Connecting RS130 to fibre

ROSE Products RS130
#11

Thanks Phillip, but I really do understand the difference. I used to be a networking tech. Ethernet these days is a catch all term for a stack of protocols that can run over different physical layers, from coax cable through twisted or untwisted pairs to fibre optic cable which is typically used in high noise environments or for long distance transmission. No relation to spdif over optical cable - toslink.

The description of the RS130 on the HiFi Rose site describes the LAN port as Ethernet Copper or Fibre.

I was interested because various things I’ve read suggested there might be a benefit in having a fibre link in the LAN chain close to the endpoint as this would block electrical noise carried over the copper cable. I was trying to identify what I’d need to test this for myself.

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#12

Under normal conditions and assuming somewhat competently designed equipment (Rose is) moving to fiber will have no more audible benefit than replacing the fuse with an “audiophile” one or putting a magic crystal on top of the speaker. Won’t hurt anything either…

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#13

Thanks BorisM. You’re almost certainly right.

#14

Yeah, as soon as it hits the port on the Rose, it is converted back into electrical noise anyway.

If you need to run the network to your listening barn that is 300m from your castle, then fiber makes sense. But in a normal home its totally overkill.

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#15

I’m sorry, but allas don’t agree. Once you’ve heard the differences, there’s no going back. It’s that obvious!

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#16

Yes, psychology is a very powerful thing.

Unfortunately, physics does not care how much you paid for a streamer and keep sound waves identical.

#17

Well, having now connected my RS130 through fibre it’s clear that physics doesn’t care about what we think should happen because it genuinely does make a difference.

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#18

I bought these to connect my RS130 to the internet over fiber. The combination works without any issues. I think it’s never bad to buy the different pieces from the same company for compatibility issues. About the sound, I’m not sure. I connected my RS130 only a few days through the normal ethernet to the internet and I couldn’t notice a significant improvement.

A Converter from 10GTek:
https://www.amazon.es/dp/B07B64PN7Z/ref=pe_27091411_487056151_TE_item

A 10Gtek 1G SFP SX LC Modulo Multimode - 1000Base-SX Mini-Gbic Transceiver to plug into the RS130:
https://www.amazon.es/dp/B01DD0Z7D8/ref=pe_27091411_487056151_TE_item

A compatible fiber:
https://www.amazon.es/dp/B01DCYHTRM/ref=pe_27091411_487056151_TE_item

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#19

I believe you’re on the right path. However, give the Rose time to break in and also consider that this is not the most elaborated media converter and it is powered by a cheap switching power supply. Improving the latter with a linear power supply will immediately prove sonic benefits.

#20

You are right, the power supply is nothing special and not really designed for music playback. I have a linear PSU for my dac with a second not used DC output. I’ll try to find some time to adjust the output voltage and make a cable that fits into the converter. But I’m really short of time, maybe during holidays after Christmas.

Once it’s done, I’ll come back to this. I’m curious.

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#21

:man_facepalming:

Well, it’s your money. Might as well put an audiophile fuse in it, too. Will make just as much difference (i.e. none whatsoever).

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#22

So, connecting from a router (or mesh node/repeater), you have connected a copper ethernet cable, which then is connected to an adapter which then connects to a fiber cable which then connects to the RS 130
router/node>RJ45 ethernet copper>adapter>SFP fiber cable>RS130
Is that the set up?

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#23

I’ve trying to get my RS130 to talk to my Nighthawk x10’s SFP port and it refuses to work.

I’m using Finisar FTLX1471D3BCL and a CommScope cable. Has anyone found that certain SFP modules don’t work with the RS130?

When I loop the X10 transceiver into itself to test it, the router recognizes the module, so the issue isn’t the transceivers or the router.

Ideally has anyone tried and gotten Cisco or Finisar transceivers to work?

#24

Hello Nuforce, yours SFP is actually SFP+ which supports 10Gbs transmission, I recall that someone has mentioned the RS130 support SFP (not SFP+), that may be the reason why it doesn’t work…

I am using Finisar SFP (not SFP+) now which works on my RS130…

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#25

Thanks :+1:

Which Finisar are you using?

I will try some 1gb Finisar although those might not work in my router which is SPF+…

#26

I use this one which is working fine in my system:

image
image1902×696 511 KB

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#27

thanks. Thinking about it, it makes sense that the Rose won’t work with SFP+ since this is a newer technology, and it can’t be “forward compatible” whereas it is more likely that my router will be “backward compatible” with older SFP 1G technology.

I will order a pair of these 1G Finisar now. FYI the Cisco AOC cables aren’t compatible with the Rose either which is a shame since the consensus is that this is the ultimate cable, even better than the Finisar 1G + CommScope/Corning.

When I use the Cisco AOC cable the streamer and router refuse to talk to each other :frowning:

#28

I find this whole SFP thing very confusing. I’ve just bought a 1G media converter and when I plug my router into it via ethernet, then both my Cisco AOC 10G and Finisar 10G transceivers work fine in the Rose?!

For some reason the Rose and Nighthawk x10 won’t communicate directly via SFP. Is it because the media converter is converting a 10G signal into a 1G one?

#29

It’s perhaps the media converter converts to whatever port you insert: either the sfp or the sfp+. The culprit is there streamer and its requirements: in this case the RS130 can’t have anything else than sfp ports. That’s also stated in the manual.
For sfp, you have the choice of single mode or multi mode sfp’s and both connect with LC connectors. Because they will mirror eachother on both sides: select either sm or mm LC-LC fiber cables. Preferably fiber with a Corning core for better sonnics.
Once you’ve got everything in place, you’ll be glad you pushed on: the result is definitely worth it. :slightly_smiling_face:

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#30

I’ve bought a pair of FTLF1318P3BTL for use with my CommScope cable hopefully that will sort it, I don’t want to use a media converter if I don’t need to.

I also recommend the Nighthawk x10, I use it with a 19v linear power supply.

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