'Analog Dinosaur' succumbs to the joys of FBA : enter Raspberry Pi 2/IQ-Audio DAC+!!

[NRG]

Is it?
If the shielding isn't grounded then it becomes an aerial
Just using a Cat7 patch cable doesn't mean it's Cat7 connected - you need the appropriate grounding for it to reach Cat7 standards.

Indeed Chris, a loose analogy you can draw is to the use of supposedly 75ohm rated phono connectors sometimes used on SPDIF cables....what these cable plug into are not 75ohm rated.

[r100]

@ stanb
That has probably to do with the router, hubs, etc. I get 20-40 Gb/sec constant data rates from my NAS over Cat5 and around 5-15Gb/sec over Wifi. Not sure why the buffering would start after 30 mins. though. That said, a wired network connection will IMHO always be more stable and robust than a WiFi connection. If I had to rewire my house I would use Cat7 only to be compatible with future network hardware.

[NRG]

Precisely - and you're just increasing the risk of dropouts... I'm wireless, as far as my router and laptop goes, but I'll be staying wired from my NAS to the Pi.

Incidentally, how exactly does one provide the "appropriate grounding", in order to fully utilise the benefits of Cat7? A small step-by-step guide, which I can follow easily, would be good

Marco.

Macro you can't. The kit has to be designed to make use of the higher transmission capabilities that CAT7/7a is capable of and I don't think the PI has a 10/40GbE capable network port.....

[Marco]

Ah, I see. Thanks, Neal. So really it's just a case of if I can be arsed trying some Cat7, and seeing if I can hear any difference between that and Cat5e - a 'suck it and see' job

Marco.

[r100]

I would just relax, sit back and listen to the music and not worry about Ethernet, Cat5, 6, 7, n, cables which IMO should not influence the SQ. If the network is not robust, i.e. has some fault in it there will be dropouts but thats about it. These cables transport data. And as stated above, the Pi is not even capable of transporting data quick enough to even get close to the limits of Cat5 cables. I really don't want to start a cable war

[Gazjam]

Ethernet cables can change the sound, for better or worse thats up to you, your ears and your system...there I said it!
I have these throughout my network, imo improves things audio wise between the router, the Transporter and my server.

Decided on these after taking a punt on one and sitting down to listen. Much cheapness, fit n forget.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...ilpage_o00_s00

[r100]

where is the limit ? Will gold-plate Ethernet cables make the SQ better There is a good article from Arstechnica here.. in the mean time I am going to listen to some music.

[Jimbo]

where is the limit ? Will gold-plate Ethernet cables make the SQ better

Don't forget the gold plugs aswel

Cat 7 is for large data transfer at high speeds and I would be surprised if anything approaches that in the hifi world but you would be future proofed, that is if your equipment can interface with them.
I think it is the individual screening of the cables within the ethernet cable that makes a big difference never mind the data transfer capabilities.

[r100]

I found this quote which I think is quite funny and sums up what I think about anything network / audiophile related.

True audiophiles wouldn't buy a Cisco enterprise-class router, they'd by something twice as expensive with a name you've never heard of out of a shed in Yorkshire. Which turns out to be a rebranded Linksys.

[Marco]

I would just relax, sit back and listen to the music and not worry about Ethernet, Cat5, 6, 7, n, cables which IMO should not influence the SQ. If the network is not robust, i.e. has some fault in it there will be dropouts but thats about it. These cables transport data. And as stated above, the Pi is not even capable of transporting data quick enough to even get close to the limits of Cat5 cables. I really don't want to start a cable war

Hi Rupert,

You're most probably right, but the 'What If?' demon will doubtless get the better of me!

That, however, most certainly won't stop me from enjoying music. Last night I was up until 2am, doing precisely that.

Gaz, nice recco on the cables, ta. Noted

Marco.