Value of a premium Ethernet cable

My findings with ethernet cables were that silver plated copper wire works best.  Reasonable cost cables (5x over basic ethernet cables) that are silver plated can be had.  I have used both Pangea SE (advertises Cardas wire)  and AQ Cinnamon ethernet cables.  Both are a clear step up in sound to basic ethernet cables.  Some of the more expensive ethernet cables feature a thicker silver plating.  The question might be how much plating is enough?  I stopped when I got satisfactory results with the AQ Cinnnamon. 

Imagine a group of people talking about which airlines have the best 1st Class cabin service, food and seat comfort.  Then someone walks up and says, “You know, the Coach seats arrive at the destination at the exact same time as the 1st Class seats, so why spend the extra money?”

A cave man may not have understood the nature of fire but he learned that striking two hard rocks together made sparks and could start a fire and then he developed  the art of cooking.  I don’t understand the nature of transmitting data via the internet but I know audio.  Me like sound of silver plated Ethernet cables.  Ugh!

Don't dismiss the LHY SW-8 or their new SW-6 Network Switch.  Very good performance for the money.  The SW-8 was a step up from using a fiber optic link for me.  The fiber optic link was a big step up from a direct ethernet connection from router to music server/streamer.  Not only that but I found the SW-8 does wonders for streaming video on my TV.  The picture looks like a photograph in motion.

The silver plated wire in the AQ Cinnamon and the Pangea SE ethernet cables make a difference too.  The Pangea and the AQ Cinnamon Ethernet cables were very close to my ears.  The Pangea are directional too but are not marked.  In one direction the highs were harsh and unpleasant but in the other direction the cables sound good.  It was not a subtle difference.  With the Pangea SE connected backwards, a $5 ethernet cable will outperform it.  I am not overstating that.

Congratulations are in order but you also have my condolences as you go deeper down the rabbit hole.  Actually it can save you money in the long run   Streaming sounds so good now I don’t need to always buy the record or CD- or download  

I always hope to be able to send back some new cable or component.   It doesn’t happen often. 

Cables just work.  The cable makers know something but they hold their cards pretty close to their vest. They don’t give away much about how their cables work. 
 

Tvrgeek, practice what you preach man. It’s clear you do not understand fully how the ethernet works. Otherwise, instead of denying people’s actual experiences with better cables and network switches you would look into how and why it is possible. Discovery and an open mind is the first step to learning.