ETHERNET CABLES

Assuming that digital send/receive protocols work as explained by the many network people on this site, then one thing that could cause Ethernet cables to sound differently from each other would be the effect of noise and shielding as discussed here.  Another review article I found stated:

The main culprit, as with all of HiFi, seems to be of RFI/EMI noise. Some Ethernet cables have filter blocks, proprietary shielding designs, higher quality conductors, and connectors. All of these design decisions seem to shape the RFI noise that ends up in the analog section of your components. There’s no way to completely eliminate noise – but manufacturers are finding ways to mitigate it.

It seems the higher CAT rated cables offer different and/or improved shielding.  Also, based on what I have seen, many of the expensive "audiophile" CAT cables being sold are of the higher CAT 7 or CAT 8 variety.  I have read about the Supra CAT8 Ethernet Cable being a particularly good bargain but other CAT8 cables may sound just as good, assuming the shielding results in the differences. 

I have used CAT 7 and CAT 8 and fiber for a 45 foot run from my router to my server and all three options sounded fine - I simply did not hear differences.  I simplified by removing the fiber and currently use just a single 45-foot CAT8 cable into a Network Acoustics ENO then into my server.

CAT8 is 22awg - the thickest wire of the CATs and therefore arguably the best durability.  It also has optimum shielding and twists but maybe not much if any different from CAT7.  It is by far the fastest but that speed is not needed in a home environment so the only reasons to pay more are for the extra copper and the shielding.  

The Audioquest write-up is from the marketing department.  The first paragraph may have validity for analog signals but neither their long grain copper nor the polyethylene insulation will make an audible difference to a digital signal. The second paragraph basically supports their use of CAT7 cable, and/or any other CAT7 cable.

@tonywinga 

I also added a pair of $85 linear power supplies to power the FMC’s.

Hello, would you please share where you purchased the $85 LPSs for your FMCs? I can easily find 5v supplies that I use with other peripherals but I am having a harder time finding the 9v supplies required by the FMCs.

Thanks @tonywinga - I purchased two of the same $86 5V supplies off of Amazon and they have worked well.  The same manufacturer does not list a 9V model but I was able to find 9V models that would work from either Small Green Computer or AliExpress.