The Ethernet cables, Switches and Network related sound thread. Share your listening experience only.

[audiobomber]

Why not use UTP like CAT6 to break ground loops then using CAT 8 which is STP and using a device to break ground loop?

I've tried numerous generic CAT5e, 6, 6a, & CAT7 cables in my system, some with tied ground shield, some not. The best sound quality I've had is with the cheap Yauhody CAT8 from Amazon, which sounds better than Supra CAT8 in my system. I am tempted to try 50 feet of BJC CAT6a, but that would be a $100 test, and since I love the sound I have now, there's not much incentive to try.

I use Furutech LAN-8 NCF for the short connections. The tied shield is not an issue, because I use properly grounded linear power supplies on the Silent Angel and EtherRegen switches.

 

[audiobomber]

I'm using this.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256802705432064.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.30c41d64vmF6T7&algo_pvid=ed3cc7ed-9e47-4394-9041-0b420349a180&algo_exp_id=ed3cc7ed-9e47-4394-9041-0b420349a180-2&pdp_ext_f={"sku_id":"12000022650030833"}&pdp_npi=2@dis!USD!66.0!17.82!!!!!@210318bb16720722030591036ec712!12000022650030833!sea&curPageLogUid=keZpvxVRFjFD

Shield definitely is not grounded on that cable.

I use my pc as a source, no streamer.

I believe all CAT8 cables have grounded shields. Some CAT6a and CAT7 have grounded shields, some don't. You can test by connecting a continuity meter from one connector of the cable to the other.

 

[dougms3]

I believe all CAT8 cables have grounded shields. Some CAT6a and CAT7 have grounded shields, some don't. You can test by connecting a continuity meter from one connector of the cable to the other.

I took apart one of these cables to get a better look at it and its sterling silver conductors but the shield is very flimsy. Its not worth even trying to unravel it and tie to the ground.

As far as being cat anything, I don't believe the seller is being honest with that cat8 label.

But do you think that lan isolator would yield any improvement from my verizon fios box to the router? The connection is very short like 1 foot.

 

[kumar402]

I believe all CAT8 cables have grounded shields. Some CAT6a and CAT7 have grounded shields, some don't. You can test by connecting a continuity meter from one connector of the cable to the other.

Or get the one that says UTP. UTP won’t cause ground loops.

 

[audiobomber]

I took apart one of these cables to get a better look at it and its sterling silver conductors but the shield is very flimsy. Its not worth even trying to unravel it and tie to the ground.

The exterior foil shield is tied to ground.

As far as being cat anything, I don't believe the seller is being honest with that cat8 label.

I would be inclined to believe you, except that Archimago told me he uses Yauhody CAT8 in a 10G system and it performs.

But do you think that lan isolator would yield any improvement from my verizon fios box to the router? The connection is very short like 1 foot.

It was beneficial in my system, removed a bit of vocal sibilance, but like I said, my internet provider still uses copper. I'm not sure whether it would have the same benefit with a fiber feed.

 

[audiobomber]

Or get the one that says UTP. UTP won’t cause ground loops.

Ground loops are not my only concern, because cable choice affects sound quality. Also, I believe the LAN Isolator can have a positive effect by eliminating digital noise. There are some graphs here:
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/334340331704?hash=item4dd83c98b8:g:aUUAAOSwTeNfXeDT&amdata=enc:AQAHAAAAoBKA5JLkGhpbHPVbunsxp8H9CniuL1/W4V/zuuJEUJy3sawr8vsK4Z19QfsszeEwmhGe4IZvFpkaCtUtVrBejXMLbqQWwlVpuf47EBjj5+gSdNDAgRTH2MqgidTDZX4CtItTvWwhG4pf7CeEfFWikzx2dtLsZZ0ubxusnbMApyGNDjuBcOoqJStWR9e7LKqrbQTjHVerKipcYTlL5RB4KNw=|tkp:Bk9SR4DJl_ipYQ

 

[dougms3]

The exterior foil shield is tied to ground.

I would be inclined to believe you, except that Archimago told me he uses Yauhody CAT8 in a 10G system and it performs.

It was beneficial in my system, removed a bit of vocal sibilance, but like I said, my internet provider still uses copper. I'm not sure whether it would have the same benefit with a fiber feed.

The exterior foil shield is definitely not tied to the ground on that odin knockoff cable, I opened one up to check.

Do you have a link to the yauhody cat8?

Maybe I'll try that lan isolator, when I replaced the cheap free ethernet cable with that odin knockoff ethernet, it made a huge difference in streaming audio. Even the picture quality on netflix and youtube looked better.

 

[audiobomber]

The exterior foil shield is definitely not tied to the ground on that odin knockoff cable, I opened one up to check.

Oh, sorry, I thought you were referencing the Yauhody.

Do you have a link to the yauhody cat8?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07X5T9ZGK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Maybe I'll try that lan isolator, when I replaced the cheap free ethernet cable with that odin knockoff ethernet, it made a huge difference in streaming audio. Even the picture quality on netflix and youtube looked better.

Let us know what you find if you proceed. I have three of them now, in three different systems.

 

[bpcans]

I never thought that using two relatively inexpensive network switches in cascade with good iFi iPower X Elite power supplies would make such a difference when streaming music from the internet, but after trying it I was convinced that this little tweak actually worked.

The kicker being having this little box from @teknorob23 Network Acoustics eno Ethernet System between my best switch and my Roon Nucleus music server. The eno system comes with Rob and Rich’s own handmade Ethernet cable that is sublime in how it transfers the signal into the Nucleus. Which for everyone’s sake, the Nucleus does not have a discernible audible impact on the overall SQ of my system as it’s presently setup. Though I did go from using an Apple iPad Pro as my music source to the Nucleus. Go figure.

Yes I’ve tried a couple $20K+ music streamer/server’s in my system on loan from my audio gear dealer of over 40yrs. Man! The build quality. The physical weight. How they looked in my rack was enticing. Gladly, I didn’t have tens of thousands of that kind of money at that time. But Ooh so sexy!

But here is something that I never divulge. Between the outgoing USB port on my Nucleus and my AQ Diamond USB cable, I have an AudioQuest debugafier, aka Jitterbug, that to me smooths out even some more of the digital harshness that I think that I’m hearing. Total snake oil I know for the $30 I got it for.

 

[iFi audio]

good power is mandatory

Clean power feed is the base for everything else really, while digital components are particularly fond of it.

 

[iFi audio]

I have an AudioQuest debugafier, aka Jitterbug, that to me smooths out even some more of the digital harshness that I think that I’m hearing.

You have good ears, really! The less noise gets into our setups, the more smooth everything becomes. AudioQuest Jitterbug is one way of doing that, we have our iPurifiers and there are many more. Enjoy!

EDIT: oops, double. Sorry!

 

[bpcans]

You have good ears, really! The less noise gets into our setups, the more smooth everything becomes. AudioQuest Jitterbug is one way of doing that, we have our iPurifiers and there are many more. Enjoy!

EDIT: oops, double. Sorry!

@iFi audio, which of your iPurifiers would you recommend that I demo in my listening chain so that I can compare it to my AQ Jitterbug Decrapifier?

 

[iFi audio]

@iFi audio, which of your iPurifiers would you recommend that I demo in my listening chain so that I can compare it to my AQ Jitterbug Decrapifier?

Thanks for asking, our iPurifier3 is the one (https://ifi-audio.com/products/ipurifier3/). Thanks!

 

[bpcans]

Thanks for asking, our iPurifier3 is the one (https://ifi-audio.com/products/ipurifier3/). Thanks!

@iFi audio, what is the difference in what my AQ Jitterbug and your iPurifier does and what the Innuos PhoenixUSB Reclocker does? https://innuos.com/phoenix-usb/. I ask because I’ve got several friends who use the Innuos Phoenix and they consider it an essential part of their listening chains.

 

[ChJL]

Clean power feed is the base for everything else really, while digital components are particularly fond of it.

Yes, but what surprised me that the "Alpha Audio" guys were critical of LPSs for switches.
Plus why does ifi not produce one LPS but a few switch mode devices unlike many other companies which have LPSs only...