Supra Cat 8 Ethernet cable

The only thing you can do with fancy ethernet cables is cause problems. This is packet based communication...they do not have a tone or a sound.  They might theoretically cause (and thus another cable could solve) grounding issues. 

I have been running in my Supra 8 ethernet cable by playing my node2i overnight (with my amps off) for the past few days. Having done this, I did an A/B testing with my stock node 2i cat 5e ethernet cables.  The Supra was  much more detailed  with better bass tightness and thump. But it was still much edgy and brighter compared to the stock cable.  Some songs sounded harsh. The stock  ethernet cable while not as  detailed or with defined bass production like the Supra, was more musical, warm and involving to listen to. Non fatiguing at all.  I tend to immerse with the music laid back with the stock ethernet cable,  rather than being on the edge of my seat with the Supra, absorbing the details along with the brightness.

I have been reading about the Supras. Some say its better at the back end as in wall socket to router rather than  front end such as router to streamer.  Has that worked for anyone? My other step in experimentation is to get a Blue Jeans cat 5e or 6 ethernet cable .  If the Blue Jeans (BJC) doesnt work then I will stop the ethernet experimentation and just rely on my stock ethernet cable. Anyone has experiences with the BJC? Appreciate your thoughts.

@ram18 can you describe your set up feeding the streamer? Router, access points, switches etc.

Also, do you use Roon, your streaming service(s), how do you stream…Spotify or Tidal connect, Bluetooth, airplay or bluesound app and whether or not you have any DSP or upsampling enabled anywhere in the chain (Roon or Bluesound).

@audphile1  My supra ethernet is connected from my bluesound node 2i to a router switch which also has my TV lan and internet connections. The internet cable  comes from the wall to the router. The router  power socket is connected to a power strip and the power strip to my wall socket.  I dont have Roon or DSP. I stream via my bluesound. I stream from Tidal via my bluesound app on my phone. 

@ram18 ok. If the router/switch has a ground screw, try grounding it. It may or may not be an audible improvement but definitely worth a shot and will cost you far less than buying and trying more cables. Free advice, take it for what it’s worth. 

The Supra Cat8 cable saw various components come and go in my system but it was never a culprit of any problem. It was a notable upgrade in sound vs the standard yellow Ethernet cable.
IMO, you have 2 suspects when it comes to isolating the source of potential harshness in sound…your XTZ amplifier, which is a budget Class D amp, and your Klipsch speakers. Some Class D amps with an exception of a few in the thousands of $ price category (i.e Bel Canto Class D ref monos) can be a bit hot sounding in the treble although I admit I never heard XTZ, it is just a suspicion. Couple that with Klipsch and you may end up with the sound you’re describing. It’s possible that adding the Supra Cat8 had simply exposed some weak links in the chain.

Like I said earlier, don’t get hung up on cables at this level. Especially Ethernet.

If you like your klipsch speakers and want to keep them, a good solid state Class A/B or even a tube amp may be your ticket. There are many choices out there especially on a used market that will not break the bank. Anyway…just my thoughts.