Caelin, what's your view on ethernet cables?
- Thread starter Lee
- Start date
Those interested in a review of multiple "audiophile" ethernet cables might want to review Jay Luong's Audiobacon site for his somewhat recent review of cables:
https://audiobacon.net/category/cables/digital/
FWIW, I've been using the SOtM dCBL-CAT7 ethernet for months now into an Innuos Zenith 3 with great results.
https://audiobacon.net/category/cables/digital/
FWIW, I've been using the SOtM dCBL-CAT7 ethernet for months now into an Innuos Zenith 3 with great results.
The two Ethernet Sigma cables arrived today at my dealer, 4 weeks from order placement. So, Indy yours should be coming soon, I'd surmise.
Been listening and using in the following setup:
Roon Nucleus -> Shunyata Sigma -> Transparent TPM -> WireWorld Starlight 8 -> Cisco 2960 switch -> WireWorld Platinum Starlight 8 -> Transparent TPM -> Shunyata Sigma -> dCS Vivaldi Upsampler
The pair of Tranparent devices are designed for surge suppression but I've been told that many others have also found the circuitry in the device, by happy coincidence, does a remarkable job of taking noise from upstream and grounding it while passing along the data stream.
FYI: https://www.transparentcable.com/co...protection/products/plug-in-network-protector
What's really remarkable is the absolute quiet as the noise floor drops, revealing everything in the music. And that includes what was not demonstrated during the decay of songs, previous congestion (individual voices in harmony), secondary and tertiary harmonics, deeper as well as wider sound stage and other hall queues. Top to bottom this is a killer product. I will say it's most important in the last run from either a switch (on in my case the TPM) to the DAC (in my case the Upsampler). However adding it, as I've done, to the initial source to downstream devices adds another bump in SQ.
I've yet to swap out the WireWorld cables for a pair of AudioQuest Vodka that I've got on hand to see if they provide better/worse results. Unlike the WireWorld, which are Cat 8 (designed for short run / very high speed) and flat layout, the AudioQuest is Cat7 for slower speeds but is twisted pair . However both use shielding, unlike the Shunyata Cat 6a design and UTP. So, I'm thinking, ideally, of eventually replacing all the intermediary Ethernet with Cat 6a of some manufacture, just to determine if any such cabling alters the sonic results.
Roon Nucleus -> Shunyata Sigma -> Transparent TPM -> WireWorld Starlight 8 -> Cisco 2960 switch -> WireWorld Platinum Starlight 8 -> Transparent TPM -> Shunyata Sigma -> dCS Vivaldi Upsampler
The pair of Tranparent devices are designed for surge suppression but I've been told that many others have also found the circuitry in the device, by happy coincidence, does a remarkable job of taking noise from upstream and grounding it while passing along the data stream.
FYI: https://www.transparentcable.com/co...protection/products/plug-in-network-protector
What's really remarkable is the absolute quiet as the noise floor drops, revealing everything in the music. And that includes what was not demonstrated during the decay of songs, previous congestion (individual voices in harmony), secondary and tertiary harmonics, deeper as well as wider sound stage and other hall queues. Top to bottom this is a killer product. I will say it's most important in the last run from either a switch (on in my case the TPM) to the DAC (in my case the Upsampler). However adding it, as I've done, to the initial source to downstream devices adds another bump in SQ.
I've yet to swap out the WireWorld cables for a pair of AudioQuest Vodka that I've got on hand to see if they provide better/worse results. Unlike the WireWorld, which are Cat 8 (designed for short run / very high speed) and flat layout, the AudioQuest is Cat7 for slower speeds but is twisted pair . However both use shielding, unlike the Shunyata Cat 6a design and UTP. So, I'm thinking, ideally, of eventually replacing all the intermediary Ethernet with Cat 6a of some manufacture, just to determine if any such cabling alters the sonic results.
I’ve been testing my setup by following Grant Samuelson’s recommendation to reduce the number of connections in my path. That initially had me removing the Transparent TPM from the Roon Nucleus to switch segment followed by doing the same from the switch to dCS Upsampler segment.
Doing so made a huge positive difference without sacrificing the original benefits of noise reduction. It would appear that the Shunyata Sigma Ethernet cables really remove all such potential noise. The CMode filters simply work. And it’s likely adding the TPM, and even more so, the Audioquest Ethernet cables into the path, obliterated the benefits of the Precision Matched Impedence to such an extent that the sound was significantly diminished.
Needless to say, the system really sounds great now.
Doing so made a huge positive difference without sacrificing the original benefits of noise reduction. It would appear that the Shunyata Sigma Ethernet cables really remove all such potential noise. The CMode filters simply work. And it’s likely adding the TPM, and even more so, the Audioquest Ethernet cables into the path, obliterated the benefits of the Precision Matched Impedence to such an extent that the sound was significantly diminished.
Needless to say, the system really sounds great now.
Wondering, now that I’m using a pair of Sigma cables for Roon Nucleus and dCS Upsampler with my switch whether I’d see a similar benefit with replacing existing WireWorld for my WiFi Access Point with the Shunyata. It’s handling internet radio stations, some of which include FLAC CD quality streams. Any testing done for such deployment?
Do you mean between the modem and the router? I currently have another Alpha ethernet on order. I will use it between my modem and the router. It will be replacing an Audioquest Cinnamon. I will report back.
Yep, that works. My situation is that I have an Eero mesh network-based WiFi access point wired using a WireWorld first generation Platinum Starlight 8 into my Cisco switch. So, I'm using WiFi from another Eero that's wired into my cable modem to my ISP.
Will be interested in what you find swapping out your Audioquest cable. I have yet to try an Audioquest Vodka that I have on hand to see how different it plays vs the Wireworld, with the existing setup I've described.
Will be interested in what you find swapping out your Audioquest cable. I have yet to try an Audioquest Vodka that I have on hand to see how different it plays vs the Wireworld, with the existing setup I've described.
Will be receiving Uptone Audio’s newly released EtherREGEN switch next month. I’m curios to see if replacing my Cisco 2960 with this one makes any actual difference, given the dual CMode filters on the two Sigma Ethernet cables I’ve deployed.
I will also be receiving the EtherRegen next month! It will be replacing a Netgear GS 105. I will report back when I've got it.
I'll be receiving one as well. I'm very curious if you will still feel the Sigma Ethernet cables bring the same level of improvement once the EtherRegen is in place.
Already know how much the Shunyata cables have done for my system - which is beyond just the common mode noise it takes care of from Nucleus-switch-Upsampler. What I’m expecting are noise reduction for all A-side ports (supporting my WiFi access point specifically) leakage. Completely uncertain as to what benefits, if any, will come otherwise.
So, how exactly is your first Shunyata Ethernet cable wired? Is it between a player and switch or from the switch to your DAC? Or some other setup?
The first one is between a switch and the streamer DAC.
The whole setup is modem - Alpha Ethernet- router-AQ Forest ethernet (28 feet)-switch. From the switch, it goes to the streamer DAC, a Mac Mini (used as a NAS) and an Apple TV.
Thanks for the clarification. I’ll likely experiment with both the approach you took at the front of the stream (cable modem to Eero WiFi access point) that’s upstairs, and later at the music system, between the attached Eero to switch. I’m guessing the former will have the greater impact.
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