Thread: Lumin X1 Fiber Optic Network Discussions

Different people have different preferences. Please use the Lumin web page on fibre setup as a baseline. The bad news is that you'll have to try them to find out for yourself. The good news is that it does not cost too much money (relatively).

Originally Posted by chungjh

I am also looking for a power conditioner for Lumin X1. What would you recommend? Under the "diminishing returns" point in terms of price.

I think it would make sense to know what other components you currently use in your set-up, otherwise it will be really hard to give advice at all.
Personally i think power cords will give you a lot.
Ultimately , you have to try in your own system so a good local dealer is really worth a lot.

Unfortunately not - Multi-mode module is not compatible with single-mode fiber.
LUMIN - Fibre Networking

Yes, single mode TL-SM311LS will work with your single mode fiber.

In your previous post you said multi-mode module (that would imply TL-SM311LM) - that won't work with your single mode fiber.

Yes, it is absolutely essential to disconnect the Ethernet cable between the X1 and the switch if you are going to use a fiber connection between X1 and the switch. Otherwise, forming a network loop will bring down your whole network.

router - unshielded CAT 6 - side B of EtherREGEN - side A of EtherREGEN with SFP module - (long) fiber - X1 SFP module

If you are you using the EtherREGEN, remove the TP-Link FMC and unplug its wall wart power supply.

Not necessarily. Shielded cable occasionally cause some problems with some network setups, in addition to the possibility of ground loop.

For your information, I tried using an EtherRegen with a Lumin S1, but it didn't work when set up. I was informed by VortexBox from whom I purchased this to use it the opposite way round as they stated ' Your S1 is one of the older models with a 100Mbps-only Ethernet port'. I found the EtherRegen made absolutely no difference to the sound quality so I sold it. Obviously you will be using fibre-optic so the results may be better. They do recommend to have the Ether Regen as close to the streamer as possible so it would make sense to have the fibre cable short.

I have the impression that from those who tried both fiber and copper, more people preferred fiber. Of course there are also users who do not like fiber. You'll have to try both to to see what you like.

Just make sure do not connect both to the network. Forming a network loop will bring down your whole network.

ozzy, please check our recommended Corning cable and modules from LUMIN - Fibre Networking

Originally Posted by chungjh

Is there an improvement in sound if the fiber switch is powered by an external LPS?

in theory it should make absolutely no difference -- when the signal is converted to light at the fiber switch all extraneous electrical noise is eliminated.

in other words, transmitting the signal directly to the X1 via fiber eliminates the need for an LPS ...or, any other upstream noise mitigating device / dongle.

Erased

Originally Posted by aKnyght

in theory it should make absolutely no difference -- when the signal is converted to light at the fiber switch all extraneous electrical noise is eliminated.

in other words, transmitting the signal directly to the X1 via fiber eliminates the need for an LPS ...or, any other upstream noise mitigating device / dongle.

Indeed, IN THEORY. Now do the test in reality, and we talk.

Originally Posted by aKnyght

in theory it should make absolutely no difference -- when the signal is converted to light at the fiber switch all extraneous electrical noise is eliminated.

There is indeed no noise transferred in the fiber, this is the basis for isolation. The remaining questions are, whether SMPS pollutes AC, whether your other analog components care about those, and if they do whether they make an audible difference to you in your setup.

Wouldn’t any noise in the signal also be converted into the light stream, and then reconverted back into noise?

Originally Posted by BlueFox

Wouldn’t any noise in the signal also be converted into the light stream, and then reconverted back into noise?

no -- only signal voltages above or below a certain + or - threshold representing the 1s and 0s are converted to light and then transmitted according to ethernet protocols which mandate error checking and correction. thus, the signal received and converted back to an electrical signal is only the intended signal ... sans the upstream noise.

Eppur si muove!

Originally Posted by nonesup

Eppur si muove!

the church always seems to come down on the side of dogma ...perhaps you can explain to this galileo your faith-based beliefs on the subject -- or should we proceed directly to inquisition?

I understand your explanation about the impossibility of transmitting noise through the fiber, but nevertheless, make changes, upstream of your fiber device and tell me if they change the sound or not. Why, I have no idea but to my ears it is like that.

Originally Posted by nonesup

...make changes, upstream of your fiber device and tell me if they change the sound or not. Why, I have no idea but to my ears it is like that.

fair enough -- to be definitive i will have to do this testing. you and peter make a valid point regarding the possibility of ancillary AC pollution.

in my case i am skeptical of any difference as my fiber device is located in a basement closet 19 meters away from my audio system and is on a different circuit.

however, if that SMPS does affect my audio system then i have a MUCH bigger problem... and would need ~20 LPS to replace the various SMPS located all around my house powering various devices and polluting the AC. i should also probably speak with the neighbors about their SMPS as well.

Originally Posted by GSOphile

From a Taiko Audio thread on another forum regarding this subject, one of the Taiko folks opines:
"optical stops some aspects of the noise BUT every conversion from Optical to Ethernet and other way around brings other noise."

i would agree that electrical noise is created when the light signal is converted back to an electric signal at the destination. question is whether the amount of that noise is greater or less than that generated by other inputs such as copper ethernet or a USB receiver. to the extent that they are roughly equal then fiber would be the optimal choice as it has isolated all the upstream electrical noise.

should the light to electric conversion create more noise, fiber would still be the optimal choice up to the point where its noise exceeds that of other electrical inputs PLUS the upstream noise that they carry.

my thinking is that by using fiber i have done everything i can possibly do to provide a noise free signal to the receiving device (DAC, transport, etc) and at that point i am at the mercy of the designers of those devices in terms of how effectively they are able to deal with electrical noise.

for us, there is only the trying. the rest is not our business ― TS Eliot

I read somewhere that there is "glass" and "PVC" fiber optic. Is this referring to the cable's coating? As I understand it all fiber optic is light passing through a glass tube?

I ask about this, because this audiophile reported significantly better sound quality with the glass fiber optic. Does this even make sense?

User Corning.

Originally Posted by Willco

I read somewhere that there is "glass" and "PVC" fiber optic. Is this referring to the cable's coating?

No. Glass and plastic have different applications. Glass is used for long range telecommunications, plastic is used for short range consumer applications. The coating on the cable (jacket material) is also application specific, PVC or whatever. Whether glass or plastic is used, the fiber tube which carries the laser light is always encased in another tube with a different refractive index causing total internal reflection thus minimizes light leaking out of the internal tube.

I am pleased that another major manufacturer has announced a product that also includes optical Ethernet as found from Lumin X1. I think this validates the feature as being valuable and important, and reaffirms Lumin innovation in network audio streaming technology.