Ethernet Cables - what are you using and why?

@shxmd 

"Since not mentioned above I use Inakustik Referenz Ethernet loom.

Handmade in Germany."

How can possibly wire cables be hand made? annealing/twisting/stranding/extrusion/cabling need different machineries and multiple manufacturing steps.

They probably import ethernet cables from China and snake oil them by hand.

Not only this German company but most of them buy/import and resell cables. So don't be fooled and waste money. Try Amazon/Ebay. Easy to return with Amazon!

Fredrik Lejonklou tested a wide range of lengths and found 8.5 feet to be the most musical.  I only tested a few but found 8.5 feet more musical than 10 or 20 and also better than 6 feet.

@thomasok

Why 8.5 feet and not 8, 9 or any other length. Did you test different lengths to come to this or was it an arbitrary length you stumbled upon?

There are resonance and reflection points with digital (and power cable) lengths, more so than with analog signal cables. Knowing what those lengths are is the trick.

I forgot to respond to the WHY part of your query. The Freedom is the most musically satisfying ethernet cable in my experience thus far. I've made some source changes to my system since buying it so may put my Omega Micro Ebony back in to hear how that sounds now. The Ebony was my favorite until trying the Freedom. The best sub $100 ethernet cable in my experience. To my ears more neutral than the Freedom.

Of the dozen or so I've tried Triode Wire labs Freedom ethernet is the one that almost makes me forget about trying anything else. 

After trying quite a few, landed with AQ Vodka Ethernet cable, and it is superb. I need 3M so AQ Diamond is out of the question price-wise.

Thanks again for all the suggestions. I figured the best approach was to just start trying different cables. To that end I started with stuff I could get my hands on locally: a roughly $50 Pangea model, then a $350 Cardas Clear, then a $650 Audioquest Vodka, and finally an Audioquest Diamond (dealer demo for $1200, normally $1999).

Before this I had been using a Wireworld Starlight 8 which I think was around $320. It seems that in my system, each one of these cables makes a fairly obvious contribution to the overall sound. Roughly on the same level as changing analog interconnects or AC cables. I can’t say that will always apply to every setup but for me the impact is clear enough.

It doesn’t end up correlating to cost either. I think the Vodka works best, then the Cardas, then maybe the expensive Diamond. Despite being outclassed, the Pangea is an enjoyable cable that I might choose over the Wireworld depending on my mood.

My journey is not finished, I plan to order some other options that I can’t find locally. So far I’m interested in models from Fidata, Curious Cables, Pink Faun, and maybe a JCAT. Will come back and update my thoughts when I can.

…..thank you catching that oversight and my error . 

…..thank you catching that oversight and my error . 

.... including the Cardas ethernet cable which for $300 was not bad but not in the same league as the Shunyata and this is in no way to say anything negative about the Cardas cable.

😉

.....I just purchased the Shunyata Omega Ethernet cable to go between my Accuphase DC / DP 1000 combination. I did listen to a few, including the Cardas ethernet cable which for $300 was not bad but not in the same league as the Cardas and this is in no way to say anything negative about the Cardas cable. I will comment here on when the cable comes in and I get it broken in. I didn't have a chance to listen to the DH Labs ethernet cable but just a note that DH Labs ethernet cable came up in several conversations as being very good.   

Another vote for DH Labs Reunion.

@carlsbad2

@tonywinga

+1 ….re: silver over copper…agreed gents!

@squared80

I have no doubt that you fail to generate an audio performance upgrade in YOUR system (emphasis added) with premium quality build Ethernet cable options …fine …carry on.
But you are patently dead wrong to engender that same misguided blanket bias as any gospel to the cohort of us with high-end resolution systems, who do enjoy that step-up in performance .that is not insignificant…full stop

@ghdprentice :+1

I agree with his posted experiences that the audio step-up improvements can be somewhat more subtle, than comparing comparatively crap and cheap build budget analogue and power cables to their premium build and step-up audio performance options,… but nevertheless, these Ethernet cable audio improvements are distinct.

Dude, just get some Cat6a from Monoprice. These folks recommending all these high priced snake oil ethernet cables are steering you wrong.

I just received my BJC Ethernet cable, running from my router to my Aurender N150. Someone on this thread (or another) stated Ethernet cables with metal on their connectors (per Aurender) could cause distortion. My old CAT 8 had metal. With the move to BJC, my N150 sounds noticeably cleaner. Thank you!

Hi soix...

I've had the Bacch Lab Plug-in download since last August.  Do a search for the plug-in.  I'm Windows based here in Maine.

Sadly, the price has been bumped up to a serious price for many now.  It was under $300 last summer, doable for many music lovers having more moderate systems.  I'm hoping popularity or competition will pull the price back to a more universal reach.

I'm running Windows 10 with the Foobar Music Player.  Mike, my skillful Music Computer Tech, onboards the technical stuff for me, remotely.  I'm age 78 (next week) and we collaborate nicely with finely tuned DSP, to a 100th of a decibel.  Mike has longtime, deep experience, enough to have earlier applied crosstalk removal with results similar to the BACCH.  He defined my interest in the BACCH as a "no-brainer" decision.  

Here in my small-dedicated sound studio, the BACCH experience has been revelatory.  As a highly impassioned music lover now having experience with the BACCH over many sweet-spot hours, I would not be without it.  I find more minimalist, purely miked recordings respond best, large to small, from Mahler to solo vocals and instruments.  I posted some early findings in our GoN Forum found in my history.  Purity of tone "timber" is my most vital chase in recreated sound, where the BACCH continues to impress most, followed closely by a larger, more holographic, yet natural stage, maintaining lovely center fill.    

I've read of complaints that busily produced studio albums can sound different.  Well, who really knows their intent?  I find them more interesting.  Last I saw, there is a two-week free-trial of the BACCH Plug-in.  With a computer and some Tech assistance, worth the time.      Best, Pin      

@pinthrift Interesting and thanks for sharing and just reinforces the other positive feedback on the value/performance of DH Labs cables.  BTW, how do you like the BAACH system?  Do you just use the Mac version?

Hey tubeguy80...

Experienced wire guy here...see posts.  For the last couple years, I've focused on a more professional room tuning plus adding the BACCH dsp, as my budget allowed.  I chose to delay upgrading my 20' run of pedestrian, decently made, Ethernet cable that runs from my modem to my PC source.  My long-time IT audio buddies, who lean much more objective than subjective, strongly advised "don't bother." 

Well, a couple months ago I DID bother, changing to a 3.0M run of DH Labs REUNION Silver Sonic Cat 8 Ethernet cable, $250 less the "frequent flyer" discount.  My low expectations were immediately startled, and yes, it got better in the next several days.  I think the magic is in the absolutely firm connectors, the most snug-fitting, purpose built, Ethernet plugs I've yet encountered.  My results are akin to a preamp upgrade.  For quality and safety assurances I buy from The Cable Company.  Disclaimer:  I've no professional affiliation, simply a very positive history.  

More Peace     Pin              (bold print for old eyes)

Some time back, over a year ago at least, I did not think an ethernet cable could make much of a difference.  Then I was reading about the skin effect, ie higher frequency signals ride on the surface of wires.  It is easily calculable so I looked at the skin effect of the frequencies used by the ethernet.  I don't remember the exact numbers now.  I would have to dig around in my notes but I recall that the signal travels very close to the surface of the wires.  The newer version of Pangea ethernet cables have Ag plated Cardas wire and they are, or were (maybe they still are) attractively priced- about 5x the price of a basic, cheap ethernet cable.  I figured silver would be a good conductor for the ethernet signal and solid silver wire was not needed.  So I bought a Pangea ethernet cable to try.  First result was the cable sounded worse than the stock $6 ethernet cable.  Hmm.  I let it break in for 24 hours but it still sounded bad.  Mainly the highs were worse- very edgy and unpleasant.  I was about to remove the Pangea cable but then I thought to turn it around.  Bam!  Now it sounded great.  It was much better than the stock ethernet cable.  Now the highs were better and clarity improved.  Too bad Pangea does not mark the direction on their cables.  I found it easy enough to hear the difference but it takes an extra step to get the cable oriented properly.  Since then I moved to AQ ethernet cables.  Better sound but not as cost efficient as the Pangea.  Those are a great upgrade for the price.

For what it’s worth the AQ Cinnamon has been out for a decade. I use them . 50% of my Blue Jeans were DOA but that experience is old…. like me

Others mentioned BJC. They are good. Cables are where Amazon’s return policy is helpful. I ended up keeping a .75m AQ Cinnamon. This seems a fledgling market with new products launching every month. When asking what “Ethernet cable people use” it’s important to mention length. In 2 years I’ll check out what’s new and audition the marketplace again. The cinnamon had the best bang for buck. I tried a couple shorter 18” SOTA cables and liked the sound of the AQ more. The BJC was very good. All the standard ones I tried sound harsh and brittle even through the midrange. Voice not as refined with all timbres perfect. It’s all going to depend on what the streamer is and what the modem or network switch is. How these components react to the cables you bring to the party is what will make this fun. Pick some great music and listen. I just did this all with the understanding that in a couple years this will be a different marketplace. Right now, I’ve got a very competent connector. 

This is a no-brainer.  Blue Jeans cable is the cable to buy.  If you read their website you will discover that BJC has tested Ethernet cables from other manufacturers and has found that very few cables make their spec. Cat 6 cables might be cat 4 or 5!  And so on.  BJC includes a test record of how your cable tested.  You will know you are getting what you are paying for.  

I use Belden 10GX CAT6A cables for my Pro-Ject Stream Box S2 Ultra and for my  router to my modem. They work very nicely for me. I jumped down the networking cable rabbit hole about a 5-7 years ago. I came up with these that can be purchase on eBay. Belden makes them in numerous predetermined length too. You can purchase them for like $9-30 with s/h each depending on the length. I’ll put a link here for you fellows. Cheers!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/166065872948

Much as I hate to get in the middle of a dreaded cable debate, I figured this one might be safe enough.  

First off I do hear musically significant differences between different Ethernet cables.  Second, as is typically the case with Hi-Fi, cost has no relation to performance.  Third, I also hear a difference in the direction of the cable so it is best to try both ways when listening.  Fourth, also as with other cables there seems to be a length that is the most musical, although longer cables can be used where necessary with not much loss in performance in this case.

As to the cables, Fredrik Lejonklou, whose equipment I import from Sweden and distribute in the USA and Canada, and I have found the most musical cables so far to be Blue Jeans Cable (BJC) CAT 6a in an 8.5 foot length.  These have musically outperformed other much more expensive cables I have tried from Audioquest and others and everything Fredrik has tried.  Many customers, dealers and forum members have tried the same cables and are similarly happy.  They are quite inexpensive and I highly recommend trying them.  You can just order them from their website and receive them with quick delivery.  

They make them in multiple colors.  Since some will already consider me crazy I might as well add that I have not found any sound difference between similar cables of different colors, but I have found that each cable sounds a little different.  So I tested four at Axpona last year with Fredrik and a friend.  We found two white cables to sound musically different and a purple one to be the best closely followed by a black one, both better than the best of the two whites.  I recently ordered another batch of various colors but haven't had a chance to listen to them yet.  After all why should it be easy?

Since not mentioned above I use Inakustik Referenz Ethernet loom.

Handmade in Germany.

(Inakustik Micro Air interconnects)

I can detect nothing added to the signal path.

LTA Preamp/Bryston Amp/Magnapan LRS+/REL Sub.

I order cables out of England as 50% less than US.

Ridiculous.

Excellent cables.

 They can't make a difference unless they're out of spec.

They do. 

jji666, I understand the "perfect data" transimission concepts, but have you listened to two or three Ethernet cables on a resolving system. 

Anything within spec. They can't make a difference unless they're out of spec.

I use (3) DHLabs Reunion CAT8 ethernet cables; from the router > Electric English 8Switch > EE1 network isolator > DAC. The DHLabs is doing the job, but I haven’t compared it to the other ethernet cables.

i'm very happy with wire world platinum either net, xlr, hdmi, rca. their orange either net is pretty darn good, too.  $100.00 dollar each Q-tips help  😁

As a general rule, I tend to purchase all things high end audio to the limits of my affordability, i.e, if I can afford the upgraded $1000 ethernet cable over the lesser $650 ethernet cable, I'll buy the $1000 ethernet cable.  I currently use Shunyata Sigma ethernet cables, which aren't cheap, but I preferred them over all the other cables I auditioned.  Of course, as always, system synergy is the everything.  Happy listening.               

I just purchased and installed the new, Shunyata Theta Ethernet cable and it is STUNNING beyond belief. I honestly didn't believe an ethernet cable would matter so much given I am already using a fiber optic network. But this one cable running from my EtherRegen A side to my Antipodes K41 server has contributed a substantial bump in SQ - a good 10% at least.  At $500 it purchase well above its weight. 

…..I would also need to see the cable have the Telegartner connection 

…….options for an Ethernet cable between a DAC and transport . No walls no rotor just between two pieces . Please recommend and thank you and hope that I didn’t hijack the thread . I have been looking for awhile and the pricing and construction are all over the place . It can get confusing as this is for my main system . Looking at Cardas Clear, Purist Audio …..Shunyata Omega ‘s …..just a few to mention.

DHLabs. Much better than BlueJeans and an Audioquest Cinnamon I tried out which was no better than the BLueJeans

My guess is the Ethernet cable matters more if you have a noisy environment/ router - I’m connected directly to a Cox Cable Panoramic router.

I liked DHLabs enough to also replace my Zavfino USB - also an improvement but not dramatically better

Melco C100 ethernet cable. It was a large step up from the Nordost Heimdall 2 ethernet, at 1/5th the price.

It uses a floating ground at one end, to drain noise away from the source component. So its directional and using it in the wrong direction is very audible.

I use an eno Streaming Cable from Network Acoustics between their eno Ethernet filter and my Roon Nucleus Rev B music server. 

For very little money, the Supra Cat 8 cable is a steal and a very very good cord.....I recently purchased an Audioquest Vodka ethernet cable on sale at Axpona, and there is a difference.....but not as big as I thought. Suspecting it may need more break in time

I use Furutech Lan-8 NCF. Incredible value. I have a lot of different (much more expensive) cables from this manufacturer, and I've heard it's often a good idea to follow what you already have in the system. For example, the top Transparent LAN may not be the best choice if you don't have other Transparent cables to match. 

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. Interesting that some people claim very small changes (as in, Ethernet should be the last upgrade in the chain) while others seem to find it more substantial. 

I'll read up on some of the options presented and see what catches my eye.

Wireworld Platinum or Starlight red. Amazing build, reasonable price and until I tried them I wasn’t a believer that an Ethernet cable could impact sound but these do and it’s not subtle, smooth, detailed, and noticeable. Good luck in your search.

Look at my LHY SW-10 ethernet switch, it will show you better how I can feed the optical isolation bundle into it and the feeding comes out cleaned up into an ethernet output. It may seem complicated at first, but really isn't.

It is not a toslink connection, it is simply a way to get rid of interference caused by the metal elements of ethernet cables before it reaches the ethernet switch. The connection from my streamer to dac is still usb.

Oh. Ok...Is the FO considered Toslink? I ask because I heard that Toslink can't handle 192kHz well so it's lowers it to 96kHz. 

@vinylshadow 

The optical bundle I use is from Small green computers and it is located between my wifi extender and ethernet switch.

@baylinor I didn't see a fiber optic option for the Triode Wire Labs Freedom Ethernet cable..... Doesn't fiber optic(Toslink) limit the signal to 96kHz?

I have Triode's High Power Digital American II Power cable. Very well made. 

Spent hundreds on 6 foot a Synergistic Atmosphere Ethernet cable. One of my mistakes over the years. At the recommendation of a cable designer/retailer I respect I purchased a Blue Jeans CAT 6 for $12 and improved SQ. Aurender Customer Service indicated to me to avoid Ethernet cables with metal connector  housings.  They stated they have found metal connector housings may create distortion.  The Synergistic has a metal and plastic connector housing.  The Blue Jeans all plastic.  I am only sharing what they stated in their email exchange. Anyone want the Synergistic on the cheep?😀.  No, I would not really do that.  Recommendation, go with Blue Jeans and buy high resolution content with what you save. 

Home made Cat6e for everything hard wired to my router and switch.

Purist Audio 🐈‍⬛ 7 into Aurender N200. Nothing fancy. Sounds great.

Tried: generic, Supra, Supra Telegartner, Network Acoustics Eno Streaming System, Amazon Linkup. My favorite is Purist.

My thoughts - Ethernet cables make a difference. But they are in the last place after components, room acoustics, clean power, speaker cables, interconnects, power cables, digital cables. 

I am using Blue Jeans ethernet cables just wanted to give something better than basic computer cables a try. At $17 each they were cheap and gave a nice improvement in the area of system clarity.