@adsell I’m glad you appreciated the joke. I’ll leave it at that as far as our discussion is concerned.
Ethernet opinions
Hello everyone, I finally got my system setup. I had a few setbacks the past few months. My mom had lung cancer and passed away a month ago. It has been a journey getting my system set up which is part of the fun. I am running Pass Labs XP-12, pass 250.8, and Bricasti M3. My original plan was to run the Bricasti with a EERO mesh network since the modem is on the opposite end of the listening space. Needless to say the EERO mesh would not work and Roon could not see my M3. I was on the phone with Bricasti trouble shooting the issue. I removed my M3 from the system and double checked everything with it hard wired to the modem which worked. I was told I could really use any Ethernet for the most part as long as it’s cat 5 or 6. Well, I returned the EERO and got a 25 foot Ethernet cable from Best Buy for 10 dollars. The sound is much better then I was guessing running a 10 dollar cable, for me it’s deff a temp fix. Especially since I bought two audio quest vodka cables. I am using one of them now connecting the room nucleus to the modem at the moment. I have read a bit about blue Jean cables which seem to hold spec. I don’t see me buying a longer Audio quest vodka cable given the cost. In some ways I feel like I spent more then I should have on the Vodka cables at this point. Opinions please ?
Showing 17 responses by audphile1
@shtr74sims sorry for your loss. As far as EERO with M3 and roon, I have zero issues. It’s been working fine for me. As far as ethernet options, you can run the above recommended ethernet cable, then insert an audiophile switch before the M3 (try it with return policy) with a higher end short 1M ethernet cable between switch and Bricasti. Just a thought. |
English Electric Network Switch keep in mind I haven’t tried this but know people who had. |
If you decide to try it, do this…order it from anywhere that will take it back for a refund, and order a D-Link DGS-105 from a-zon. Compare the two. Helps with decision making process to compare a $700 switch to a $23 one. Use your AQ Vodka from switch to M3. Then compare with cheap ethernet direct from router into M3. Let your ears decide the best configuration. |
@shtr74sims everything matters especially at the level you’re playing at. There’s plenty of resolving power in those components to let you know what each change had added and taken away. |
@shtr74sims btw thank you for the kind words!!! |
It’s all very subjective. |
Yup. But in your case your Pass Labs gear as well as the Bricasti are so low noise and quiet. I would run the X250.8 straight from the wall outlet using a good power cord. The M3 will benefit from power conditioning and so will the XP-12 but make sure the power cord feeding the power conditioner is on the level with the rest of the stuff. But I digress…back to ethernet…keep us posted on your progress. |
Apply a good filter when listening to ASR reviews. Amir is very experienced from the EE standpoint but you need to always remember he does these videos to get views and the audience he caters to have certain expectations. Usually they love him trashing all high end equipment, they favor specs and measurements and don’t bother listening. They feel great knowing that their $99 DAC measures better than a $7,000 cd player. That’s pretty much what ASR is all about. The cult and following is pretty amazing though. |
@vthokie83 +1 on Supra CAT8! I had it and it’s pretty good. I also tried the version with Telegartner connectors which is better than the stock Supra. As good as the Supra is, and it’s a really good value for the money, it falls slightly short of the performance I hear from my Purist Audio CAT7 ethernet cable or the Network Acoustics Eno Streaming System. The Supra would be nice for a long run between the router and the switch or filter, with the last leg using something like the AQ Vodka into the streamer. |
@shtr74sims here are my top picks from what I had tried… 1. Network Acoustics Eno Streaming System 2. Purist Audio Design CAT7 (I wouldn’t say it’s worse than Eno, just different but a good way) 3. Supra CAT8 with Telegartner connectors 4. Supra CAT8 with stock Supra ends 5. Amazon CAT8 is a really great cable for the money
Yellow and Blue ethernet cables work but they don’t sound as good as the ones on my list above. |
I’ve actually gone back and forth the last few days between the Purist and Eno. The Eno just has this silkiness and results in a presentation that is less “digital” and more natural especially in the vocals sibilance without taking away resolution and details. It relaxes it all just enough to not impact musicality and engagement. These differences aren’t night and day between these two very good cables, but enough for the Eno to stay in the system pretty much most of the time. I just can’t un-hear it. Time after time, the results are consistent.
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@adsell I don’t use castaway cables from my data center. They periodically yell out “Wilson!!!” And that distracts my speakers. |
@adsell nice system! |