are you guys using Cat6 or Cat 8 ethernet cable for I2S connecrion? I was moving my electronics and plugged Ambre and DAC in different power outlet and when connected via Cat8 supra LAN cable I experienced ground loop. Obviously if I connect both devices to same power outlet then no issues but when connected to different outlet I have this issue. I replaced Cat 8 cable with Cat6 and no ground loop as Cat 6 is unsheilded and hence thought of checking with you all.
Sonnet Digital Audio: New kid on the block, well.. not really!
- Thread starter Fredoo
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sajunky
Headphoneus Supremus
You are not only one. UTP is my choice, but CAT5e is good enough for audio. I don't know why audiophiles push for shielded cables. Also reduce link speed to 100Mbit/s, it will be less noise.
This advice saved some dollars as using a bunch of generic cat 5e & 6 cables are certainly not preventing my 2 week old LHY SW-8 switch making a big improvement to my system (soundstaging depth & precision, extended decay of notes, flow of music).
Agree Cat 8 is not the way to go for I2S connection.
Apologies… I just realised you were asking about an I2S specific rather than network data use case. But hopefully the principles and considerations involved are the same so my comment is of some value.
sajunky
Headphoneus Supremus
If my comment was distracting, apologies should be on my side. I thought, I could add link speed, as the same applies for I2S transfers and networking. The biggest enemy in audio equipment is common mode noise, it goes inside and closes loop through the power supply. A type of transfer leads to some preferences, but blocking common mode noise should be our primary goal. It is why UTP. Shielded connections work better in industrial environment, in home istallations can be avoided.
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Maybe there is another set up suggestion goes for streamer as well. Not all people use Roon…
OS cab be swapped in Ambre. Volumio and RopieeeXL support Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, UpnP apart from Roon
But how can Ambre or Hermes read external drive to play files in the hard disk? They can only be streaming on network or be roon core right?
Just preordered a Mercury from Pi2design. I think it can work like the Ambre or Hermes but enable to use local connection with Hard drive. Which I think those are what Ambre and Hermes is missing(they can only use as roon end point or play from NAS ).
Yes, Mercury can play from local drive. I do have it in my second setup. I have V1 and not the V2.
The new V2 has I2S available as well to connect to Sonnet and Metrum DAC and has Wi-Fi. Well wifi is in V1 as well
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Yes that’s why I went for v2 instead. So can just use regular pinout rj45 to connect with my Pasithea. Good one.
short LAN cable will work but use UTP cable like CAT 6 and not CAT 8 which is STP and can cause ground Loop.
viggen
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So, yesterday I bought the "son" and should receive it next week. In anticipation, I read all 86 pages of this thread lastnight. And, I came across the alphaaudio video where the Metrum Pavane with DAC3 is compared against the "son". And, out of my Bose pc speakers, I prefer the Pavane. I currently have Lab12 DAC1se and wanted to get a preamp but thought to give the son a try since it has volume control so to bypass my integrated amp's Blue Velvet potentiometer.
"Son" as in Sonnet Morpheus or Pasithea?
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