Do Ethernet cables Make a Difference
- Thread starter Mechnutt
- Start date
All of you who has the AQ and thinks it makes a considerable difference, you should try the Sotm iso-cat6 special edition. My friends was using AQ diamond, until he switched to Sotm and never looked back.
Here is a great comparison:
https://audiobacon.net/2017/07/09/sotm-iso-cat6-special-edition-the-flavors-of-audiophile-ethernet/
Here is a great comparison:
https://audiobacon.net/2017/07/09/sotm-iso-cat6-special-edition-the-flavors-of-audiophile-ethernet/
We don’t bet. Do you have a problem? You won’t list your system. Those of us with resolving systems have stated we do hear a difference. Stop trolling. You can leave.
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Not to dredge anything up, but I'm curious why no one has addressed what appears to Jinjuku's main point?
If I understand correctly, he's saying that when comparing ethernet cables you're not really comparing cables because the
track is already in the buffer. That is , when you change cables, you're still hearing the same signal as you were before the
cable was switched. Do I have this right?
"Tidal can load an entire track into their buffer in 6-7 seconds on my 100Mbps Internet connection.
In both instances I can pull the cable and the entire track plays. Did my sound get worse, get better, stay the same when the cable was pulled?"
This actually doesn't meet my experience, as when I pull the cable, the track will only play for a 4 seconds... Am I misunderstanding something?
Can you explain this, Jinjuko?
And finally, I listened carefully, for days, comparing the AQ Diamond, the Sotm with filter, and Supra cat 8. They each have their own sound. The AQ is very resolved, refined, delicate-- almost restrained in a good way. The Sotm is a little more dramatic in the bass and less resolved. The Supra is warm, smooth and another several degrees less resolved.
I have no doubt I could pick the Supra vs the AQ, blind, on my system and on music familiar to me.
If I understand correctly, he's saying that when comparing ethernet cables you're not really comparing cables because the
track is already in the buffer. That is , when you change cables, you're still hearing the same signal as you were before the
cable was switched. Do I have this right?
"Tidal can load an entire track into their buffer in 6-7 seconds on my 100Mbps Internet connection.
In both instances I can pull the cable and the entire track plays. Did my sound get worse, get better, stay the same when the cable was pulled?"
This actually doesn't meet my experience, as when I pull the cable, the track will only play for a 4 seconds... Am I misunderstanding something?
Can you explain this, Jinjuko?
And finally, I listened carefully, for days, comparing the AQ Diamond, the Sotm with filter, and Supra cat 8. They each have their own sound. The AQ is very resolved, refined, delicate-- almost restrained in a good way. The Sotm is a little more dramatic in the bass and less resolved. The Supra is warm, smooth and another several degrees less resolved.
I have no doubt I could pick the Supra vs the AQ, blind, on my system and on music familiar to me.
I think you just answered your own question. Why? There’s a number of reasons: different cable material (silver in Diamond I believe), you have the DBS working its magic, different design philosophies with respect to insulation.
As my friend says: “it all matters”.
We can’t just dismiss something as being identical since they’re sending packets of data.
It reminds me of the power cable debate. It’s just electricity! The transformers don’t care what cable is delivering the power!
Does anyone serious about hi-end audio today still believe power cables don’t make a difference?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
As my friend says: “it all matters”.
We can’t just dismiss something as being identical since they’re sending packets of data.
It reminds me of the power cable debate. It’s just electricity! The transformers don’t care what cable is delivering the power!
Does anyone serious about hi-end audio today still believe power cables don’t make a difference?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I already know from personal listening that cables have different effects on sound.
I wasinquiring as to what seems to be Jinjuko's apparent point that an entire track will
already be buffered so you when you switch cables you're hearing the same signal already
buffered in the dac. Is that the point he's making?
That's not my experience as when I pull the cable, the music plays for just a few seconds.
I'm just trying to understand the basis for his argument...
I wasinquiring as to what seems to be Jinjuko's apparent point that an entire track will
already be buffered so you when you switch cables you're hearing the same signal already
buffered in the dac. Is that the point he's making?
That's not my experience as when I pull the cable, the music plays for just a few seconds.
I'm just trying to understand the basis for his argument...
A few days ago, the importer of Goebel, brought me an Ethernet cable to my house, to test it between my Melco and my Lumin, comparing it with my AQ Diamond. I was really happy with my AQ, but the Goebel is very superior (also in price).
Decreases the digital brightness that you can have in the system very noticeably.
The body of the music is fantastic and with respect to the bass, it seems that I have added another woffer of 9 ".
When he had already decided that he was buying the cable, he took it out of a bag that came with the box of a Goebel XLR and placed it between Lumin and AR Ref 5SE. Wow! Awesome. I know I will buy it, now I can not but soon .........
Really the Goebel cables are something very special and make me understand that I still have a lot of improvement without changing "bigger pieces" like amplifier, speakers .... ...
Decreases the digital brightness that you can have in the system very noticeably.
The body of the music is fantastic and with respect to the bass, it seems that I have added another woffer of 9 ".
When he had already decided that he was buying the cable, he took it out of a bag that came with the box of a Goebel XLR and placed it between Lumin and AR Ref 5SE. Wow! Awesome. I know I will buy it, now I can not but soon .........
Really the Goebel cables are something very special and make me understand that I still have a lot of improvement without changing "bigger pieces" like amplifier, speakers .... ...
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Michaels HiFi
Well-known member
Very interesting info in this thread as someone starting to look at ethernet cables and people perspectives on what does and does not make a difference.
The AQ Diamonds keep coming up as real winners!
The AQ Diamonds keep coming up as real winners!
My entire network is comprised of AudioQuest Diamond Ethernet Cables. They are the most neutral and transparent digital cables I have ever listened to. I consider them the biggest reason why I have never switched over from the MSB Renderer V2 to the Pro USB digital input module. I’ve never listened to a USB cable that was close to being as neutral or transparent as these cables.
Ken
You resuscitated a thread that had been dead for over three years. There is a lot of new data/reviews about ethernet cables published since that time. You might want to do a bit more research before reaching a final decision.
Michaels HiFi
Well-known member
Certainly good advice. I've read a lot of current threads/posts that still love the Diamonds.
Thankfully no final decisions are even being close to being made at this point.
W9TR
Active member
If you found a difference and had a preference, then of course not. I would attack your test methodology, test conditions, choice of source material, HiFi system (not resolving enough), your choice of Bourbon, your parentage, and the parentage of your children.
Because your results do not fit my worldview, so they must be rejected.
JCS123
Active member
All I can say is that in my system, the 1.0 M Wireworld Starlight Series 8 (Thanks for the recommendation and for selling it to me, Mike!) from the cheap Netgear GS105NA switch (Thanks for the recommendation, Peter!) to the Lumin T2 sounds better than the long Cat 6a Blue Jeans cable directly from the router to the T2.
Router -> 25' BJ Cat 6a -> Lumin T2 - Not bad.
Router -> 25' BJ Cat 6a -> Netgear GS105NA -> WW Starlight 8 -> Lumin T2 - Much Better.
The reason for the long run is that I have it routed around a wall and through the hallway from the computer room to the adjacent living room. (I know, I know...)
Mike suggested that I try a Starlight 8 from router to switch, which I hope to do when the budget allows for it. I have just been hesitant to punch holes in the wall so I can shorten the length to around 8-9 feet from room to room.
Router -> 25' BJ Cat 6a -> Lumin T2 - Not bad.
Router -> 25' BJ Cat 6a -> Netgear GS105NA -> WW Starlight 8 -> Lumin T2 - Much Better.
The reason for the long run is that I have it routed around a wall and through the hallway from the computer room to the adjacent living room. (I know, I know...)
Mike suggested that I try a Starlight 8 from router to switch, which I hope to do when the budget allows for it. I have just been hesitant to punch holes in the wall so I can shorten the length to around 8-9 feet from room to room.
Speedskater
Member
For bulk cables, it's easy just stick with Belden (they are responsible for many of the engineering advances).
I’ll suggest a variation on Mike’s recommendation. A short, decent ethernet cable from router to a fiber transceiver, fiber cable to a transceiver near your Lumin, then a short very good ethernet cable from the transceiver to Lumin.
Router > .5 or 1m ethernet > fiber transceiver > fiber cable > 2nd fiber transceiver > .5 or 1m ethernet > Lumin
Alternatively you could buy an ethernet switch with a port for a fiber transceiver, then run fiber from there to near your Lumin then ethernet into your Lumin.