USB to Dual Coax Bridge for Qutest DAC

@txp1 Thanks for sharing your story.  I am very interested in the SQ improvement you realized from upgrading your ethernet cable.

My set up uses wifi to send the signal to a ASUS mesh system.  I am unable to run an ethernet cable from my router to my generic ethernet switch.  My download speed is consistently 180 Mbs, so it's been working for a year without any dropouts.
 

From the switch, I'm using a 1M plain vanilla ethernet cable to my Innuos Zenith mk3 streamer, a .75 M Curious Cable Evolved USB cable to my Innuos Phoenix USB reclocker, and then a 2 M Audience Studio One USB to the Bricasti M3 DAC.

Everything sounds superb, but I am wondering if I swap out the 1 M generic ethernet cable for something more exotic, can I squeeze an improvement in SQ worthy of the added investment for a new cable.

I'm guessing the answer is, "try it and see for yourself."  In either case, which ethernet cable would you recommend?

Thanks.

@drlou77 I run EERO mesh. I clearly hear differences between Ethernet cables connecting the access point to my streamer. I don’t use a switch. 
My approach is to use a decent Ethernet cable (currently using Purist Audio) and worry about components and speakers first. When I’m sitting here scratching my head about future upgrades to components, speakers and cables, and there’s nowhere to go in that space, I’d play with audiophile switches. 
 

In the post above by @txp1 , I respect his choices but we can debate what would be a bigger ROI, Qutest being a centerpiece with all the attachments to it, or having a clean DAC only approach with Chord DAVE, Tambaqui Mola Mola or some other high end DAC without all the accessories and clutter around the Qutest. 
As i said I respect choices made by others, but my approach is components first, accessories later. Right, wrong or different, that’s how I tackle it. 

@drlou77  I have a Netgear Orbi mesh system. It utilizes a main router which is connected to my cable modem in a different room which holds a separate home theater system. The main router feeds a satellite router using a 866 Mbps wireless signal. The satellite router provides Internet connection to my Aurender N150 streamer. I consistently get 275 Mbps download speeds throughout the entire house. 

My Ethernet cable upgrade saga began with a frequently recommended Generic Cat, 8 cable from Amazon as I wasn’t really a believer that an Ethernet cable could make a difference. I thought the treble improved but later learned this was likely noise that is frequently mistaken for improved high frequency response. So I bought AQ Cinnamon Ethernet cables. I started with the cable modem to main router and in the HT system another to the Apple TV 4K set-top box and another from the HT receiver to the TV.  The difference was noticeable on video so I bought them for the audio system as well. I immediately heard less high frequency hash and as they burned in I could hear more natural sound.

MScaler to the Qutest brought refinement and later the Denali brought more noise reduction which resulted in more cable purchases. This time because I have all Shunyata power cables, I decided to go big and bought Shunyata Alpha v2 Ethernet cables. Same order as the last time in separate purchases except that I bought a Shunyata Alpha USB cable with the streamer feed Ethernet cable.  These much better cables provided improved imaging, soundstage depth and tonal accuracy. The imaging improvement is incredible! 

I don’t know your equipment or cables but I would recommend a better Ethernet cable on your streamer. Use a retailer with a long (e.g., 60 day) evaluation period because all digital cables require burn-in IMO.  I’ve experienced digital cable burn-in many times now and the cables that aren’t pre-sale burned-in by the manufacturer tend to sound extremely closed-in or even harsh sometimes.

Happy journey!

@audphile1 I agree with you. But I consider the MScaler to be a component rather than an add-on. I’ve communicated with several Dave and TT2 owners who also have an MScaler. The Qutest and MScaler together and their cables require only one shelf in my audio rack. Same as a Bricasti M3 or Mola Mola or Rockna or most other high-end DACs. My goal is to buy a Dave when the “new Dave” is released. Hopefully the old Dave will go on sale!

if I didn’t have a DAC and was building a nice high-end digital streaming system I too would probably choose a Bricasti M3 over purchasing both a Chord Qutest and a Chord MScaler. But when you already own a Qutest for two years and like it, the MScaler brings it to a much higher level of performance. There’s really no comparison.

And the Qutest-MScaler combination pairs well with my all tube amplification. System synergy strikes again.

P.S. For future readers. Both the Qutest and the MScaler require a significant amount of burn-in. Don’t judge them too early in your evaluation regardless whether purchased individually or together.  And leave them powered up 24x7. 

@drlou77   Did you ever purchase an AudioWise SRC-DX?