HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

CAT5 cables run up to transmission speeds of 100MHz and CAT6 does 250 MHz.

CAT6 means higher speeds, fewer errors and quieter operation within a network.

CAT7 and 8 take this even further.


Edit:
CAT5 is now outdated and the slightly superior Cat5e (125 MHz) will be sufficient for average domestic applications. Most audiophile cables look to be CAT7 these days.

This has been a really interesting topic I’ve followed and although I consider my streaming as basic I would like to maximise its potential-
I stream from an Apple Tv box via optical to dac to pre amp: Apple fed via virgin media wifi approx 8 metres away, we are fed from the street hub 12 meters of cable away but are ‘first feed off’ the box.
Where can I improve with cables?
- house inlet cable to router hub?
- router psu?
- optical to dac cable?
- move router closer and connect to Apple box with ethernet cable?
Cheers

1. A wired network link is better than WiFi, less chance of drop-outs or Interference. See if you can run an ethernet cable (CAT6 will do nicely) from router to Apple box. A 10m or 15m length is no problem.

2. Coax is better than optical for the digital input to the DAC but your Apple box only has optical output, I believe. Make sure you use a glass Toslink cable rather than plastic. Beresford do a good one and I use the Profigold Oxypure OXYA5601 which is excellent.

These two measures should give you a noticeable improvement in sound. And picture quality too if you are playing video via the Apple TV.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/etherne ... es.913239/

I found this and the associated links informative. I am becoming convinced my system would benfit from a better ethernet cable. Which one is the big question. It also seems that gains could be made if a superior cable also connects to the router.

I have read good things about Audioquest Pearl ethernet links which don't seem to be too expensive. Although Slinger is probably way ahead of the rest of us on this.

Oh dear/ more expense
Thanks for the replies

CN211276 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 10, 2020 11:28 am https://www.head-fi.org/threads/etherne ... es.913239/

I found this and the associated links informative. I am becoming convinced my system would benfit from a better ethernet cable. Which one is the big question. It also seems that gains could be made if a superior cable also connects to the router.

I have a Jitterbug plugged into the USB port on my router, which does seem to make a slight improvement (smoother/relaxed) throughout the whole home network.

Fretless wrote: ↑Fri Jan 10, 2020 11:34 am I have read good things about Audioquest Pearl ethernet links which don't seem to be too expensive. Although Slinger is probably way ahead of the rest of us on this.

TBH I'm wavering at the moment. AQ Pearl was my first thought, but I'm wondering now about Blue Jeans Cables. Their cable is "only" Cat 6a but I trust their judgement, and they have this to say...

For Cat 6 and 6a, Belden doesn't sell patch cord stock in its standard catalog (the cables you may be familiar with are designed primarily for "horizontal" use), so we've asked Belden to manufacture special patch-cord-optimized Cat 6 and Cat 6a cable stocks for us which we terminate and sell under the Blue Jeans Cable brand. With all of these cables, we use Sentinel brand RJ-45 connectors.

I think it comes down to construction standards as much as anything else, and I'm prepared to trust Blue Jeans on theirs. It would work out at less than £80.00 for me to cable from router to Streamer, and from my hub to both of my Synology NAS drives (Classical and Non-Classical music) plus a dinky little link between router and hub.

They also do this...

With each Ethernet cable you purchase from us you'll receive a test report showing exactly how that cable performed when run through our Fluke DTX-1800, and confirming that it meets or exceeds the specification requirements for its category. To see a sample of such a test report, and an explanation of what it means, see our article on how to read a DTX report.

There are too many bloomin' choices to make.

I ordered the Blue Jeans' ethernet cables last night. I forgot their prices are quoted before VAT/sales taxes/p+p/fairy-dust etc. so £78.25 turned into £108.24, but that's still a decent price for all four leads in my book. Worst case scenario: they make no difference and I've got plenty of spare ethernet cables. Let's get this sorted now though. For a hundred quid I am going to tell you they sound better.

slinger wrote: ↑Sat Jan 11, 2020 2:01 pm I ordered the Blue Jeans' ethernet cables last night. I forgot their prices are quoted before VAT/sales taxes/p+p/fairy-dust etc. so £78.25 turned into £108.24, but that's still a decent price for all four leads in my book. Worst case scenario: they make no difference and I've got plenty of spare ethernet cables. Let's get this sorted now though. For a hundred quid I am going to tell you they sound better.

I will be interested in four findings. Have been looking at the AQ range and think the Forest might be worth the extra over the Pearl because of the silver content. It would be £100.