Are you referring to the SFP modules inserted in the USB slot or the Ethernet slot please ?
Can you share which models/makes you found on Amazon and are working fine ?
Can you also share what improvements (if any) you noticed using these, compared to the modules provided by HifiRose with the RS720 ?
UPDATE : I DID replace today the simplex SFP modules and fiber provided by Hifirose for the RS130 to RS720 USB connection by DUPLEX SFP+ modules and fiber… It works fine, confirming that this USB port is SFP+ !
Wow great work ! Will have to try
I bought a pair of ELFCAM ES31X-3LCD10 SFP+ modules and a double single mode fiber, to play with.
I had 2 Cisco SFP10G-LR SFP+ modules lying around in a drawer and a one-meter Corning fiber, I exchanged the SFP+ modules provided with the RSA720. But what a wonderful surprise!!!
The increase in SQ is as spectacular as when I added the RSA720!!! More depth in the sound, more space between the instruments, more detached voices. In short, very happy with this more than successful test.
I just made an interesting little discovery.
A few months ago I read on Whatsbestforum.com and stereophile.com that you should test an Avago AFBR-5718PZ Gen5 SFP+ module, I bought a pair and left them aside in a drawer. Tonight I thought about it again and connected them between the Switch Sotm and the RS130 with a Corning OM4 fiber.
I just got a slap in the face because the sound is incredible. Considering the price of SFP modules, it’s worth a try…
I already found out that HIFIROSE supplies the RSA720 with SFP+ modules (which could bé replaced with better ones), so it IS interesting to learn you successfully use SFP+ modules for internet connection as well, when @ROSEHAN has certified that the RS130 does NOT support SFP+ modules !
I can confirm that the following SFP+ modules work perfectly for internet:
And here are the ones I tested for the RS130 to RSA720 connection:
Finally those tested between the RS130 and the RD160:
In my RS130 to RD160 setup, this is what works best (and I’m not willing to change it):
RS130 Internet: - Broadcom / Avago AFBR-710ISMZ Gen5
RS130 to RD160 : - Amphenol Dac Cable SF-SFPP2EPASS-001
And when you were using the RSA720, which ones worked best please ?
Oddly enough, it’s a bit different:
RS130 internet: Amphenol Dac Cable SF-SFPP2EPASS-001
RS130 to RSA720: Cisco DAC cable SFP10G-AOC
Amphenol does not work on RSA720
Hello PatriceP
could you post the links to the articles on Whatsbestforum.com and stereophile.com? I tried to find them, but I couldn’t.
Here is the link to Stereophile: Linn Klimax Solo 800 amplificateur de puissance monobloc Page 2 | Stereophile.com
He talks about it briefly, but it piqued my interest, and he talks about it in several other articles. Obviously these are his preferred SFPs.
Concerning WBF I can’t find it anymore, maybe I made a mistake…
If you don’t mind, I have some comments regarding your recommendations…
First of all, I would like to state that I have some experience with optical fiber in audio, all since I noticed the solution used by MSB Technology in the optical isolation of their DAC.
I started by inserting a fiber optic loop into the ethernet cable of the streamer, first through 2xFMC (fiber media converter), 2xSFP multimode and multimode fiber optics. Then 2xFMC, 2xSFP single mode and single mode optical fiber.
This solution was promoted for a long time by the DELA website from Japan for MELCO (DELA OP-S100). After that MELCO introduced the ADOT (Audiophile Digital Optical Technology) packages.
I took a switch with management and SFP+ port and removed one of the FMCs. Of course, they all had to be fed with linear sources.
Over time I have tried various brands of FMCs, SFPs and optical fibers. My conclusion, and that of many others expressed on the forums, was that the use of singlemode equipment is clearly superior to multimode.
And regarding SFP modules, Coherent Finisar and CISCO are the top.
Then a new solution appeared, all in a very elegant box, from iFi Audio (SilentPower LAN iPurifier Pro). If you look at the interior pictures, you can see that it uses singlemode optical fiber.
I did all this because I found the superiority of fiber optic insulation compared to any other solutions.
That was the only reason why I bought RS130 and RSA720.
For those who are passionate, there is a long discussion thread on the audiophilestyle forum (https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/24002-optical-network-configurations/#comments).
Returning to your post, I have a few observations:
@ SPaul,
Excellent analysis,
For the Finisar and Cisco SFPs I obviously used a Corning OS2 fiber and for the Avago a Corning OM4.
I tried all possible combinations and on my system, what works best “for me” is Avago on the RS130 Internet input and the Amphenol DAC cable between the RS130 and the RD160.
I am aware that the Aphenom is copper, just like the very expensive Melco C1 (which is an undisputed reference), but what matters is my ear, it’s the emotion I get from it when I listen to my music.
But I agree with you on the technical side.
Finally, I confirm that the SFP10G-LR SFP+ worked perfectly between the RS130 and the RSA720.
Of course, in the end, everyone’s ear matters!
However, you did not clarify the Cisco cable is DAC or AOC?
A Cable DAC can be passive (like Amphenol or Melco) or active (AOC, like Cisco). right?
In any case, this is how they are presented on the various online sales sites…
But it can NOT be DAC and AOC at the same time!
DAC cable = Direct Attach Copper cable
AOC cable = Active Optical Cable
I’m not saying you’re wrong, I’m saying that a lot of sites call it that:
Arista AOC-Q-Q-100G-3M 100G QSFP100 DAC Active Optical AOC-10027-20 | eBay
Thank you for this encyclopedic precision.
It is a mistake of the seller. As you can see in the links above, the manufacturer does not mix them.
I was just curious which Cisco cable you used, AOC (orange color) or DAC (black color).
Regarding the Melco C1 SFP DAC cable, I tested it, and to my ears it was below Cisco SFP-10G-LR (original, because many equivalents or fakes are also sold).
@SPaul
You should try a pair of ELFCAM ES31X-3LCD10 SFP+ modules and a double single mode fiber to connect your RSA720 to your RS130 : they clearly outperform the ROSE-provided multimode SANOC modules… and Corning fibers also outperform the noname fibers.