DIY Project High Performance Audio PC with high quality wiring

[MarkusBarkus]

41 minutes ago, StreamFidelity said:

And what's inside isn't so ugly that it can't be shown. 😄

Ugly? It's gorgeous! Instead of an acrylic cover, perhaps a beautiful cloth, which you could remove with a snap and a flourish before use...like a magician...or a mad scientist! 
 

Really, it's beautiful.

[MarkusBarkus]

I have swapped them, successfully, both ways FWIW. SFP into FMC then cable into SFP. And when SFP was already out, I have plugged in the fiber cable, and inserted the whole assembly into the FMC.

 

Excuse the basic troubleshooting question: Are you sure your new cable is the correct spec for those SFPs? You would not be the first person to have an unplanned mismatch. 

[MarkusBarkus]

@MarcelNL there are others better qualified than I am to help, but it occurs to me a simple test, without/before buying new SFPs, could be to disconnect one end of the cable from the SFP and point it at the wall...any place not your eyes! Is there light output? Then try the other FMC/ SFP combo.

 

Might give you rudimentary on/off level info. Just don't look at that laser output.

 

From reading your posts, I suspect you might like this test. 😉

 

I believe the laser would project out of the cable, as I recall seeing videos of techs taking pics on a cell phone.

 

Please feel free to ignore this simple test. Cheers, Mark

[MarkusBarkus]

I may have misremembered that video, I cannot recall wavelength. It may have been using a laser pointer to test:
 

One way is to begin the process with a highly unscientific but effective test. I disconnect both ends of the fiber cable and hold a laser pointer up to the cable to see if the light comes out the other end, as shown in Figure A. If you don’t have a laser pointer, a bright flashlight works just as well, as shown in Figure B. Fiber optic cable is designed to conduct light, so you don’t have to worry too much about exactly lining up the cable with the light source.

[MarkusBarkus]

@MarcelNL did you consider using your phone to check ports and/or fo cable? I know you have SFPs on the way, but I think this would work, if you're in the mood. 

[MarkusBarkus]

...I recall some folks were speculating that because the criteria/spec for 10Gbit was so much tighter, that it suggested the supporting hardware was "better" and perhaps quieter. I don't recall that we ever conclusively established that as factual. 

[MarkusBarkus]

I use and like the Planet MGB-TLX SFPs in the SonoreOM and PFBuffalo switch. I plan to install one in a Taiko in a week or so. Full disclosure: I have not done extensive SFP rolling. I am just offering another data point.

[MarkusBarkus]

...it does look freaking fantastic, which corresponds to good brain waves. Looks very steam-punky cool. Like you're doin' the hifi business in style. Bonus points for style. 

[MarkusBarkus]

I had a device like this in the early 90s. Seeing different colors from the LEDs was mindblowingly interesting. How the heck did that happen! It used binaural tones in the programs, as I recall. Combining the LED perception effects with music must be cool. OK--back on topic!