Thread: *NEW* Shunyata Omega Ethernet

wow!
was on my way for an omega pc....now this one might develop higher personal priority.
any infos about price?

was prepared to decode that info from the release picture through summertime, thx for the short way!
never thought i would say that, but, thats an excellent price

Originally Posted by Ritmo

Ok, here we go, how much?

BTW, I really, really, like the Sigma Ethernet I’ve had for less than a year.

I've had one here on loan for the last few weeks for some product photography for this cable, and as excellent as the Sigma is, the Omega is...notably better. There is a notable improvement in overall audio quality, in particular "dimensionality", focus, and subtlety and precision in the rendition of details. And, you can hear the impact of the TAP device. I'll post more impressions soon.

Originally Posted by brodricj

It's the same connector + copper as the Sigma, but with a different TAP/CMode thingy, right?

The Telegartner connector is the same, I don't know any specifics about the conductors or the materials they are comprised of. But the CMode filters on the Alpha, Sigma and Omega bring a LOT to the party, and the TAP module brings increased image and instrumental or vocal signature "focus" and precision with respect to rendering in the soundstage/image. And there's other stuff that's "mo' betta", too. More on that later...

Ag? Seems like the logical conductor choice.

Originally Posted by brodricj

Alpha/Sigma didn't have the TAP thingy, only the CMode thingy, right?

Correct.

Originally Posted by Crion

Ag? Seems like the logical conductor choice.

I don't know. I'll leave that for Caelin to answer if he so chooses. All I can say is it sounds exceptionally good, it's extremely accurate with superlative, natural-sounding resolution, exceptionally quiet with lots of "body" and "verisimilitude" that is very much like the very "best-of-the-best" analog sources, and as good as the Sigma Ether is (and it's really very good), the Omega Ether is even better.

I found out on the other site it is still the 22 AWG OFE.
I evaluated Sigma Eth and liked the ease of breathing air around instruments and deeper soundstage. So yes I'm curious about this one. My evaulation focused on it as AES/EBU or S/PDIF carrier. Can the TAP provide such a profound improvement so that 1k+ is warranted?

Anyone else managed to get their hands or ears on the Omega ethernet?

Originally Posted by Crion

Anyone else managed to get their hands or ears on the Omega ethernet?

My understanding is that Cable Company has these now and may have one available to rent in for an audition.

I'm patiently waiting for my Ethernet cables. But I figured some in the US might already have theirs.

I thought these were ready to be produced but now I got a date for mine, 17 aug ETA production finished. My partner giggled at me for being sad about these being delayed but atleast now I got a datum.

Originally Posted by stevebythebay

How are you deploying this? I’ve used a pair of Sigma’s in/out of Uptone EtherREGEN with great success. Other ends are Roon Nucleus and dCS Vivaldi Upsampler. Just wondering if I’d find benefit of the Omega on one side of the switch versus the other, or would really need a pair.

Hi Steve,
I used the Omega from my downstream Sonore Optical Modue to the SOtM SMS-200 UltraNeo network bridge.

Originally Posted by stevebythebay

By the way, have you had any opportunity to audition any of the upcoming v2 digital and/or analog interconnects?

Not yet, no.

Alright, movement, mine have shipped and supposed to be here on my birthday next week.😄

happy birthday!

Alright both Omegas arrived. You could really feel these are special cables.
Have connected as AES/EBU cables and 4x AES/EBU in the Meridian system, Speakerlink and MMHR cables.

Previously upgraded the switch to uptone etherregen, that one feels like a conductor telling what parts to play at what volume. The Omega is the light on the scene, illuminating the performers. Words are a bit superflous here and I can't say the sound improved with xx%. It's more like the sound 'shifted' into another level of reproduction of performing arts.

That's it! I think they are spectacular. Someone else will have to tell their experience of these as ethernet cables. But in my system as AES/EBU cables they are awesome.

I tried uploading proof here but just says failed after doing 100%. Puma has much nicer photos though and they look even better IRL.

Originally Posted by Crion

Alright both Omegas arrived. You could really feel these are special cables.
Have connected as AES/EBU cables and 4x AES/EBU in the Meridian system, Speakerlink and MMHR cables.

Previously upgraded the switch to uptone etherregen, that one feels like a conductor telling what parts to play at what volume. The Omega is the light on the scene, illuminating the performers. Words are a bit superflous here and I can't say the sound improved with xx%. It's more like the sound 'shifted' into another level of reproduction of performing arts.

That's it! I think they are spectacular. Someone else will have to tell their experience of these as ethernet cables. But in my system as AES/EBU cables they are awesome.

I tried uploading proof here but just says failed after doing 100%. Puma has much nicer phots though and they look even better IRL.

Thanks, Crion, your experiences parallel mine; the Omega Ethernet is an amazing Ethernet cable. As exemplary as the Sigma is, the Omega just takes it to another level. The Omega provides exemplary openness, airiness, and the TAP device provides even more focus, definition, articulation than the Sigma.

I don't know Shunyata does it, but...they do.

Give 3-4 days to settle and it will get even better.

Some pics I took of Omega...

The length calculations have finally changed consistently so you might find that your previous unattainable long ethernet cables can be viable with Shunyatas complete range. I'm very happy about this. Ask for a refreshed quote from your dealer and you might be surprised.

Hi,

got a question for the appropriate use case for the Omega Ethernet: Is my understanding correct that it gets plugged between the LAN Router and a streamer? ... and if so: Do you guys use any special high-end router or the standard $50-100 boxes? I was just wondering: Okay highend Streamer with high end Ethernet cable and than cheapish router?! Is that the standard set-up?!

Originally Posted by MusicLover

Hi,

got a question for the appropriate use case for the Omega Ethernet: Is my understanding correct that it gets plugged between the LAN Router and a streamer? ... and if so: Do you guys use any special high-end router or the standard $50-100 boxes? I was just wondering: Okay highend Streamer with high end Ethernet cable and than cheapish router?! Is that the standard set-up?!

If what you're referring to is an Ethernet switch* (as opposed to a router), get an EtherREGEN (ER) Ethernet switch, and at the "downstream end" (where your rack and streamer is) connect your router and music server to EtherREGEN with Ethernet cables on the A-side. Then connect your Omega Ethernet from ER's B-side to your streamer. EtherREGEN only costs USD $640 and ships world-wide:
EtherREGEN – UpTone Audio

If like mine, your router has some RJ45 ports on it for making network connections, you will still obtain considerable benefit by installing an UpTone Audio EtherREGEN between your router and your streamer. You can use any generic Ethernet cable to connect from your router (or switch) to the A-side of EtherREGEN but...it does sound better with a Shunyata Ethernet cable (even Venom is an outstanding performer for this application).
Fig. 1 shows a conventional setup using copper Ethernet making a direct connection from a router with RJ45 ports.


If you require an Ethernet switch from your cable modem or router to make all the necessary "upstream connections" (modem, router, music server, NAS, etc.), you can use a generic Ethernet switch upstream and then use EtherREGEN downstream as shown here in Fig. 2. Just using a generic consumer-grade Ethernet switch (or even the $1000 "audiophile" SOTM sNH-10G Ethernet switch) WILL NOT sound as good as it wiil when used in conjunction with an EtherREGEN downstream; rather it will cause all sorts of problems that are audible (see below for explanation of this).



If it's more convenient, you can use optical fiber to connect from the upstream router to ER downstreams. If you do this, I recommend the Sonore OpticalModule as your fiber media convertor. This will have the same clock that is in ER as it was designed by the same Ethernet engineer, John Swenson.
Fig. 3 shows using a fiber media convertor (Sonore OpticalModule) to the (usually longish) run from the router, switch and music server down to ER in the rack.


The ideal placement is to have ER as your last network device downstream in, or near your audio rack where the streamer is, with nothing between it and your streamer.

Using the EtherREGEN as shown above will result in a significant improvement in the audio quality of your streaming system because the el cheapo clocks, flip-flops and PHYs in "generic" routers, Ethernet switches, and mass-market music servers (e.g. a laptop or Mac Mini) add clock phase noise, and the switch mode power supplies for these add low- and high-source impedance leakage current, which contributes to considerable noise on the ground plane of the analog voltages that comprise "digital bitstreams". The clock phase noise and leakage current contribute increased jitter (as well as specific class of jitter known as threshold jitter) and timing errors, all of which are audible. ER has a differential isolation system known as the ADIM, that will completely block all the "junk" from the upstream networked devices (and their god-awful SMPS power supplies) from going out to your streamer. ER's ADIM (aka "the moat) remove all the leakage current and other garbage upstream and ER has a very good crystal oscillator, the Crystek CCHD-575, that will remove the phase noise and reclock the signal. All this will improve the audio quality of your streaming setup considerably.

If you want to know more about this in detail, I will provide some references, but trust me, it gets really deep, really fast.

There is an extensive review of ER here: UpTone Audio EtherREGEN Review and Comparison - Reviews - Audiophile Style

There is an outstanding review of ER on YouTube by Hans Beekhuizen here:UpTone Audio EtherREGEN audiophile switch - YouTube. Hans review is very accurate as far as my personal experience with ER for almost a year now.

My review of EtherREGEN will publish in TAS in the December "Digital Devices" issue.

UpTone Audio ships direct worldwide and has a 30-day no-questions-asked return policy, so you can order it in, and if you don't think it provides an audible benefit that is a value at it's price, you can return it, no questions asked, for a full refund. But, I seriously doubt you will return it. As of two months ago, UpTone had sold over 1500 ERs, and only...5 had been returned. That is a return rate of 0.3%.

*– the actual router that most people use is generally provided by their ISP, and most folks don't switch this out. Instead, they install an Ethernet switch between the router if they need to connect multiple network devices.

I second EtherRegen as a switch. Makes a whole lot of difference for any streaming audio.

On another note: Puma Cat --- Thank you very much for your contributions here! Your posts are extremely informative and joy to read.

Originally Posted by thyname

On another note: Puma Cat --- Thank you very much for your contributions here! Your posts are extremely informative and joy to read.

You're welcome and thank you very much for the nice comments.

very helpfull indeed.
planning to enter in the world of streaming and this just saved me searching my way.
the illustration helped so much!!!!!!

I would like to add that a CGC cable to Denali ground post from ER GND post was beneficial. A stronger foundation IMHO. Right now using the Shunyata CGS10 cable but will upgrade to a Sigma CGC V2 as soon as they will ship it.

Originally Posted by Crion

I would like to add that a CGC cable to Denali ground post from ER GND post was beneficial. A stronger foundation IMHO. Right now using the Shunyata CGS10 cable but will upgrade to a Sigma CGC V2 as soon as they will ship it.

Cool, I'll have to try that...

Hi Puma,

big thanks from my side as well! Your detailed technical yet easy to follow descriptions of what‘s going on are very helpful!! That’s real information and not some more random noise of throwing around facts to make some impression.

Always appreciated!

Hi,
I just came across this and thought I'd kick start some more experiments. I have been doing many myself.

Firstly, as context, my ethernet system has developed to include a Ubiquiti EdgeRouter X SFP, 2 x Gigafoil v4s, an EtherRegen (ER), high quality LPSs and power cords, grounding and US$1k ethernet cables. My endpoint is Devialet Pro 220 via Antipodes EX as roon core/server.

Presently, the direct link from the EX to Devialet is ...

JCAT Signature Gold > ER > Synergistic Research Atmosphere X Reference.

ER is powered by a spare Antipodes LPS and Shunyata ztron Alpha Digital (via Shunyata Triton V2 and Sigma power cord to dedicated wall outlet).

That link is considerable value/cost (collectively all those parts must've cost me US$ 3500 on used market) but each element brought an improvement via incremental upgrades.

Now for my question ... has anyone compared a link like this to Omega ethernet cable?

One cable would be a lot simpler. And far more aesthetic than what presently resembles a lab experiment. And importantly, perhaps more cost effective.

Incidentally, Downstream of EX is Gigafoilv4. ER and Gigafoil sit on Synergistic Research Tranquility POD.

Cheers

Well, this is an apples to oranges comparison. If your antipodes EX would have been a perfect source, perfect OCXO clock/crystal. No digital grunge anywhere, perfect ground plane etc. and your Devialet Pro likewise, then you could absolutely replace the ER link with the best Ethernet, which I would say the Omega ethernet is.

Now, several of us use the ER with external OCXO clocks and then put in the Omega Ethernet.
I would propose this as a cost-effective solution:

Antipodes EX > Sigma Ethernet > ER > Omega Ethernet > Devialet

Yes, it is not like for like comparison. Maybe more 2 different ways to make wine, but how good is the wine tasting from each.

The Antipodes EX has an integrated switch, with ability to connect directly to endpoint rather than via a switch. I previously found the direct link better than going via ER, although that was using a lower grade LPS and power cord and different upstream configuration so I should revisit that to confirm.

So, needless to say, the EX direct out is very good indeed.

Nevertheless, better grade ethernet cables achieved even better results, inserting Gigafoil better again, inserting ER instead of Gigafoil better again (although ER had a much better LPS), and changing power cords to the ERs LPS better again.

Somewhere in that journey I removed the SSD and its data and power cables from EX and placed a Synergistic Research ECT on the direct out ethernet port. This also provided an improvement.

There is also an ECT inside the Devialet, on the ethernet chip (not enough room to fit on ethernet port or isolation transformer. And an ECT on the ara side of the ethernet cable plugged into Devialet. Also an ECT adjacent to ER Side B port. In my experience the ECTs are quite cost effective

This final link is very sensitive to changes and therefore critical. To illustrate this, at this point the expense of parts I'm using for this link is similar to the cost if EX itself, and is easily twice the cost of the speaker cables or any other link in the system. For that matter, its about the same cost as the power conditioner. This link is a component grade importance.

My incremental tweaking of this link has fortunately involved only incremental cost or use of things I already owned. But now I should consider the possible alternative being a large single cost for 1 product that may perform at least equally as well.

Antipodes EX > Sigma Ethernet > ER > Omega Ethernet > Devialet would surely be outstanding.

I guess what I am attempting to discover is, are the NICs and TAP equivalent to the ERs MOAT.

The moat is more like a pond where grunge falls to the bottom. Omega ethernet is more like unveiling what you did not know existed in the first place IMHO.

But the ER with a Sigma CGC grounding cable to Denali/Everest and external OCXO clock does so much more for the signal that when it finally reaches the Omega you have everything you wish for IMHO.

Sometimes it might be like finding a needle in a haystack. That weakest link in the chain.

Also evaluating different types of transmission chains gives a completely different playfield.

Thanks for sharing!

Very true.

But I decided to post this here because spending large amount of money on digital cables truly only makes sense once the best transmission chain is identified.

Believing without proof that one is better without trying others may result in overlooking a better option.

Of course at some points we all settle for some level of « good enough », and I am frankly already probably way past this point as we speak... but what if?... :-)