Ethernet cables

ghasley

Yes for analog interconnect/speaker cables but minor.

No (provided that cables are well made) for data cables and power cables.

soix

A Sinotec data cable can get to you via different routes - comes with device you buy, you can buy one on amazon, or pay crazy amount of money for one that dipped in snake oil. they'll show same performance measurement, good enough that your DAC will be able to recognize 1s and 0s correctly. They can't sell cables if they don't have the data. It's like selling cars without wheels. There's no factory in the USA manufacturing consumer data cables so they all come from Shenzen China. I'm not an industry expert though.

for a good primer on why digital signal transfer can be subject to sonic differences, the first 3 minutes of this video serves up a simple and well stated explanation -- hans has more detailed and lengthy videos discussing this topic but this one serves as a quickie tutorial

I am still laughing about cars without wheels analogy as it would hamper the functionality of any 🚘 whereas cable manufacturers don’t required to include measurements to sell cables and it will still perform as intended. Some manufacturers do include measurements data and specs but most don’t. Yet, we hear audible differences among cable brands regardless of asking price. IME, a better built cables unfolds more information that a generic cable simply can’t….don’t take my word for it, if you have the resources and decent system, try it and report back! 

lalitk

"cable manufacturers don’t required to include measurements to sell cables and it will still perform as intended. "

Yes they are required to present measurement data. If you buy a data cable on amazon or a pair speaker cables from some major brand like Cardas Kimber (they'r not manufacturers) typically you won't get the data sheet. But when Cardas buys their audio cables (bulk) from cable manufacturers like National Wire/Cable, one of few good American factories, or buy data cables from Sinotek China their cables must come with data sheets that include Construction Details (conductor/insulation/shield/outer jacket), Electrical Characteristics (impedance/ capacitance/propagation velocity/max. current/voltage rating/temp range, etc..

I agree that the analogy wasn't a good one. Yes cables do make a difference I don't deny that... but don't have to be stupidly expensive to be an excellent one. oh and what about that snake oil lamp sitting on the cable practically doing nothing.

@classicrockfan

I have news for you, fluke tested Ethernet cables even from big name cable manufacturers and found that 80% of them didn’t pass specs even though the manufacturers claimed they did.