Do Ethernet patch cables make a difference?

[Clive197]

Last week I was surfing e-bay and came across an auction for a 0.75m Chord C-Stream Ethernet cable and decided to take a punt and put in a low but reasonable bid. We'll shiver me timbers I won. It arrived 2days later so I plumbed it in between a 4 way switch and my Cyrus StreamX2.

I've always had difficulties hearing differences on digital cable but it definitely improved smoothness and brought out a more musical insight which has left me both gobsmacked and perplexed. How does a short length of CAT7 cable on the end of my home network consisting of approx 20m of CAT6, 2 network switches make any bloody difference, but IT DOES!!!

[Yomanze]

They make a difference to your wallet. If it makes such a difference to be "gobsmacked" and has "definitely" improved the sound, get someone to switch between the cables without you seeing which one's plugged in.

Here's a good read: http://archimago.blogspot.co.uk/2015...and-audio.html

[ReggieB]

Noise, noise, noise.

Network cables are poorly shielded. Cat 5 and 6 rely on being twists so as to avoid being adversely by external electrical noise, and that's not a great solution. They are particularly susceptible to being badly affected by mains leads running next to them, or the proximity of electrically noisy apparatus such as strip lights. Cat 7 is better because the individual cables are shielded.

[Yomanze]

I don't think you understand how Ethernet works Reggie.

[struth]

Problem with shielded cat. Is that the equipment its attached to isnt earthed so instead of shielding you can just produce a aerial and make things worse(patch cables wise)

[Clive197]

Grant, I'm not sure I agree with you there. In my case the equipment is all earthed. The TT/arm/cartridge is earthed to the phono which in turn is earthed via the interconnect to the pre which again is earthed onwards. It only need 1 item to be earthed to the mains for the whole kit and capoodle to be earthed.

[r100]

I don't think you understand how Ethernet works Reggie.

1+

[Audio Advent]

I don't think you understand how Ethernet works Reggie.

That depends on how you interpret his post.

That noise might not effect the ethernet data but it might well effect the components within the equipment if not handled correctly.

That is not about how ethernet works as a data handling bus but the general electrical aspects of RJ47 connected equipment.

[Audio Advent]

They make a difference to your wallet. If it makes such a difference to be "gobsmacked" and has "definitely" improved the sound, get someone to switch between the cables without you seeing which one's plugged in.

Here's a good read: http://archimago.blogspot.co.uk/2015...and-audio.html

Well, a boring read to be honest, but the guy goes to proove a particular point about data integrity with fancy versions of CAT 6 cable. And doesn't say anything about CAT 7 which is where Clive heard a difference.

So is kind of irrelevent to this thread.

And if £26 versus £5 makes a massive difference to your wallet and therefore causes confirmation bias due to £21 then perhaps this is the wrong hobby (unless of course part of the hobby is doing things for as cheap as possible as can be worthwhile in its own right).

[mikmas]

Worth noting that the Chord-C ethernet cables are also directional so best check you have the cable the right way around.

You should notice straightaway though .... your music will be playing backwards