JCAT Signature LAN Cable

[Darryl R]

Late last year I upgraded my audio system and as the final touch I’ve been trying out Ethernet cables. Already I had tried the Audioquest Vodka and the Wireworld Starlight Platinum Cat 8 but didn’t hear an appreciable difference between them and the Ethernet cable that came with my dCS Network Bridge.  Marcin of JPLAY advised me I needed to try his JCAT Signature LAN cable.  A logical mate for my JCAT Femto Net card I thought, and I decided to give them a try.  The only condition of sale was that if I didn’t hear a difference, I could return them, which Marcin granted.  No financial incentive was given to keep them, or to write this mini review; I was prepared to send them back and resolve that the anti-audiophile-Ethernet mob had a point.

 

The music I’ve been using to audition Ethernet cables is the new 24/192 remastering of the Karajan/BPO Bruckner 8 on DG and Bach Cantatas 131 & 182 from Thomas Gropper and his Arcis-Vocalisten München on Oehms Classics.  Conveniently my most recent recordings, they work for the cable auditions.  The legacy Bruckner, while nicely restored by Emil Berliner Studios, is not ideal, still edgy with somewhat veiled winds behind Karajan’s typically massive strings and brass.  On the other hand the Gropper Bach are the most beautifully recorded choral discs in my library, and 16/44 at that!

 

I had two one-meter lengths of the JCAT Signature LAN, but initially I restricted myself to inserting only a single JCAT cable between the file server’s JCAT Net card output and the Ethernet input of the dCS Bridge (I employ network bridging in Linux for a direct link).  I started Bruckner 8 from my iPad.  The shimmering, pianissimo strings of the opening were clearer, more space around them.  Similarly, the slightly muted oboe entry also had much more space around it, as did the responding celli.  The entire work had a more defined bottom end.  I was riveted to a recording I’d had for years.  The Gropper Bach, already gorgeous, sounded even more engaging with its layering of exquisite chorus, soloists and period orchestral timbres.  My favorite is the “Ich harre des Herrn” of Cantata 131.  Choral music playback had been problematic on my system, but the JCAT seems have been the missing link.  I need to try some of my Mahler 8’s!

 

My system sounded great before the JCAT Signature LAN, but the listening experience is even better now.  I could go on about Marcin’s kindness and patience, and the meticulous, water-tight packages expressed from Poland, but you get the point – I really like the JCAT Ethernet cables and I’m keeping them.

 

https://jcat.eu/product/signature-lan-cable/

 

Happy Listening,

Darryl

 

Equipment:

Home-built file server -- Streacom FC8a/Gigabit H270N/i3-7300T/4TB SSD/JCAT Net Card with bridged connections/Ubuntu

dCS Network Bridge

dCS Vivaldi

Momentum Mono Amps

Alexia 2

Shunyata Sigma interconnect and speaker cable

Shunyata Alpha power cable

 

[Darryl R]

2 hours ago, Priaptor said:

Great system.  Yes Marcin is a great guy and very helpful but unfortunately he was denigrated by many on another thread on this forum regarding his new network switch.  One of the reasons I peek in to this site more than participate anymore.  I have always found his products to be excellent.

 

Too bad.  I don't have any of the facts related to this incident or product.

 

I was thinking of that hord of computer geniuses and material scientists from Amazon who'll flay you if you assert anything about an Ethernet cable costing more than one digit.

[Darryl R]

Hi Alan,

 

The SOtM was on my shortlist, but I was wary of yet another filter just after the filtering on the JCAT NET card.  Some say they get a blacker background with that cable.  I wonder if there is an additional cost for that.  Also, SOtM has a hefty restocking fee for returns.  They use the same connectors, so compare what's in between -- my two cents 

[Darryl R]

Obnoxious.  No longer following my own thread.

[Darryl R]

19 hours ago, BigAlMc said:

 

@Darryl R I hope you return to your thread.

 

 

Alan,

 

Your post still came thru.  Here's some more great cable from Marcin.  On his recommendation, I moved my OS to a new SSD with SLC NAND and the JCAT Signature SATA, and only my music library is on the 4TB Samsung.