should I get better Ethernet cables?

[Nick B]

The Supra Ethernet cable arrived today (thanks Scotty!) and I placed it from the wall to my ASUS router. I wasn’t expecting much, but was hoping for a lot though! Well, it was a heck of an improvement. Again, it quite surprised me. Now, some months back, I had switched cable providers so I receive a signal from a tower to a new dish on my roof with new wiring down the wall and a new connector as well.

The sound is richer and more detailed. As the reviewers might say, more “fleshed out”
I only spent about $60 on eBay and it was money very well spent. The next thing I want to do is get an Acopian linear power supply that is adjustable to 19V. I will use that as the power supply for my Asus wireless router. I’m hoping to be able to get it for under $100 on eBay.

Well, back to enjoying some good tunes 🎶🎶

Was the Supra cable you got on eBay the CAT 7 or CAT 8?

https://www.telco-data.com/cat5e-vs-cat6-vs-cat7-vs-cat8/

According to this article CAT 7 is not standardized, so there will be construction and connector differences across manufacturers.  If you need faster throughput over short distances, goto CAT 8, as that is its only advantage over 6A.    Otherwise, CAT 6A is fine.

Interesting article. I wonder if CAT 7 will become official at some point.

[Nick B]

  I recommended the Monoprice as I thought it sounded better in my system than the Supra.   Glad now you realize a difference can be had. That is all that matters. Enjoy the new sound.


charles

Charles,
I was on the Monoprice site again tonight. They have CAT 6, 6a, 7 and 8. Do you recall which you preferred? Great prices btw… I’d pick one up to experiment and use whichever I like least on the TV connection.

[Triode Pete]

Just remember that some ethernet cables are designed for audio transmission & not video transmission.

Digital Audio transmission has a slow speed requirement in comparison to fast gigabit requirements that are aimed at bulk data and video transmission. Also, foil shielding adds capacitance that causes audible ringing (jitter) that obscures low level detail. I do not use foil shielding in my audio ethernet cable design.

There are a few other tricks as well...

Cheers,
Pete

[Nick B]

Just remember that some ethernet cables are designed for audio transmission & not video transmission.

Digital Audio transmission has a slow speed requirement in comparison to fast gigabit requirements that are aimed at bulk data and video transmission. Also, foil shielding adds capacitance that causes audible ringing (jitter) that obscures low level detail. I do not use foil shielding in my audio ethernet cable design.

There are a few other tricks as well...

Cheers,
Pete

Thanks, Pete. I will note that…had no idea. It’s possible, the cheapie cable I’m already using is the wrong type.
Nick

[rollo]

  I recommended the Monoprice as I thought it sounded better in my system than the Supra.   Glad now you realize a difference can be had. That is all that matters. Enjoy the new sound.


charles

Charles,
I was on the Monoprice site again tonight. They have CAT 6, 6a, 7 and 8. Do you recall which you preferred? Great prices btw… I’d pick one up to experiment and use whichever I like least on the TV connection.

  Cat 6 from router. If I did not need such a long run 4mtrs it would be TWL instead. Feeling cheap lately.



charles

[rollo]

Just remember that some ethernet cables are designed for audio transmission & not video transmission.

Digital Audio transmission has a slow speed requirement in comparison to fast gigabit requirements that are aimed at bulk data and video transmission. Also, foil shielding adds capacitance that causes audible ringing (jitter) that obscures low level detail. I do not use foil shielding in my audio ethernet cable design.

There are a few other tricks as well...

Cheers,
Pete

 Very informative thanks. I use yours from Transport to DAC. Beat everything I tired in that position.

[Nick B]

  I recommended the Monoprice as I thought it sounded better in my system than the Supra.   Glad now you realize a difference can be had. That is all that matters. Enjoy the new sound.


charles

Charles,
I was on the Monoprice site again tonight. They have CAT 6, 6a, 7 and 8. Do you recall which you preferred? Great prices btw… I’d pick one up to experiment and use whichever I like least on the TV connection.

  Cat 6 from router. If I did not need such a long run 4mtrs it would be TWL instead. Feeling cheap lately.



charles

Thanks, Charles  I don’t even need 2 meters.