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
You guys gonna have any fancy high dollar ethernet cables on the list for the challenge? Or how about a cheaper Supra cat 8?
Well t_ramey, why don't you send one out to me. As far as I know, we are comparing the Blue Jeans 6A to my home terminated Western Electric 6A, which I like slightly better, even if it did cost me 10X+. 

Jinjuku thinks all similar capacity cables sound the same by a sort of definition of how Ethernet works. 
While I can accommodate any number of cables (actually up to 7) with my switch (I also have 48 port switches with L3) by expanding the LAG group to additional ports I would like to not open this up to a bunch of cables unless wgutz feels that it won’t be a detriment to bias controlled evaluation.

I'm also going to bring some bulk cable and can terminate it on the spot.
Right. T Ramey just wants to throw in the Supra 8, But I do agree that is a "post" evaluation listening. I would like to have a 5 meter Audioquest Vodka to try as I believe this cable is a good representation of the quality of better cables.  But certainly 4 or 5 would be the max as at least I am not doing this as a critical evaluation as much as a personal learning experience. Bill
Are you using a purpose built streamer or a computer / DAC combination?

If it's a streamer what is it?