In most networks you are receiving all of the data and it is bit perfect. And if your service is using TCP, not IP, then it is for sure bit perfect. But that is not the big issue, noise is the big issue. If CAT 6 offered perfect shielding, then there wouldn’t be CAT 8. My system sounded great with a 30’ BJC cable, until I replaced it with optical. You don’t notice the noise until it’s gone, and thus begins your cable journey.
How can different CAT5/6 cables affect sound.
While is is beyond doubt that analog cables affect sound quality and SPDIF, TOSlink and AES/EBU can effect SQ, depending on the buffering and clocking of the DAC, I am at a loss to find an explanation for how different CAT5 cables can affect the sound.
The signals over cat5 are transmitted using the TCP protocol. This protocol is error correcting, each packet contains a header with a checksum. If the receiver gets the same checksum then it acknowledges the packet. If no acknowledgement is received in the timeout interval the sender resends the packet. Packets may be received out of order and the receiver must correctly sequence the packets.
Thus, unless the cable is hopeless (in which case nothing works) the receiver has an exact copy of the data sent from the sender, AND there is NO timing information associated with TCP. The receiver must then be dependent on its internal clock for timing.
That is different with SPDIF, clocking data is included in the stream, that is why sources (e.g. high end Aurenders) have very accurate and low jitter OCXO clocks and can sound better then USB connections into DACs with less precise clocks.
Am I missing something as many people hear differences with different patch cords?
Showing 3 responses by zlone
Each new debate of this topic brings new perspectives and experience with new configurations and equipment, I find it useful and entertaining. As a retired software engineer who worked on operating systems and used lots of protocols over the years, I understand well the argument from that side of the fence. However, empirical evidence, listening to different configurations, has confirmed for me that the last run to the streamer makes a difference in my environment, and for very little cost. |
@foggyus91 Good choice in cables, I prefer silver for digital, but not for analog. OCC for everything. I use a similar cable, probably Neotech underneath:
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