2. digital
  3. 125438-2935

Is an I2S cable a Cat 5, 6 or 7 Ethernet cable, or are they two different beasts?

This may be a silly question, I don't know.  If they're the same, why do they use the term I2S instead of Ethernet?  If they're different, what's the difference? 

I'm talking about using it between my NAS --> router --> Lumin Network Music Player. 

Thanks!
illuminator
Post removed 
ahendler
416 posts
 
I2S is not a cable. It is a digital transmission method. If you have J45 connectors then it will use any ethernet cable. It can also be transmitted using HDMI connectors with HDMI cable.It is a very good sounding connection from a streamer to a dac
Alan
ahendler
416 posts
 
By the whey wikapedia has a very good explanation of the I2S protocall
Alan
Post removed 
illuminator OP
59 posts
 
Alan,

So I2S has nothing to do with a specific cable.  It's a defined transmission protocol that a DAC may be designed to use as one of its inputs, laying out what internally wired pins are used.

Given that, then some cables with J45 connectors that are labeled as I2S, like the Stealth, may or may not have only the internal wires that the I2S specifically needs.  This would make them not usable as a standard Ethernet cable.

Does this sound correct and why a cable manufacturer would specify that it's an I2S cable?

Thanks!


More to discover