to single-mode fiber based for use with my Lumin P1 on the recommendation of Peter Lie of Lumin, as Peter really knows what he's talking about when it comes to this stuff. He's one of the most knowledgeable and helpful support people I've ever met in high-end audio. 👍
 
Puma Cat said:
Hi Michael,
Converter "boxes"? Not sure what you mean. Are you referring to Finisar SFP-format fiber-media optical transceivers?

These things? (FWIW, this is a TP link LC/LC SFP multi-mode optical transceiver, not a Finisar)
SFP%20FMC.jpg


If so, then, yes, I've used Finisar SFP optical transceivers. They were my SFPs of choice when I was still using multi-mode fiber, but since transitioning to Corning single-mode fiber, I've been using the Planet Tech SFP optical transceivers.

I changed over from multi-mode to single-mode fiber based for use with my Lumin P1 on the recommendation of Peter Lie of Lumin, as Peter really knows what he's talking about when it comes to this stuff. He's one of the most knowledgeable and helpful support people I've ever met in high-end audio. 👍
Click to expand...

Sorry....I meant these:

Media Converters | Planet Network Technology
 
Puma Cat said:
No, the source end is the SFP cage in my EtherREGEN, and the destination end is the SFP cage in my Lumin P1.
Click to expand...

OK. Thank you.

I need to figure out which of these to get that is not too expensive or whether to simply get one of the cheap Gtek's off amazon.
 
I started with the Gteks then replaced with something better (Finisar? Cant remember tbh and dont want to pull them to look), and to me there was a definite improvement. I don’t recommend buying “any old” transceiver. This is true for me at work too, where we use transceivers in high speed network gear.

Single mode (SM) > Multimode (MM), also, in my experience. There are technical reasons regarding how light is transmitted differently down the glass of SM vs MM that I believe are behind why one seems better than the other for audio.

I actually came on to say what Peter said. SM xceivers generally must pair with SM cable; MM w/ MM - can’t mix and match. OM4 is MM iirc. SFP+ did not work for me in the X1.

For those less familiar with the technicalities I recommend focusing on matching xceiver type to fiber type, getting non SFP+, and not getting cheap amazon xceivers.
 
jmusica said:
I started with the Gteks then replaced with something better (Finisar? Cant remember tbh and dont want to pull them to look), and to me there was a definite improvement. I don’t recommend buying “any old” transceiver. This is true for me at work too, where we use transceivers in high speed network gear.

Single mode (SM) > Multimode (MM), also, in my experience. There are technical reasons regarding how light is transmitted differently down the glass of SM vs MM that I believe are behind why one seems better than the other for audio.

I actually came on to say what Peter said. SM xceivers generally must pair with SM cable; MM w/ MM - can’t mix and match. OM4 is MM iirc. SFP+ did not work for me in the X1.

For those less familiar with the technicalities I recommend focusing on matching xceiver type to fiber type, getting non SFP+, and not getting cheap amazon xceivers.
Click to expand...


Thank you. I'm finding mixing a matching a bit confusing. This is what I'm thinking:

I have these: Amazon.com

I have this cable: Amazon.com

And I am debating between these two:

Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011KH1O1U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Unless you think one of these is better that will work as a SM: Media Converters | Planet Network Technology
 
MichaelsMinute said:
Thank you. I'm finding mixing a matching a bit confusing. This is what I'm thinking:

I have these: Amazon.com

I have this cable: Amazon.com

And I am debating between these two:

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

Unless you think one of these is better that will work as a SM: Media Converters | Planet Network Technology
Click to expand...

The optical transceivers you have are multi-mode, so they will not work with the Corning single-mode optical fiber cable you have.

You'll either need to get multi-mode LC/LC fiber OR single-mode LC/LC optical transceivers like the Planet Tech referenced above so that they'll work with the Corning single-mode optical fiber.

Also, the first FMC you listed is also singlemode, so it will likely will not work with the multi-mode optical transceivers you have. The second one listed is both multimode/singlemode, so it should work with the multi-mode optical transceivers OR the single-mode fiber but...you will still need to match the fiber with the correct optical transceiver.

If you get the Planet Tech single-mode optical transceivers I've referenced above, you'll be good to go.
 
Puma Cat said:
The optical transceivers you have are multi-mode, so they will not work with the Corning single-mode optical fiber cable you have.

You'll either need to get multi-mode LC/LC fiber, or...single-mode optical transceivers like the Planet Tech referenced above so that they'll work with the Corning ingle-mode optical fiber.

Also, the first FMC you listed is also singlemode, so it will likely will not work with the multi-mode optical transceivers you have. The second one listed is both multimode/singlemode, so it will work with the multi-mode optical transceivers OR the single-mode but...you will still need to match the type of fiber with the correct optical tranceiver. If you get the Planet Tech single-mode optical transceivers I've referenced above, you'll be good to go.
Click to expand...

Super helpful. Thanks Puma Cat.
 
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