I recently posted my thoughts on ethernet cables in another thread, but will add some detail here as well. I started using a generic ethernet cable thinking it made little or no difference between my Uptone Etherregen and DAC. I then bought a Cable Maters Cat8 from Amazon because I wanted a short <1M length. Surprisingly, I thought it sounded better. That inspired me to try a Supra Cat 8 as well as a DH Labs Reunion. I actually preferred the Cable Matters to these two. I also have tried several Audioquest ethernet cables and thought they were pretty good. Then I tried a $400 Sablon Ethernet 2020 and it was clearly the best of all that I tried.
Not wanting to leave well enough alone, I started reading good things about Shunyata ethernet cables. I read a lot of forum posts and reviews and was convinced that the Shunyata Alpha Ethernet would provide a performance lift. At the time I paid $1000 for it new (it is currently $1200) and sold my Sablon. The Alpha was okay going from my Sonore OM to my Bricasti but it wasn't better than my Sablon. It was very relaxed and maybe had a slightly deeper soundstage, but over a few months, I found myself less engaged by the music and listening to my system less. I sold the Alpha and purchased another Sablon. Bingo! Putting it back in made my system sound more dynamic, detailed and "live".
You don't need to spend massive amounts of money to get good sounding digital cables, but they do sound different. I can respect posts where people have tried different cables and report no difference. That is useful information and every system is different. I have tried different power cables and noticed only slight differences, but that doesn't mean I discount them making a bigger difference in other people's systems. Trust your ears and try experimenting yourself. If you hear differences, then you can explore trying more costly options.