2. digital
  3. 171150-6055

Questions about Ethernet Cabling

PLEASE READ: This is not a thread about the merits or demerits of audiophile-grade ethernet cables, or any cable for that matter. If you don’t believe in spending extra on expensive cables, I respect your opinion but please don’t turn this into a point of contention.

So before I ask my questions, let me describe how internet connectivity is setup in my house:

- [Home office/study] The modem (AT&T), router (Google Nest/Mesh), and switch ($25 TP-link basic switch) are located in the home office/study. I also have a second system in this room as well as other stuff connected through the switch. In other words, I can’t move the switch to another room.

- [Media room] The main audio system is located in the media room which is in the diagonally opposite side of the house (single story). This room has the ENO ethernet filter connected to the Innuous Zenith MK3 streamer, and so on.

[Long ethernet cable] A very long run of ethernet cable (CAT 6/over 100 foot) runs from the [Home office/study] router and terminates into the [Media room] ethernet jack/wall plate. This was done by the builder and it runs through the attic.

- [Media room] From the [Media room] ethernet wall plate, I then use another 6 foot ethernet cable (also CAT 6) that goes into an ENO filter and then on to the Innuos Zenith MK3 streamer.

 

So here are my questions:

1. Is it worth upgrading only the so-called last-mile ethernet cable, i.e. the one between the [Media room] ethernet wall plate and Eno filter while I continue using the long CAT 6 cable [Study >> Media room]? It is going to be difficult, if not impossible, to replace the long-run CAT 6 cable as it goes through the attic where several spots are not reachable without tearing down some sheetrock.

2. Is it worth adding a second audiophile-grade switch (e.g. uptone) in the media room while leaving the one in the study as is? Or is it better to upgrade the switch in the study first and place the cheaper switch in the media room? Or do I need to replace both switches (not prefered as it adds to the cost)?

 

128x128arafiq
arafiq's avatar
arafiq OP
1,599 posts
 

@fittebd -- The Innuos Zenith in fact replaced a Sonore opticalRendu in the media room. I'm now using the opticalRendu in my study. After trying out a few streamers at different price points, I can safely say that it is a phenomenal streamer that can stand its own against more expensive ones. The fiber optic conversion definitely makes a noticeable difference. Compared to the Zenith, I would say the opticalRendu provides probably 90% of performance at almost 1/3 the price. Not bad at all.

Where Zenith, in my opinion, has a slight edge is that it sounds more analog and has a slightly more refined presenation. But TBH, I could have easily lived with the opticalRendu.

ddafoe
238 posts
 

@arafiq, I agree with you on the performance of the opticalRendu for its relative cost.   I purchased one after I had added fiber and swapped out my Bricasti M5 + whatever fiber converter I had at the time and I thought the sound quality of its USB input to my DAC matched what I was hearing with the much costlier M5 setup. 

I still preferred the SPDIF output from the M5 with my DAC so I stuck with it and sold the opticalRendu,  but I wouldn't hestitate to buy it again.

fittebd
101 posts
 

@arafiq I ended up with the new Signature Rendu SE and put through a Matrix SPDIF 2 to my Directstream DAC via I2S.  I absolutly love it.  I was going to do the T2 Lumin but then a deal fell in my lap for $2250 for this with the optical coverter and cable.  I could not resist.  Even if I did not like it I could sell and get money back fast.  But I ended up loving it.  Super clean sound and fits right in with the DAC I have.  Sonore makes some really good pieces.  Gets a bit confusing if you are new to them with all the models and how to hook them.  

arafiq's avatar
arafiq OP
1,599 posts
 

@fittebd Did you get the optical version of the Signature Rendu? I think it's called the Signature Rendu SE optical Level 2. This one was high on my list but I decided to give Innuos a try especially after reading glowing reviews about their Sense software. I'm going to let it burn in for 100 hours before making any critical judgments, but so far it's only marginally better than the opticalRendu that it replaced. Too early to judge though.

I often wonder if I should have gone with the Signature Rendu SE optical instead. 

cakyol's avatar
cakyol
940 posts
 

I work for Broadcom as a senior software engineer and deal with this stuff almost daily.

As long as your ethernet wire is rated for the correct bit rate and length, and you do not live in an extremely noisy (electrically) environment like a factory floor, there is ABSOLUTELY NO BENEFIT in spending any more on exaggerated and false claims on audiophile data wires.

If you can use fiber optic, even better. But the standard cat5, cat6 or higher wires are also perfectly fine too.

 

 

 

More to discover