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

[chesebert]

OK, I like trying things that are no hassle and free.

Network gear: QNAP 451+ NAS, Netgear GS-305 switch, TP-Link Archer C9 router, TP-Link 580D wi-fi to ethernet bridge (no broadcast), LNF-C8G LAN Isolator, Uptone etherRegen. All except the NAS and etherRegen have upgraded power supplies. Ethernet cables are short lengths of Yauhody CAT8.
Audio gear: exaSound PlayPoint streamer, exaSound e32 Mk II DAC, Meitner MTR-101 Plus monoblocks, Bamberg S5-MTM speakers,
mini-DSP 2x4 for subs only; LR2@48Hz Low Pass, AV123 Rocket UFW10 stereo (L&R) subwoofers with Dayton SPA250 amps
Curious USB cable, Cardas Neutral Reference interconnects and bi-wire speaker cables. All components sit on IsoAcoustics or Auralic isolators.

1. I use Minimserver with BubbleSoftUPnP, streaming is bitperfect.
2. The streamer is an exaSound PlayPoint, which I believe is pretty sophisticated. https://exasound.com/Blog/tabid/74/...-UPnPOpenHome-Step-by-step-Configuration.aspx
3. Not sure what you mean. All ethernet cables are terminated with transformers.

Thanks for the info and your impression.

 

[chesebert]

I've finished my ethernet cable trial. From Wednesday until Sunday, three cables were auditioned, for several hours daily, connected between the etherREGEN and my Playpoint streamer. All cables were 3-ft long or shorter:
https://audiosensibility.com/blog/p...8-Ethernet-Cable/p/380224641/category=4059160
https://audiosensibility.com/blog/p...able-***-New-***/p/322022400/category=4059160
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07WRX7YBZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Yauhody CAT8 cables are dead cheap, but in previous listening tests vs. other CAT5e, 6, 6a, and CAT7 from U-Green, Monoprice, CableCreations, and even vs. Supra CAT8, I always ended up in the same place; with a full chain of Yauhody. I know someone who runs a 10Gbps system using this cable, so it is technically very capable.

Yauhody CAT8 has what I call a chocolatey tonal balance; great bass power but lacking a bit of definition, very good soundstage, loses a bit of detail due to its warmth, great PRaT and listenability. I know it's too warm to be accurate, especially since I added the etherREGEN, that's why I borrowed the Audio Sensibility cables from a friend. His system is much more expensive than mine and shows off the Audio Sensibility cables very well. He uses three Supra+ cables, one of which is 50 feet long, with a short Signature cable to the streamer. The Signature cable with all Yauhody was not good, even warmer than my all-Yauhody system. To better mimic my friend's system, I replaced all three upstream cables with Supra CAT8 and removed the LAN Isolator/filter, which was feeding the etherREGEN, for the remainder of the tests.

Supra CAT8 cable has some excellent qualities, but is flawed, IME. Soundstage is very good, detail is excellent, and it adds a bit of glossiness, which audiophiles tend to love. Treble is a little too bright, bass is very articulate but suppressed. The Supra+ cable has similar tonal balance, but is livelier, with better dynamics. Both versions lack bass heft, and with some music, a bit of ethereal quality lacking solidity, which disappoints me. What's worse is that I don't find Supra cable very musical. I find it fatiguing over time, at least in my system.

The expensive Signature cable was the winner in this shootout. It had all the audiophile goodies; smooth, great soundstage, micro detail, etc. Tonality was an oddity, because it adds an obvious bass kick, which goes a long way to making up for the reticent bass of the Supra cable. However, even with the bass bump, I could still hear some lack of solidity from the Supra.

I considered ordering the Signature, but I felt my system would be more musical without Supra, and I had one more setup to try. When I borrowed my friend's cables, I left him with a few cables so he could at least play his system when he returned from his trip. One of the cables I left him was a Tera Grand CAT7 like this one, except 18" long:
https://www.teragrand.com/products/...-feet-purple-blue?_pos=8&_sid=16618c888&_ss=r

I had used this cable several time previously and loved its superior midrange clarity and awesome bass definition, medium soundstage size, but the treble energy was always too much to handle, long term. Predictably, it was too bright using Supra upstream, pretty good with Yauhody. Putting the LAN Isolator back into the system upstream of the etherRegen brought the joy. Bass is tight and powerful, treble is revealing and appropriately controlled, midrange clarity is outstanding. I wasn't able to compare directly with Supra/Signature, but I am confident that Yauhody/TeraGrand is the sound for me.

The lesson I take from these tests is that synergy with my system, and the other cables in the chain, is paramount. Another expensive cable might be better than what I have, but could just as easily spoil the sound and require me to start over to find suitable upstream cables. I am no longer actively shopping for ethernet cables. YMMV, HTH.

I did pick up Yauhody CAT8 and compared to my custom cat6 I do hear an obvious difference in the upper mid. I need more time to make sure I am not being neurotic myself.

 

[chesebert]

Looks like I need to start reading this thread from page 1. Okay I think network streamers need to start using optical SFP as opposed to RJ45. RJ45 is obviously not ideal at actually decoupling streamer even with transformers at both ends. This is more than frustrating.

 

[teknorob23]

Looks like I need to start reading this thread from page 1. Okay I think network streamers need to start using optical SFP as opposed to RJ45. RJ45 is obviously not ideal at actually decoupling streamer even with transformers at both ends. This is more than frustrating.

The problem with fibre/ optical, is that it has to be converted back to an electronic signal at some point as it’s not technically possible to turn light pulses into music. This conversion process is an inherently noisy one and if you leave it until the signal is inside the streamer it’s very hard to mitigate this. While standard Ethernet via rj45 is by no means perfect it is easier to “clean” or remove what is mainly radio frequency interference that piggy backs the data coming from your switch or router before it reaches the streamer. Optical sadly is no silver bullet at least not for now

 

[ScrofulousBinturong]

Nm

 

[audiobomber]

Looks like I need to start reading this thread from page 1. Okay I think network streamers need to start using optical SFP as opposed to RJ45. RJ45 is obviously not ideal at actually decoupling streamer even with transformers at both ends. This is more than frustrating.

There are three methods for a network connection to your audio system; ethernet cable, wi-fi and fiber. Each has advantages and disadvantages. This is a good video on the topic. .

Note the caveat on shielded cable. Some CAT6a, 7 and all CAT8 ethernet cables have a shield that can conduct leakage current. These must be connected at both ends with grounded power supplies, or else an isolator should be used. Here's an easy and inexpensive solution for adding a ground to any power supply: https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/37034-smps-and-grounding/#comment-721414

As you've mentioned, perfect galvanic isolation is not possible with ethernet cable. Fiber and wi-fi provide perfect galvanic isolation, but require converters, which can inject digital noise. Upgraded power supplies is the usual route for minimizing the impact of conversion. I've heard praise and condemnation regarding sound quality for each pf the three methods. IMO, which is best is system dependent, i.e. how much effort has gone into cleaning the signal?

I use wi-fi between my network gear and audio system. The construction of our house means running cable is impossible. I am happy with this solution, as I have a robust wi-fi signal. I can stream 384/24, 4X DSD or DXD reliably, with no dropouts. Wi-fi radios are noisy. For best sound quality, don't use wi-fi in your streamer, even if it's available and convenient. Use an access point ahead of the streamer to receive wi-fi, and connect to the streamer via ethernet cable. The access point should be configured to receive wi-fi only, and transmit via ethernet only, no wi-fi broadcast. I suspect that wi-fi is better than ethernet to connect an audio system to a network, but I've not had an opportunity to test this on a level playing field. I will be able do this sometime, in my own system, because I know where I can borrow 65 feet of Yauhody CAT8. Should be interesting.

 

[audiobomber]

really interesting read, thanks for sharing your experiences, out of interest have you ever tried configuring your ether regen whereby you connect both the input and output via side "a" instead of outputting from side "b"?

I gave this a try. Like many things in computer audio, the moat does some good, and does some harm. In my system I preferred the B side, but I could certainly see the A side sounding better in another system. I've even relocated my LAN Isolator so that it's on the output of the EtherRegen instead of the input. I'll need to start my ethernet cable testing all over again, because this changed the sound.

 

[teknorob23]

I gave this a try. Like many things in computer audio, the moat does some good, and does some harm. In my system I preferred the B side, but I could certainly see the A side sounding better in another system. I've even relocated my LAN Isolator so that it's on the output of the EtherRegen instead of the input. I'll need to start my ethernet cable testing all over again, because this changed the sound.

Interesting. We have a lot of customers come to us who already have ERs and it’s about 50:50 as to which configuration is preferred. Its a good idea to use the Ethernet filter last in your chain between the switch and streamer. Being passive it should remove noise without adding any of its own.

 

[iFi audio]

I did pick up Yauhody CAT8 and compared to my custom cat6 I do hear an obvious difference in the upper mid. I need more time to make sure I am not being neurotic myself.

If what you hear is obvious, you're not neurotic. Things either happen or they don't

 

[chesebert]

If what you hear is obvious, you're not neurotic. Things either happen or they don't

Human hearing can be fickle. It could be the food that day for all I know

 

[iFi audio]

Human hearing can be fickle. It could be the food that day for all I know

Yep, that sense is particularly malicious to us audiophiles. But at the end of the day, if a product makes any difference to you and contributes to better performance overall, that's all that matters really. Or perhaps it was the food you ate that day, who knows

 

[chesebert]

Yep, that sense is particularly malicious to us audiophiles. But at the end of the day, if a product makes any difference to you and contributes to better performance overall, that's all that matters really. Or perhaps it was the food you ate that day, who knows

I need more time. Sufficient to say I liked what I heard that day and mind blown on Ethernet cables’ ability to make any sonic different. I will take things slow and see where this goes - I bought few different cables already to test

 

[iFi audio]

I need more time. Sufficient to say I liked what I heard that day and mind blown on Ethernet cables’ ability to make any sonic different. I will take things slow and see where this goes - I bought few different cables already to test

Sure thing, these subjects shouldn't be rushed. Take your time and please report back once you know more. Enjoy!

 

[F208Frank]

How come most people get the ether regen over the innuous ethernet regen? Is it mainly due to price? Anyone happen to try both?

I myself have never messed with audiophile switches, and am a bit afraid to as it is extra boxes!

 

[iFi audio]

How come most people get the ether regen over the innuous ethernet regen? Is it mainly due to price? Anyone happen to try both?

I would say that price factors in a lot in this case, Innuos PhoenixNET is roughly four times more expensive.