Most Important, Unloved Cable...


Ethernet. I used to say the power cord was the most unloved, but important cable. Now, I update that assessment to the Ethernet cable. Review work forthcoming. 

I can't wait to invite my newer friend who is an engineer who was involved with the construction of Fermilab, the National Accelerator Lab, to hear this! Previously he was an overt mocker; no longer. He decided to try comparing cables and had his mind changed. That's not uncommon, as many of you former skeptics know. :)

I had my biggest doubts about the Ethernet cable. But, I was wrong - SO wrong! I'm so happy I made the decision years ago that I would try things rather than simply flip a coin mentally and decide without experience. It has made all the difference in quality of systems and my enjoyment of them. Reminder; I settled the matter of efficacy of cables years before becoming a reviewer and with my own money, so my enthusiasm for them does not spring from reviewing. Reviewing has allowed me to more fully explore their potential.  

I find fascinating the cognitive dissonance that exists between the skeptical mind in regard to cables and the real world results which can be obtained with them. I'm still shaking my head at this result... profoundly unexpected results way beyond expectation. Anyone who would need an ABX for this should exit the hobby and take up gun shooting, because your hearing would be for crap.  
douglas_schroeder
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Whoa! Chill out! What we have here is really just an excellent example of an appeal to authority. You know, an illogical argument. "I know how networked audio works (therefore you should believe my test and my conclusion that there can be no difference among Ethernet cables)." 

The problem for jujitsu is all the evidence from folks who have actually heard the differences among Ethernet cables. We are familiar with the refrain, "my test showed no differences and I’m an expert in such and such, therefore my results must be right!"

Exhibit A, these 3 random reports gleaned from cyberspace,

1. With my set-up of a Aurender N10 and Bricasti M1 I originally had from the router to the Aurender used a Cat 5e that my home was wired with and it was OK when I did only Sonos connect. But when I moved up to the Aurender and Bricasti it was not so moved to AQ vodka - Nordost at the time did not come out with there network cables yet so I went with AQ (also the diamond AQ is beyond ridiculous in $$’s). That was good until I got a demo with the new Nordost Heimdall 2 network cable that blew them all away. Bass was much better and controlled and the stream just generally sounded better overall. I would certainly say that the network cable does make a difference. I know many will say it does not but I know what I heard and smile.

2. I use Supra cat 8. To my ears it ’sounds’ infinitely better than plain vanilla Ethernet cable of any cat, and much better than an Audioquest Cinnamon I had been using. And it’s only $47 for a 1.0 m. run. Clean, clear, lots of ’air.’

3. So I purchased a couple of Surpa Cat 8 Ethernet cables. Used them to replace the generic Cat 8 and Cat 7 I was using. To my surprise, I heard an immediate difference. I was shocked. But it was evident. Clarity. sharpness in vocals. better resolution. tighter bottom. Although they might have been a bit bright. Not sure yet. I can’t figure it out. I wish I didn’t hear it. It’s doubtful I’ll go out and start listening to other Ethernet cables, but at $47 the Supra seemed to be a good investment. I won’t be returning them.

I heard an immediate difference. I was shocked. But it was evident. Clarity. sharpness in vocals. better resolution. tighter bottom. Although they might have been a bit bright. Not sure yet. I can’t figure it out. I wish I didn’t hear it. It’s doubtful I’ll go out and start listening to other Ethernet cables, but at $47 the Supra seemed to be a good investment. I won’t be returning them.

Great. Then you’ll be able to do this blinded. I had the Nordost Heimdall II 1 meter cable vs 98 meters of generic CAT 5 in a few setups. No one, when blinded, could tell the difference.

Again: What changes about the sound when the cable is removed but the music still plays?

Geoff chastises for "appealing to authority" and then he immediately turns around and "appeals" the the "authority" of three, random, unidentified cable reviewers.  Who, since they said the cable made a huge difference, it must therefore be true.  Baloney.

"Appeals to authority are not valid arguments, but nor is it reasonable to disregard the claims of experts who have a demonstrated depth of knowledge unless one has a similar level of understanding and/or access to empirical evidence."  Which Geoff does not.

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