What ethernet cables are members using?
- Thread starter Lee
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Actually, I’m using a Hne switch with optical converter.
The sound is really better when using the fiber converter VS Ethernet switch only.
I tested several basic Ethernet cable from Amazon, Patchsee, Primewire, furutech lan8 with good results but there was something missing.
In my system, the last Ethernet cable between my streamer and the switch output is very important in the final restitution.
So I tested the Wireworld Starlight Cat8 : whaouuu !!! the sound became more natural and more musical.Very good cable !
I just ordered the Sablon Ethernet 2020 for testing I hope it will be even better!
The sound is really better when using the fiber converter VS Ethernet switch only.
I tested several basic Ethernet cable from Amazon, Patchsee, Primewire, furutech lan8 with good results but there was something missing.
In my system, the last Ethernet cable between my streamer and the switch output is very important in the final restitution.
So I tested the Wireworld Starlight Cat8 : whaouuu !!! the sound became more natural and more musical.Very good cable !
I just ordered the Sablon Ethernet 2020 for testing I hope it will be even better!
I'm cooking my new Sablon Ethernet 2020 from yesterday and Yes ! it's even better than a Wireworld Starlitght Cat 8 out the box !
The build quality is excellent .I hope to see what the burning periode can do.
Thanks Mark Coles
The build quality is excellent .I hope to see what the burning periode can do.
Thanks Mark Coles
Like many others users, the Sablon Ethernet 2020 needed some hours to sound at his best. Clearly exceptional ! It’s a very natural cable with great micro and macro dynamics.Highly recommended !
I am using a combination of Chord Company Sarum from router to Melco sever to first SoTm switch, then fibre between switches. The final SoTM switch has Chord Company Music to streamer.
I am currently using Supra Cat8 cables and have found myself coming back to them repeatedly. I have tried the Furutech Lan8 NCF but there was something in the high frequency range that didn't jive. No matter where I put them in the chain it was unpleasant. I have ordered some WireWorld Starlight and Chroma to experiment with next.
My reaction to the Starlight was similar to your reaction to the Furutech, but that it was messing with the high frequencies wasn't apparent until I compared it to a few others. The Platinum Starlight seemed impressive at first but it made bright recordings sound even brighter. I think it was the use of silver in each of those that didn't jive with my system. The Chroma uses only copper so no problems there. For the price, I thought it was a good value.
If the Chroma is a step up from the Supra Cat8 then i'll be fine with it for now. Otherwise, I'll wait until I upgrade my switch before upgrading cables again.
Ive just had the same experience with the Starlight v Chroma. The Chroma is a step up from the Supra cables but not enough for me to be content with them. I have my eye on the Sablon’s next as I am hesitant to try any other silver cable at this time.
for those running Fiber Optics: do you use the same model Ethernet cable pre and post FO or do you place more emphasis on the cable post FO?
My only audiophile Ethernet cable is the one that connects my streamer to my EtherRegen. Fiber leads up to that and genetic cabling precedes all that.
I use a 50' Cat 8 Ethernet cable from one of my Nighthawk modem/router 's 1000 Mbs ports to the ethernet port on a purpose built/stripped Mac Mini (16Gb Ram/1 TB SSD).The cable was made up for me and installed by a friend who owns a commercial cable installation company. The modem is attached to the 1 Gbs public Internet/Ethernet. I use the QoBuz app on the Mac to stream music bits to my system.
I've tried expensive audiophile brand thin wire ethernet, HDMI, USB cables and so on; in many cases they are either defective or don't make a darn bit of difference.
I've tried expensive audiophile brand thin wire ethernet, HDMI, USB cables and so on; in many cases they are either defective or don't make a darn bit of difference.
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In my listening tests, ethernet always beats wi-fi. I don't have any deep understanding, but I have read explanations as to why:
1. A wi-fi receiver receives all the wi-fi signals inside the home, and from outside the home from neighbours' systems. The correct address for the actual device has to be separated out from the various signals that are present. This extra processing causes digital noise. Ethernet sent from a switch is already sorted by the upstream switch, therefore less processing required in the device closer to the DAC.
2. A wi-fi radio is a digitally noisy device, and digital noise gets folded into the data signal. Wi-fi waves can also infiltrate cables and components in the audio system causing RFI.
A wi-fi system is galvanically isolated, which is great, but the above disadvantages overwhelm the advantage of galvanic isolation, IME. Fiber optic combines the advantages of both systems, but that's another story.
When I've compared wi-fi vs. ethernet cable, the biggest difference I hear is a more solid or present sound through the copper cables. The sound from a wi-fi system is more ethereal.
Hello and good morning to you, @audiobomber. I am assuming that your modem/router is in very close proximity of your source gear?
My experience differs from yours BUT, I do have a possible different situation than yourself when testing. My modem/router is about 90 feet away from my source. There are brick walls, interior walls and other obstructions that present "issues". After flying through multiple thousands of dollars worth of experiments/gear, my best case scenario was to upgrade both the cable modem and the router to a mesh system. The E cable between the modem and the Router is a Shunyata Alpha with the C-Mode filter on the cable itself.
I have a very extensive and rather complex setup upstream of the streamer but in my particular case? Wi-Fi beats out any configuration I had ever tried with hard wired. I have 3 moats total that isolate any upstream noise, plus two more C-Mode filters and then the Muon Pro along with a plethora of other noise reducing kit.
The mesh system communicates to and from the router on a completely separate band than that of the rest of the house and I have prioritized the 2.4Hz to only run the streamer with a non-limiting 1Gb port. Everything else in the house runs on the other bands. With a 100' Ethernet cable (regardless of type), I found the sound to be not as good. My guess is that over a 100 foot run, the E cable picked up noises along the way and getting a 100' Shunyata Omega or like cable would prove to be way too expensive to even try out.
I know that there are many different configurations and ways to clean up the noise and while I may be alone in my thoughts on this. I do not believe that there could ever be a single, solid and concrete way to optimize a signal to the source. There are way too many variables within people's systems that would sway one finding/observation to another. In my case, it is distance, obstructions and the noise that the E cable picks up along the way when hardwired.
Yes, I do know that I could simply move the modem/router closer to the system but I would have to turn around and move it back to where they are now when the new stereo room is built out in the current shop (separate building), otherwise, the signal would have to travel around 140 feet and two more exterior brick walls, plus be exposed to outside elements. Where they are located now, I will simply get another satellite for the mesh system and the distance would be reduced to about 35-40 feet.
I might entertain the thought when it's out there to install RG-6 cable from the road to the new room, place the modem and router in the new room and beam all other signals to the house. But for now, I have no noticable deficiencies running things the way I currently am. Time will tell.
Tom
About 5 years, I compared a 20m run of my pre-2020 model Sablon Ethernet against wifi, using my isp modem into an apple express wifi receiver, and preferred the sound of latter. Hands down better looking too. At that stage my network was quite simple without switches, so perhaps the galvanic isolation added by wifi was a relevant factor.
Clearly the comparison between wi-fi and ethernet cable depends on the components used and the layout of the system. The comparison I did, with a couple of audiophile friends in attendance, was a close as possible to a level playing field, both in cost and component quality.
Music was stored on a NAS, connected to a Silent Angel N8 switch. From there, it went to either my TP-Link C9 Archer router via copper and TP-Link 580D extender via wi-fi, or via 15 meter ethernet cable, to the EtherRegen feeding my audio system. The switches, router and extender were all on linear power. The broadcast radio in the extender was disabled (i.e. Client Mode). Ethernet cables were generic CAT6, Yauhody CAT8, or Audio Sensibility Supra Super (Supra CAT8 with Telegartner connectors, cryogenically treated). The CAT8 ethernet cables were used with and without a LAN Isolator. Results were clear, I haven't used wi-fi in my main system since then. I do use wi-fi for a couple of lower-fi systems upstairs, because running cable in this house is virtually impossible.
I have since transitioned to fiber optic for the 15 meter run, initially with a generic FMC, now with an opticalModule Deluxe v2 and Corning single mode fiber feeding the ER. I use upgraded ethernet cables for the short runs; Sablon 2020, Furutech LAN8 NCF and Audio Sensibility Signature. I highly recommend using fiber for longer runs.
Music was stored on a NAS, connected to a Silent Angel N8 switch. From there, it went to either my TP-Link C9 Archer router via copper and TP-Link 580D extender via wi-fi, or via 15 meter ethernet cable, to the EtherRegen feeding my audio system. The switches, router and extender were all on linear power. The broadcast radio in the extender was disabled (i.e. Client Mode). Ethernet cables were generic CAT6, Yauhody CAT8, or Audio Sensibility Supra Super (Supra CAT8 with Telegartner connectors, cryogenically treated). The CAT8 ethernet cables were used with and without a LAN Isolator. Results were clear, I haven't used wi-fi in my main system since then. I do use wi-fi for a couple of lower-fi systems upstairs, because running cable in this house is virtually impossible.
I have since transitioned to fiber optic for the 15 meter run, initially with a generic FMC, now with an opticalModule Deluxe v2 and Corning single mode fiber feeding the ER. I use upgraded ethernet cables for the short runs; Sablon 2020, Furutech LAN8 NCF and Audio Sensibility Signature. I highly recommend using fiber for longer runs.
I really like the Belden RevConnect RJ45 termination tool and jacks. They are light years ahead of the standard residential grade ethernet tools and connectors.
Use Belden cable.
Use Deoxit G100 on all the terminations.
Thats your behind the wall foundation.
Spend what you want from the wall to the equipment. But I bet its a much lesser heard cable unless you have an issue. A switch or router will have a larger influence on performance than a well applied spec cable terminated properly
Use Belden cable.
Use Deoxit G100 on all the terminations.
Thats your behind the wall foundation.
Spend what you want from the wall to the equipment. But I bet its a much lesser heard cable unless you have an issue. A switch or router will have a larger influence on performance than a well applied spec cable terminated properly
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