Ethernet cables

Well made and well-shielded, not-junk ethernet cables are essential for carrying any data from point A to B. They need to meet modern standards too, as Ethernet speeds are not the same today as they were years ago. However, the stupid expensive ones are just that-- stupid. They are transmitting digital data not analog signals and will not sound better despite of all of the wild claims made by manufacturers. No one will be able to tell the difference in any true blind A-B comparison. So yes, a well-made cable should deliver data packets with fewer errors, which get corrected upon delivery BTW, but to equate the price of ethernet cables with sound quality is just more audiophile nonsense.

@tonywinga

Thank you for those explanations. I cannot argue them as I’ve not seen the studies or data that supports the conclusion.

I guess where I would still hold some skepticism is in whether or not those signal anomalies caused by interference or whatever are actually altering the timing or the data itself being sent across the cable. I suppose it’s possible to test this by sending a digital audio track across some Ethernet cables and then do a bit by bit comparison of the source and the copy. If they are exactly the same then there should be no impact on the audio, yes?

I’m not arguing for the use of cheap cables BTW, just that the claims made by many of these boutique cable makers, and the often absurd prices they charge for them, don’t hold up to scrutiny when A-B blind testing is done. Poorly constructed or damaged cables notwithstanding.