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

[m-i-c-k-e-y]

Sorry Bro. RL calls...

Yes, That is what I did. I separated the cables by removing the plastic coupling.

If you see my setup its the same.

 

[parnass]

I was wondering too. How about this: https://www.chord.co.uk/new-epic-usb-digital-audio-interconnect/

Have you had any experience with hearing sound improvement when uppgrading from standard one to more expensive ones?

I think i can stretch my self to these ones regarding ethernet cables 5m lenght

£66
https://www.futureshop.co.uk/supra-cat8-flame-retardant-ethernet-cable#reviews

£55.00
https://www.futureshop.co.uk/audioquest-cat7-pearl-rj-e-ethernet-cable-custom

I dont think the costumer reviewers lies when they say they here improvement in bass and detail from generic ones.

Edit. Yes very worth it in my case. Now that i have been using the supra cat 8 for months now replacing all my generic old cat5e utp ethernet cables in the audio chain and i also bought an switch at the same time to have between router instead of ethernet cables to audio gear direct from router. Switches aparantly have galvanic seperated ports which isolate noise from router. I bought Netgear GS108.

Replacing the router and switch generic power supply with ifi i power x improved soundquality further with cleaner and smoother sound, more analogue sounding, better bass quality, like pressing an high res button. I have only heard the improvements with wired ethernet connection so not with wifi.

I can say this is an overlooked area to get great sound in streamed audio. I say and hear its one of the importent foundations to get great sound in streamed audio . Before my system was to bright and harsh to play loud, not anymore now its more rewarding to play loud. Now the sound is more fuller/analogue sounding/smooth with better musicality and joy/more refined/more air/better separation/HP disapear more so better soundstage.

Best explanation i know of how it can make a difference.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0...enson_EtherREGEN_white_paper.pdf?v=1583429386

 

[parnass]

Have you had any experience with hearing sound improvement when uppgrading from standard one to more expensive ones?

I think i can stretch my self to these ones regarding ethernet cables 5m lenght

£66
https://www.futureshop.co.uk/supra-cat8-flame-retardant-ethernet-cable#reviews

£55.00
https://www.futureshop.co.uk/audioquest-cat7-pearl-rj-e-ethernet-cable-custom

I dont think the costumer reviewers lies when they say they here improvement in bass and detail from generic ones.

Edit. Yes very worth it in my case. Now that i have been using the supra cat 8 for months now replacing all my generic old cat5e utp ethernet cables in the audio chain and i also bought an switch at the same time to have between router instead of ethernet cables to audio gear direct from router. Switches aparantly have galvanic seperated ports which isolate noise from router. I bought Netgear GS108.

Replacing the router and switch generic power supply with ifi i power x improved soundquality further with cleaner and smoother sound, more analogue sounding, better bass quality, like pressing an high res button. I have only heard the improvements with wired ethernet connection so not with wifi.

I can say this is an overlooked area to get great sound in streamed audio. I say and hear its one of the importent foundations to get great sound in streamed audio . Before my system was to bright and harsh to play loud, not anymore now its more rewarding to play loud. Now the sound is more fuller/analogue sounding/smooth with better musicality and joy/more refined/more air/better separation/HP disapear more so better soundstage.

Best explanation i know of how it can make a difference.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0...enson_EtherREGEN_white_paper.pdf?v=1583429386

I use emm ns1 streamer connected to emm dv2 converter via optilink.
Although it might seem that the switches or the lan cable in front of the streamer will not affect the resulting sound - I can confirm with my own ears that the power supply of the switch, the connection of the two switches with an optical cable and finally the ethernet cable between the switch and the streamer have a clearly audible effect on the sound. /I use a shunyata sigma - I tried the cheaper shunyata alpha and the sigma was clearly better...I didn't try the more expensive shunyata omega cable because it was beyond my financial means)
so the answer to this thread is this - switches, their power supplies, their interconnects and ethernet cables all have an effect on sound - I can't justify the 'why's but it's a clearly audible experience

 

[dougms3]

Linus explains this well.

The effect of clocks on a network and how it can affect audio.

Interesting read on PTP and TSN.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time-Sensitive_Networking

"The TSN task group was formed in November 2012 by renaming the existing Audio Video Bridging Task Group[2] and continuing its work."

The moniker alone should indicate how much networking affects audio.

 

[bluenight]

@Jake2 i have thought about that too about Grimm MU1 being immune to switches. If i remember correct Hans goes more in depth about it in his review. And mentions one of there engineer has a background in Ethernet network which was unique if i remmember correct. Also he thought it was better then M scaler to upscale audio and replaced it on his reference setup. It seems like an excellent streamer upscaler.

 

[m-i-c-k-e-y]

I don't have that kind of dough to have one. But I do have a streamer/upscaler/reclocker/converter/digital interface rolled into one: Audiobyte Hydra.Hub.

 

[kumar402]

@Jake2 i have thought about that too about Grimm MU1 being immune to switches. If i remember correct Hans goes more in depth about it in his review. And mentions one of there engineer has a background in Ethernet network which was unique if i remmember correct. Also he thought it was better then M scaler to upscale audio and replaced it on his reference setup. It seems like an excellent streamer upscaler.

Wow….10K for Intel NUC i3, SMPS and 4x upsampling….am I missing something ?

 

[iFi audio]

Apologies for derailing, but that black amp on the lowest shelf, is it something new by Kinki Studio?

 

[m-i-c-k-e-y]

@iFi audio Yes it is Kinki's new flagship 790 Preamp.

 

[Jake2]

I don't have that kind of dough to have one. But I do have a streamer/upscaler/reclocker/converter/digital interface rolled into one: Audiobyte Hydra.Hub.

I was unfamiliar with this so looked it up. It looks impressive.

 

[m-i-c-k-e-y]

Yep! Best, no more HQPlayer...all in hardware.

 

[kumar402]

Yep! Best, no more HQPlayer...all in hardware.

Does it need the power supply as well from Hydra?

 

[iFi audio]

@iFi audio Yes it is Kinki's new flagship 791 Preamp.

Thank you very much!

 

[m-i-c-k-e-y]

Does it need the power supply as well from Hydra?

Digital and analog power connections are for Hydra.Zap (power supply) but Audiobyte can make you an adapter.
Note I2S connection (for now) is Rockna only.

 

[kumar402]

Digital and analog power connections are for Hydra.Zap (power supply) but Audiobyte can make you an adapter.
Note I2S connection (for now) is Rockna only.

have to say it does lot of things at a good price