Some members here have spoken positively about this Cat8 cable that’s not too pricey…
Ethernet
I am adding a HiFi Rose RS 130 to my set up and need to split my ethernet cable run... Here is my question: I have about a 20' run into the splitter , then 2 x 3' runs to the RS130 and a BluSound Vault. I have been using a $20 ethernet Cat 5 cable on the BluSound Vault alone. I am seeing (typical) ethernet runs for $7,000 to $1.50. Where do I go here? Primary goal is to make sure all 3 runs are identical and really NOT thinking of spending a ton here. Thoughts? Cat 5...6...7...?
Help !!
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I hope you mean "Ethernet switch" instead of "splitter." Keep in mind that Cat 5 cable has about 100x more bandwidth than audio or even video requires. Going to a higher cat than your source and switch supports doesn't help anything. Using shielded however may help. Also, with long runs you run the risk of picking up an induced surge from a local lightning strike. I encourage you to use a certified isolator (UL60601 or ISA60601) on the side closest to your more expensive gear, or one on each end. More about that here. | ||
@erik_squires I am not an IT professional. I believe you are though.
The OP didn’t say what type of internet/speed he has coming into his house. I think that would be a good thing to know, therein a starting point as you said in the above quote, source. Good chance he may be stuck with what he has. It may only justify Cat 5e cable as you said. His switch may only support the use of a Cat 5e cable. Just curious if his incoming internet will support Cat 6a would he gain anything by buying a switch that would support Cat 6 or Cat 6a cable?
From the specs, RS130 Network Transport
Justify Cat 6 or Cat 6a cable? . | ||
Soix: I have tried the exact same Linkup Ethernet cable from Amazon that you mentioned, in both a 5 meter long run from my router, and a short 1 meter run to my streamer from my Ether Regen. The cables look and feel very solid and well made, but they sound terrible! I gave them a couple of weeks use, just in case they needed to "settle-in", but nothing improved. They seem to suck the air/ambience and texture right out of my streaming system. A simple Cat 6 cable from Blue Jeans Cables for a similar price sounded FAR better, as did a higher quality DH Labs Reunion ethernet cable I recently purchased. And, yes, the sonic differences ARE apparent between various ethernet cables on a good system, despite what the naysayers claim. | ||
@bigshutterbug linkup sounds rolled off and dull in my system but that’s compared to Purist Audio CAT7. I don’t use it for streaming but I do have it on my apple tv and mac mini without any issues. It’s not for a high end digital front end but in a budget system it should be ok. | ||
Speaker and interconnects you can discuss, but for data cables?? There are specs. Running an out of spec cable and claiming it sounds better…?!?! this is entirely adequate https://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/data-cables/index.htm unless people claim that exotic cables can clean the ground plane…. | ||
Speaker and interconnects you can discuss, but for data cables?? There are specs. Running an out of spec cable and claiming it sounds better…?!?! this is entirely adequate https://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/data-cables/index.htm unless people claim that exotic cables can clean the ground plane…. or improve jitter. If you are concerned about jitter you must run 10gb speed Ethernet. | ||
See the hyperlink for choosing a specific cable category for your run, considering the minimum category recommended by your streamer manufacturer. I made a mistake spending hundreds on a Synergistics Atmosphere Ethernet cable and was unhappy with its performance. I ordered a Blue Jeans Ethernet cable on the recommendation of the proprietor of a high end interconnect/cord manufacturer I respect and I use his company’s products. My comparisons were on an Aurender N100H at the time proved his recommendation valid. The Synergistics sits in my basement storage. My recommendation is not to spend mega dollars on the Ethernet cable and audition. | ||
Suggest checking out Blue Jeans cable. They gave 3 different types they sell, 5e, 6 and 6a, and will make any length and color you want. They also test each cable and include the test sheet with your order. I’ve ordered several cat 6a, which is the highest speed rated one they have available. Reasonably priced and only $5 shipping. They also have articles on their web site that get into the facts around the different types of cable. Excellent customer service too. Based in Seattle. | ||
@audioman58 said:
But the chassis of equipment the shielded ethernet cable plugs into may be. I’ve read posts where a shielded ethernet cable caused a ground loop hum. (Had nothing to do the 4 twisted pairs of the cable.) My understanding the shield is connected at both ends of the cable to the ground metal shell of the RJ45 male connectors. Example of a shielded Cat6a RJ45 plug If the equipment manufacturer didn’t install a RJ45 jack that is a grounding type, bonded to chassis, then a path to chassis ground is not provided. FWIW a shield, Faraday cage, does not need to be grounded to work.YMMV . | ||
I tried a blue jeans cable to compare it to my $1000 cable and I sent the blue jeans back once it got broken in (100 hours). I’m sure it would be a step up to cheap/free cables but lifeless/dull sounding compared to better cables. When you get an Ethernet cable, it’s not the speed that you need, it’s the better terminations that the better cables give you. Audio throughput is small, remember a cd player spins at an avg 300 rpm with small data output. A cat5e cable would be fine even up to dsd. I have a top of the line audioquest Ethernet cable | ||
As said get a blue Jeans cat6 cable. They are certified, that is really all you care about. A lot of cheap cables are not terminated properly. I used to make my own cables, still have the stock and tools. It takes a lot of practice to get all the little wires correct. If you are going to order a cable, get one from a computer store, get a name brand, like Belkin, or something. They will not be "cheap" but also not expensive. A 6ft cat6 cable should be around $20. | ||
In your home, most affordable switches and ports support 1GigE, as do cable modems and routers. That's not to say the Internet provider will offer you that much bandwidth. That's Cat 5e. It's also probably 2x or more what you get from outside. 100 Mbit/s was also something like 10x more than what 96k/24 bit audio required. So, it's all overkill. However, it's best to know your equipment's rated throughput, as bad/slow cables can cause your gear to keep switching speeds and/or disconnect. So if your gear is 1GigE stick to 5e or better. Use Cat 6 if your switches/ports support 10GigE. Again, massive overkill for audio/video. | ||
https://avantiaudio.com/collections/all-cables/digital-cables I bought a long 6m run of these . I compared them to the very top end AUDIQUEST DIAMOND and these AA VIVACE Ethernet cable models are true contenders and no pretenders at about half the price or less. They have ads on AGON. You can order custom lengths . highly recommended.
STEREO TIMES review
“…. Finally, I added the Vivace CAT-7 Ethernet cable and did some listening via my iTunes library through the JRiver Media Center. For all the improvements that the Vivace cables made in my system, this was probably the biggest. Until now, most of my listening to computer downloads were with cheap CAT-5 cables or even via WiFi, which is not optimal. But inserting these cables was a game-changer. I’ve spent a lot of the earlier part of this year listening to many musicians under the ACT label. ACT is a progressive European jazz label that features fantastic artists such as pianist Leszek Mozdzer, trombonist Nils Landgren and bassist Lars Danielsson. A recording by Danielsson allowed me to appreciate what this Ethernet cable did for my system. Liberetto is a recording that features pianist Tigran (yes, a one-name performer), percussionist Magnus Ostrom, guitarist John Parricelli, trumpeter Arve Henriksen, and of course Danielsson. That’s a lot of musicians and a lot of music. They’ve always sounded glorious together, but through the Vivace cables and the Ethernet cable, in particular, the sound was more of an experience. The soundstage blossomed, and the musicians were rendered so finely that it sounded as though the listener occupied the same space. And oh, the way the low-end detail took the sound from being boomy and annoying to rhythmic and natural was something that must be heard to be enjoyed. This cable will not be leaving my system….” | ||
Agree with many here that Blue Jeans would be more than fine for setting a baseline to start. I'd then start trying different eth cables from the splitter to your streamer and vault. I have a similar setup today: Router > Switch > Streamer I had all blue jeans, but now I only use blue jeans of about 12 feet from Router to Switch (LHY SW-6), and then a 1.5m Sablon eth cable to the streamer. In my system, it's an upgrade in SQ. | ||
@antigrunge2 - where does it mess with USB and how? SPDIF - sure. This is why no one should be using coax. I am yet to hear explanation on USB. Ethernet even more resilient. Everything is retransmitted if there is an error. Again - your email does not change no matter fiber, electrical, satellite links and 100 times conversion of electric to optical to radio and back. It comes to you 100%. So is the FLAC file. |
