Ethernet and USB cables

I just went from a cat 5 cable to a cat 6 to a cat 8 over a two week period, 15% faster speeds on average both directions and STOPPED a slight buffering issue I was having when traffic was high.. OR the SUN was having a fit.. :-)

It would produce sibilance, it drove me NUTS..

Then I really listen after 3 weeks of breaking in and settling..
A 14.00 cable, I kid you not.. 14.00 dollar cat 8 from Amazon, it's a ribbon (flat), vs my 220.00 dollar Cat 6 humpty dumpty cable.. Teflon this and silver that... 14.00 dollar cable from Amazon tore it UP. Hocus Pocus, Bofus? It was magic. The 1 and 0s are in perfect order...

I'm gonna do the whole house in Cat 8, ribbon. I'm impressed.

I got a brand new laptop just for the new setup we'll see. 17.3 flip back with a hot rod sound card, faster CPUs and Dual SSDs RAID for speed ONLY.. Music ONLY, Speed Only, speed only, speed,     only.  puff! :-)
Machines on drugs.. LOL

Now for a new DAC

http://www.thebestamp.com/DA_Converters_USB-DACs/DA-512DSD-2.php

I'm DONE.. LOL, Time for a SA meeting. Stereo's Anonymous

Maybe a 

http://www.thebestamp.com/Tube_Buffers/TEQ-100.php

For the RtR, I promise I'll quit, just this one last time.. :-) The flame get hotter.  

BUT BUT It's a retirement present from, from, from, Someone!!!!

I'm glad God, the rabbit and the dog loves me, because the wife sure isn't.. LOL

Regards

I’m not a cable guy, but I do try to go a few steps up the ladder from standard computer peripherals.  I think most of the improvements in cables come from those first few steps and then you are into diminishing returns.  Personally I don’t hear a difference in Ethernet from CAT 5 to CAT 7, but I do hear a slight improvement with usb cables.  I like the Pangea line from Audio Advisor 

With CAT8 each conductor is individually shielded. Lower noise, protection from RFI/EMI. 

Regarding Ethernet (presumably to a server or streamer), there are several choices to make,https://www.thecableco.com/cables/usb-cable/galileo-sx-usb.html

• should you use a CAT cable or fiber optic cable
• which CAT cable to use (i.e., 5e, 6, 7, or 8), 
• will a CAT cable that is advertised as being intended for audio systems provide improved performance in some way over a generic CAT cable with the same designation, and then
• if you believe the above, which "audiophile" CAT cable will you purchase

I suggest first reading about the specific differences between CAT cables from sources like this one, or this one.  For transmitting data in a residential setting, virtually any commonly used CAT cable should do the job relative to bandwidth, data rate, and speed, so the differences in their abilities to reject EMI/RFI and crosstalk may be more pertinent features to look at.  You may also want to look at opinions discussing why audio-specific cables may offer improvements over more generic cables, like here or here.

Regarding USB cables, Belkin Gold is one of the best-regarded of the inexpensive OTS options, and many don't see the need to pay for more.  OTOH, many audiophiles report hearing differences between USB cables.  Supra makes a relatively inexpensive USB cable intended for audio that has been favorably reviewed, and prices go up from there with audiophile USB cables ranging in price from several hundred to several thousand dollars.  You may want to search articles discussing USB cable comparisons (like this one) to help you decide where you want to land on the spectrum.

Everybody hears this stuff differently in their own systems and with their own ears.  I settled on a relatively good quality OTS CAT 8 Ethernet cable for my 45-foot run but then switched to fiber, resulting in only a small (negligible?) perceived improvement in sound.  I do seem to perceive differences in USB cables but happily settled on TWL's $330 “Split Power & Data” USB Cable, after trying several.  However, to my ears, none of them changed the basic sonic signature of my system.