Lumin X1 Fiber Optic Network Discussions

wklie

wklie

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A major innovation of Lumin X1 is its support for standard fiber optic networking. Since this technology may be relatively new to audiophiles (aside from those who work in IT), and getting a compatible set of everything that works is not quite trivial, this thread is created to list known compatible setups, and possible network topologies for the X1 since it features both a fiber optic network port and a copper Ethernet port. Although the timing of this thread is a bit early, I hope it helps people who are considering to buy X1 have sufficient information for how the X1 can be set up. For existing Lumin products, compatible fiber media converters have already been listed in this post:
http://www.audioshark.org/showthread.php?t=10068&page=6&p=228808&viewfull=1#post228808

Before going into details, let me answer the question of why bother with it when copper Ethernet works great. For digital music transmission, I have no doubt Ethernet is better than USB, especially when the source for the USB is a general purpose computer or NAS. However, just as people who use isolation products for USB can improve the sound quality significantly, some people found that doing optical isolation for Ethernet can make the already great sound quality even slightly better without spending a great deal of money. This is an observation made by some Lumin users, as well as users of other brands of network-capable DAC. As for the technical reason why some people hear a difference even if the digital bits are the same, there exists multiple theories that range from ground loop, shielding, and leakage current, etc. There is no electric noise in an optic fiber, so it is potentially a really good form of isolation.

Is Lumin the first to support fiber optic network in a network streamer? I think practically it is, excluding DIY products. If I'm not mistaken, MSB and Bel Canto use fiber for proprietary signal connections but not standard fiber optic network. (If I'm wrong please feel free to correct me.)

Note: Fiber optic network is totally different from TOSLINK - these are different things. Audiophiles typically do not use toslink because it usually results in jitter unless your DAC does a good job to reclock it.
 
This warning deserves its own post.

Do not connect both the X1 fiber optic network port (hereafter SFP port) and copper Ethernet port to the same switch or router - this forms a switching loop. This may bring down your whole network and your family will find that they cannot access the internet, until you disconnect the loop and reboot the whole network infrastructure.

Typically we have the following scenarios for the X1 network port connection:
Case 1: Use the SFP port only to fiber media converter or optical switch
Case 2: Use the copper Ethernet port only to WiFi router or switch
Case 3: Use the SFP port for connection to fiber media converter or optical switch, and use the copper Ethernet for a bridged connection to NAS or L1 (in another forum there are some people who advocate this type of bridged NAS connection for sound quality - our X1 users will be able test it easily whether this sounds better or worse.)
 
This is the Lumin Munich 2018 setup, and is probably easier and less costly to adopt than other setups. In these diagrams, Ethernet cable is not shown where it is obvious. FMC means fiber media converter.

L1 or NAS - WiFi Router with 1000Mbps Ethernet - FMC - fiber - Lumin X1 SFP

FMC: TP-Link MC210CS in Auto mode
fiber: Single mode LC-SC Duplex patch cord (Yellow)
SFP: TP-Link TL-SM311LS

Since optic fiber comes in single mode and multi mode, and there are SC and LC types of connectors, so there are all sorts of fiber variations. This is a single mode setup, so the FMC, fiber, and SFP are chosen to use single mode. The chosen FMC uses SC connector, but the SFP uses LC connector, so the fiber must be LC-SC otherwise it cannot be plugged in at all. The SFP and FMC pair is chosen in a way that is known to be compatible. The color yellow is significant because this is the standard for single mode fiber.

The difference between single mode and multi mode is that signal in single mode fiber can travel even longer distance. One may choose to use multi mode as well, but the FMC and the SFP will be different - this is NOT yet verified: for multi mode setup the FMC should be MC200CM, and the SFP should be TL-SM311LM. You'd need multi mode fiber instead of single mode fiber for a multi mode setup.

The TP-Link FMC has a limitation that its copper Ethernet port only works at 1000Mbps. It does not work at 100Mbps. If your WiFi router Ethernet port is 100Mbps, please replace the WiFi router with a contemporary model with 1000Mbps Ethernet ports, or insert a 1000Mbps switch such as Netgear GS105 between the router Ethernet 100Mbps port and the FMC. There may be other brand(s) of FMC that does not share this limitation, but you'd then need to find a compatible SFP with the brand of FMC you choose.

Note: In the link in post #1 I said to use a pair of FMC for other models of Lumin. For X1 you only need one, not a pair because X1 has SFP port. The receiver-side SFP will be powered by the X1 power supply. So there is no need to get another LPS for the FMC in an X1 setup.
 
Some people may choose to use an optical network switch instead of FMC. In another forum some people use the Diablo brand optical switch. We got an equivalent unit from China.

L1 or NAS - WiFi Router - Optical switch SFP - fiber - Lumin X1 SFP

In this setup you need a pair of the same SFP, e.g. TL-SM311LS, and a single mode LC-LC duplex patch cord (yellow).
 
great product. I use the S1 at today and i'm happy. (with L1 and Nas, standard power supply and Kenneth Lau p.s.)
The new X1 is a great temptation.....price will be around 18k? (europe)
Linn Klimax is now definitely dead

when the first pieces availables?
thank you
 
At work we use fs.com for media converters, SFPs, and fiber jumpers. The cost is cheaper than what you might find off Amazon, etc. I have not used these with Lumin of course, but we have good luck in an ISP environment.

$23 - MC that supports 10/100/1000 copper and standard (dual fiber) and BiDi (single fiber) SFPs:
https://www.fs.com/products/35333.html

$11 - Standard single mode SFP:
https://www.fs.com/products/29848.html

$9/$12 - BiDi single mode SFPs:
https://www.fs.com/products/29894.html
https://www.fs.com/products/29895.html

Fiber jumpers are around a few dollars each, depending on length. Just make sure you order with LC connector (single or dual) with UPC polish (blue connector). A 2mm thick jacket is good.

Note - For the BiDi SFPs it runs two wavelengths over the same strand of fiber, one for Tx and one for Rx. Therefore, you need to order in reverse pairs such as 1310/1490nm and 1490/1310nm
 
vortrex said:
At work we use fs.com for media converters, SFPs, and fiber jumpers. The cost is cheaper than what you might find off Amazon, etc.
Click to expand...

Amazon prices do fluctuate greatly. Not long ago it listed MC210CS at $45, now it's $70.
 
As you can see in the picture, I already use an optical bridge: Two TP-Link MC200CM (Multi mode, not single mode MC210CS) with an optic duplex, allowing me to connect an isolated secondary router for my streamer from my HIFI dedicated electrical circuit and this without pollution = Optical conversion and back to Ethernet conversion.

In my case, this new Lumin X1 optical port would allow me to eliminate my secondary network (and one TP-Link converter) for a purer sound.

My only technical question: Do I really need a TL-SM311LM since my duplex cable is only one meter long? :doubtful:

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vinci92 said:
As you can see in the picture, I already use an optical bridge: Two TP-Link MC200CM (Multi mode, not single mode MC210CS) with an optic duplex, allowing me to connect an isolated secondary router for my streamer from my HIFI dedicated electrical circuit and this without pollution = Optical conversion and back to Ethernet conversion.

In my case, this new Lumin X1 optical port would allow me to eliminate my secondary network (and one TP-Link converter) for a purer sound.

My only technical question: Do I really need a TL-SM311LM since my duplex cable is only one meter long? :doubtful:
Click to expand...

If I understand your network topology correctly, and if you buy an X1 in the future, yes you'd need the TL-SM311LM SFP (note: not tested yet) to be plugged into the X1 SFP port

This way one of your MC200CM units can be eliminated. The other MC200CM to be used with X1 SFP needs to be changed from Force mode to Auto mode for connection to SFP. Your existing fiber cannot be used due to connector mismatch (and probably insufficient length). You would need a multi mode LC-SC duplex 50/125um fiber.
 
Thank you very much for the valuable information. If I buy the X1, I'm going to proceed to a long-term comparison between my current configuration and the TL-SM311LM SFP with the LC-SC duplex 50 / 125um. I will post all my impressions on this in this thread.
 
wklie said:
Is Lumin the first to support fiber optic network in a network streamer? I think practically it is, excluding DIY products. If I'm not mistaken, MSB and Bel Canto use fiber for proprietary signal connections but not standard fiber optic network. (If I'm wrong please feel free to correct me.)

Note: Fiber optic network is totally different from TOSLINK - these are different things. Audiophiles typically do not use toslink because it usually results in jitter unless your DAC does a good job to reclock it.
Click to expand...

Sorry Peter, I hate to say this but Lumin may not be the first to do this. I bought a streamer from Mivera called Superstream 2 yrs back which had ST fiber port. Its not a DIY product but he stopped producing anymore units.

Having said this, I am curious to know if the Transceivers are native to the MAC or does it go through an internal FMC ?

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Thanks for the info. The SFP socket is directly connected to our network hardware, so the answer is native.
 
Hi,
sorry my stupid question but i'm very "new" with streamer&music server....
Peter can you plaese say me as is to be connected the Mini 1x 10/100/1000Base to the router? i need 2 pcs.? what gove me this "operation" really in my system?
thank you very much for your understanding..
b rgds
 
I'm sure the question is not stupid, but I'm not sure I understand your question. Anyway, to upgrade from S1 to X1 it's a drop-in replacement with no other required changes, including your existing Ethernet setup.

Only if you want to try the optical network, and your WiFi router has 1000Mbps gigabit Ethernet port, then you can try the configuration in post #3. With the X1, you only need one FMC and one SFP, not two. The router is connected to the FMC via an Ethernet cable, and the FMC is connected to the SFP plugged into X1 via a duplex fiber.
 
I try to be sure about the configuration... Is it possible to know were the TL-SM311LS sould be connected (into the MC210CS ok into the X1)? Thank you!
 
The TL-SM311LS is an SFP module and looks like this:

TL-SM311LS_1482980813769y.jpg


The SFP is to be plugged into the Lumin X1. See the top-left part of the below image. The silver socket with some circular holes is the SFP socket. You see the SFP module (TL-SM311LS) inside the socket, and a silver part of the SFP module that extends outside the socket with an extraction lever. The SFP connects to a duplex fiber with a LC connector (blue). The other end of the fiber (not shown) is connected to a MC210CS.

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