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Top Audiophile Ethernet Cables - any comparisons?

I just set up my new streamer with which I stream music from my mac mini to my dac. I use a dedicated network switch which connects the streamer and mac mini directly without going through the rest of my LAN.
I exchanged a standard CAT 7 cable on one leg of the connection with Audioquest's Forest Ethernet cable. There was a small but clearly audible improvement. From the reviews on the Web I conclude that the top cable by Audioquest (Diamond) would give the biggest improvement of all Audioquest Ethernet cables. 

Now my question: Has anyone compared the Audioquest Diamond with any other top cable by another manufacturer, e.g. Purist Audio, Cardas, Chord, ...? I live in Switzerland and have no dealer who can give me several of those cables to try. Thus, before spending a lot of money, I'd like to hear any opinions.

Thanks a lot for any replies!

By the way, I use a network switch that was modified for audiophile purposes (AQVOX). The difference to an off-the-shelf switch is tremendous!
belcantor
jinjuku's avatar
jinjuku
226 posts
 
Laptop as server <> Cisco SG 200-8<> Cary Audio DMS 500 <> RME UFX <> AKG 701 HP

Laptop as server <> Cisco SG 200-8<> Cary Audio DMS 500 <> RME UFX <> USB to PC for recording of tracks. 

Swapped out the cable between tracks. 

Computer (as server) with Intel Dual Port GBe NIC<>Cisco SG-200<>Computer as client with Intel Dual Port GBe NIC/JRiver<> Emotiva Stealth DC-1 <> AKG 701 HP

Swapped out the cable while PLAYING tracks. No one could tell when the cable was swapped even though the music was never interrupted (continued playing even with the Ethernet cable disconnected). 






belcantor OP
4 posts
 
@jinjuku,

thanks for the details! So far I could only compare Audioquest's Forest Ethernet cable with a standard Cat7 cable. There was a clear difference. But I will do a blind test when my girlfriend is back and report.

System with which the test was done: mac mini with a Mojo external power supply, ayon NW-T network streamer, AQVOX switch between the two, ayon  CD-35 as a dac, Einstein power amp (Light in the Dark), Einstein The Preamp, Verity Sarastro II and a bunch of cables.

I think that especially if you do not use a high-grade (external) linear power supply for the computer (as server) you already get so much noise in the signal path from the computer's internal switched PSU that exchanging cables does not make a difference. When I switched the internal PSU of my mac mini with the external Mojo PSU I got a huge leap in sound quality.
jinjuku's avatar
jinjuku
226 posts
 
And the Cary Audio DMS-500?
belcantor OP
4 posts
 
> And the Cary Audio DMS-500?
When I get you right you use a computer as a file server in all set-ups, or am I wrong? So unless you use a linear PSU with the computer you get noise right from the beginning (affecting jitter). And the switched PSU we use in our computers generate a lot of hifreq noise.

The laptops are different if you ran them on battery only. That should be much better. But from what I heard, a very good linear PSU generates less noise than a battery. However, here I am just repeating what others say, I have no experience by myself. 
jinjuku's avatar
jinjuku
226 posts
 
I used a silence only 0dBfs wav file played back through and captured with the RME UFX. 

I then in both Reaper and ARTA did some analysis and there is no mains induced noise or it's spurs. 
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