ETHERNET CABLES

@12many Thanks for being so cordial and accepting of another opinion. If only all differing opinions could be this way. Listen, how about you and I do something of a challenge? I’m gonna buy a generic Ethernet cable and compare it to my Wireworld Starlight 8. How about you do a trial for, let’s say, any $200+ Ethernet cable (Wireworld Starlight 8 would be optimal, heh heh) that you can either audition or return for free and let’s compare notes. Sound cool? All I ask is let’s both be totally open, honest, and objective to what we hear (and yeah, I know it’s one sample and a ton of variables so it ain’t exactly scientific — I get it). But @12many you seem like at least open to it and have at least a somewhat open mind, so I think it’s be super interesting to do this and compare notes. What do you say? Could be fun and interesting, no? We could even swap cables cause they’re so damn cheap to ship and compare notes on similar cables. Personally, I’d love to hear the honest opinions of two guys who come at this from two different perspectives. Nothing could be more valuable to me as a discerning audiophile cause when both sides agree I think we have something. Anyway, just a wacky idea that might be fun here. Or not. Lemme know what u think.

@soix let us know your thoughts about wireworld starlight 8

@audphile1 +1 on this thread going south, too bad, I felt I was learning as much as the original poster 

I like silver plated for digital. Lots of choices. The "CaT" numbers don’t mean much for audio. AQ cinnamon or similar works for me.

PS  You have to be careful dealing with traditional network professionals.  they deal with different measures of success than audiophiles do.

@soix  I have tried “audiophile” Ethernet cables, I have tried UpTone’s Etherregen, and I have not heard any difference. Normally for my system I have Cat6A in the wall, and Cat6A from the wall to my NAD M50.2, but due to a renovation project, I am actually using wireless right now. 
 

the point here is that there is no theoretical possible improvement, there is no measurable improvement, and yet some people hear a difference, but others doesn’t. To me, this then clearly lies with listener, not the cable or switch. And if people want to spend thousands on dollars on Ethernet “improvement”, that’s up to them, it is a hobby, do what you like and makes you happy, but don’t argue that it is a night and day difference for everyone, reduces noise, and that it cleans up the stream from Qobuz or some other platform, because it doesn’t.

ethernet cables are unlike any other cable, digital or otherwise, in your system.