Ignore that question: I've read up on both now.
ghentaudio Ethernet cable review-wow-90 bucks
I had been reviewing ethernet cables threads on AG and noticed a couple of members recommending ghentaudio as a reasonable and valuable upgrade. I am not a flat earther so I was open to spending up to $1000 for a cable in a cable shootout from the cable company. I had been using the ethernet cable that was shipped with my dCS Bartok. I decided to order the Belden CAT6 with Metz ends from ghentaudio. I'm listening to it right now and it is significantly better than my standard cable. I will not be looking for another ethernet cable for a while for sure. The biggest gain is in the depth of image, good improvement! Its sonically slightly more detailed, and musical. These improvements are not huge, but they are audible to me. I would also mention that its very well made and the steel ends are impressive, however I don't really care how it looks, its how it sounds. Thanks to whoever clued me in to this cable. To the bit non-believers, it's 90 bucks, give it try, I think you will be glad you did. This was 90 bucks well spent. BTW it took 25 days to get to me, so you might want the upgraded shipping.
Showing 20 responses by exlibris
I've ordered a cable that is pretty much identical to the ghentaudio cable. It too is made with Belden 1303E CAT6A Ethernet cable. The company is "designacable" from the UK. Interestingly enough, I also have the ViaBlue on order from Triton. Both will be compared to my Sablon 2020 cable and my friend's Wireworld Starlight cable. I look forward to hearing your opinion on the ViaBlue vs. Belden. |
I put the Belden in yesterday and had a listen. It's been breaking in overnight and when I listen later today it will have 24 hours on it. I also just received the ViaBlue today but haven't taken it out of the packaging. Does anyone know how long each of these cables takes to break in? The Sablon 2020 took like 200 hours. |
After 24 hours on both the ViaBlue and the Belden I'll say that the Sablon is the most enjoyable cable. I'll put 150 hours on each and report again. The Belden is very intriguing in that it is certainly the most direct and immediate sounding. I'm hoping the bottom end opens up, there is more harmonic complexity overall, and the top end gets tamed down. As of right now it is the most fatiguing of the three cables. |
The Sablon is $400 and can be ordered directly from the manufacturer. I’m going to give the two new cables a few more days to burn in before I make any decisions and I suspect I’ll add an EtherREGEN and then appraise them all again. I have to say the Belden is very intriguing. It reminds me of a cartridge I used to own. |
I'm guilty of that as well. I find the ViaBlue to be the least fatiguing of the 3 cables and tonight that made it my preferred cable. In fact, it had me thinking of trying to find a cable that is even less fatiguing. Did the EtherREGEN significantly reduce the sibilance and digital sharpness in your system? |
I’m definitely going to buy the Etheregen. The Sablon cable isn’t very flexible so I can imagine it’s physically imposing itself on the ER. I wasn’t testing you :). I just started getting listener fatigue tonight about 2 hours in so the ViaBlue became my cable of choice at the end of the session. All three cables are good but, as the song goes, I still haven’t found what I’m looking for. I’m going to hold off experimenting with more cables until I get the ER in my system. Since you like non-mainstream cable companies that offer just a single model of ethernet cable, have you heard of this one: https://triodewirelabs.com/product/freedom-ethernet-cable/ |
https://youtu.be/CCLFJgwf21o He says that when it comes to the ENO Filter and the ER, it's one or the other. In series he says that the sound may be unnatural (see "Test 2" in the video). |
I like to make just one change at a time so instead of putting the ENO filter and the cable in, I just put in the cable. The cable is the best I've heard in my system. It is very natural and brings my digital closer to my analogue than ever before. On some vocal recordings I really get the sense that I'm hearing the mic feed. It's also very authoritative and strongly plants images in my room and projects their sound to me. -all this without any aggression; it's very relaxed and has nice musical flow. I'll put the ENO in on Tuesday I think. |