What's the consensus on ethernet cables?

[Paul R]

8 hours ago, Axial said:

Anyone here who have measured them to see any graphical differences, plus participating in blind listening tests to check the auditive similarities, or slight variances?

 

Forget the money, I'm talking strictly sound quality between brands, construction, connectors, metallurgy, science, mathematics, physics, concrete factual studies. 

 

I'm interested in higher knowledge, in the-matter-of-fact truth.

 

Same as it always has been - some people hear a difference. Exactly what they hear is up for question, but there is no reason to dispute that they do hear a difference. 

I hear a difference - in my systems - between using a CAT5E / CAT6 cable and fibre connections. I prefer the fiber connections whenever possible. I don't hear a difference in electrical ethernet cables unless one cable is damaged. 

 

Scientifically?  There is, so far as I know, no evidence to say one ethernet cable will make an audible difference over another. But then, there is no money in doing the research to prove that, especially if it were to turn out that orthodox reasoning is correct, and no audible differences can be found and duplicated.

 

(grin) Personally I am waiting for quantum entangled transmissions between our music servers and DACs. When the signal outraces all electrical effects... ah, that's the ticket!

 

-Paul

 

[Paul R]

https://www.xkcd.com/2105/

[Paul R]

6 hours ago, barrows said:

 

Corning Clear Curve optical (my new new favorite) 😉.

 

 

Clearcurve ZBL - my private stash is a guilty hoarder purchase I guess, but I do love that stuff...  

 

[Paul R]

3 hours ago, mansr said:

 

You're still assuming there is a single path that dominates. This may or may not be the case in any given situation.

 

You may feel free to correct me if I am wrong, but IIRC, at any particular instant in time, there is always a path that dominates. Perhaps not by much though. 🤪

 

Since everyone is picking nits here. And I honestly do not see the applicability here unless the DAC is plugged directly into an ethernet port. And perhaps not even then. 

 

Ethernet transmissions are basically at RF frequencies, ignoring little things like 4D encoding using Pulse Amplitude Modulation, Power over Ethernet, Full Duplex operation, etc. Or at the other end, single pair connections (PHYs) from the automotive world some folks are using for audio. 

 

The physical transport of data over ethernet is complex.  But it is data being transmitted, not music. Different rules apply. 

 

I am not convinced that the differences some folk hear with ethernet cables is purely some kind of expectation bias, but the evidence that might be the case is compelling and should not be dismissed. On the other paw, it ain’t worth stomping on someone’s dream either. 🥜