I went the route of using Sonore Opticla Rendu for the last leg. Keep the internet noise out of the Audio cabinet
Questions about Ethernet Cabling
PLEASE READ: This is not a thread about the merits or demerits of audiophile-grade ethernet cables, or any cable for that matter. If you don’t believe in spending extra on expensive cables, I respect your opinion but please don’t turn this into a point of contention.
So before I ask my questions, let me describe how internet connectivity is setup in my house:
- [Home office/study] The modem (AT&T), router (Google Nest/Mesh), and switch ($25 TP-link basic switch) are located in the home office/study. I also have a second system in this room as well as other stuff connected through the switch. In other words, I can’t move the switch to another room.
- [Media room] The main audio system is located in the media room which is in the diagonally opposite side of the house (single story). This room has the ENO ethernet filter connected to the Innuous Zenith MK3 streamer, and so on.
[Long ethernet cable] A very long run of ethernet cable (CAT 6/over 100 foot) runs from the [Home office/study] router and terminates into the [Media room] ethernet jack/wall plate. This was done by the builder and it runs through the attic.
- [Media room] From the [Media room] ethernet wall plate, I then use another 6 foot ethernet cable (also CAT 6) that goes into an ENO filter and then on to the Innuos Zenith MK3 streamer.
So here are my questions:
1. Is it worth upgrading only the so-called last-mile ethernet cable, i.e. the one between the [Media room] ethernet wall plate and Eno filter while I continue using the long CAT 6 cable [Study >> Media room]? It is going to be difficult, if not impossible, to replace the long-run CAT 6 cable as it goes through the attic where several spots are not reachable without tearing down some sheetrock.
2. Is it worth adding a second audiophile-grade switch (e.g. uptone) in the media room while leaving the one in the study as is? Or is it better to upgrade the switch in the study first and place the cheaper switch in the media room? Or do I need to replace both switches (not prefered as it adds to the cost)?
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@grannyring Thanks for chiming in. It was actually your thread on Eno and Zenith that motivated me to purchase both recently. I do have a couple of questions if you don't mind ... 1. Do you leave the Zenith on all the time (talking about the front switch) or do you switch it off when not in use? I don't know if it makes a difference either way. 2. Is there a way to make Zenith the Roon core, but still easily switch back and forth between Sense and Roon? I know you can switch back and forth when using Zenith as a Roon endpoint, but not sure if the same is true when using it as Roon core server. Thanks
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@antigrunge2 I was looking at another Innuos product called PhoenixNET. It seems to be an audiophile-grade network switch with a nice power supply and a clock that's a trickle down from their top of the line Statement server. Not sure if you've heard anything about it. It seems to be quite expensive for what it is, but when you consider the alternative, it doesn't seem to be all that bad. If you get the etherregen + LPS + clock + LPS for clock, it starts getting quite pricey as well. And you have to deal with all the boxes and cabling. Not sure if anyone had a chance to try it yet. |
If you want a good switch that does not cost a lot may I recommend the Cisco 2960? Bought used on eBay these are around £50 in the uk ($65). Audio switches are expensive due to short production runs. Despite these Cisco switches being manufactured in the hundreds of thousands, still new these cost many hundred dollars as they are built so well. And the resulting sound, in my experience, is so much better than the cheap Netgear type switches, and up there with the one audio switch I have tried (SoTM). It also has an optical input so you can experiment with optical. I actually run an optical cable from the Cisco to the Ethergen, and it sounds incredible. |
I was able to run fiber alongside CAT6 from my Google fiber entry switch to my audio room. I have an Ethergen at the system room which can take either a fiber or CAT input. This allows me to move between fiber and CAT very simply. At first I didn't hear a difference between the two, but having made an amp switch to ARC 160Ms I can now clearly hear a difference. Choice in SQ is a personal choice, but the difference is clearly audible with my current components. I prefer fiber to the Etheregen, to a Sablon 2020 ethernet cable, to a Vivaldi Upsampler. Things are sounding very good with this configuration. |
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