CAT 8 is backwards compatible. In my system fiber is the bee's knees. Just goes to show YMMV and all things are not equal. I have fiber and CAT 8 from the On Q box through our entire home. Best streaming ever, now I also have a awesome digital system also. No fancy switches other than fiber.
Sometimes more is not better -or- Ethernet Overkill
I recently replaced my 30' Cat 6 cable with a pair of TP Link fiber converters, ended with a Cat 8 cable to my streamer. This was a good upgrade for sure, however I started to notice haze and grain in vocals after I installed a new digital cable between my streamer and DAC. The digital cable was an improvement in resolution, which probably made the problem more obvious, but not yet critical. I recently replaced the Cat 6 links between router/modem and router/FMC with a pair of Cat 8 cables. Everything took another slight step down.
I then replaced all three of the Cat 8 links with the original Cat 6, and my system is back to exceptional clarity.
Some relevant details on cabling, all the Cat 6 is tested Blue Jeans cable. The Cat 8 from the FMC to the streamer was a Linkup (https://www.amazon.com/LINKUP-Ethernet-Screened-2000Mhz-Structure/dp/B07VVFB8VX?th=1), the other two Cat 8's used on the router end were low cost (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08PL1P53C?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details).
Yes, it could be the quality of the cable, though the LinkUp cable is no slouch. However, I also think that it could have to do with the extra shielding on Cat 8, and the connection that shield makes between the devices. Could this be acting as a channel for noise into the router and FMC's?
Anyway, thought it worth sharing. Try swapping out those Cat 8's for some quality Cat 6 and see if you hear a difference.
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No issues here either with CAT 8 from Amazon (Zosion). I have the ability to use either fiber and converters or CAT 8 over 45 feet from my router to my system. Whichever I use goes into dual Bonn switches then the NA muon system into my server. The sonic difference between using the fiber and CAT 8 to deliver the signal into the Bonn switch is subtle or indistinguishable, to the point of being imagined. I do use LPS on everything - modem, router, all switches, and the converters. Interestingly, Rich Truss of Network Acoustics commented about the use of fiber media converters in this thread:
My experiences in my system have not shown what I would consider easily identifiable or repeatable sonic differences between this digital wiring stuff including Ethernet cables, fiber vs. Ethernet, switches, or even the Denafrips Hermes DDC I have used. This stuff has been largely indistinguishable to the point of being imagined. Based on my experiences, I suspect differences in this stuff that are actually heard (and not imagined) are likely a result of the quality of the digital implementation/termination into the specific streamer/server being used.
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@erik_squires Good point on the power supplies. I have a LPS on the streamer and the far end FMC. No guarantee that the LPS is not creating noise as well, but is probably better than the supplied SMPS's. I have concluded, unscientifically, that the issue is the Cat 8 shield connecting the devices on both ends via the metal jacketed plug, and introducing noise that messes with my router, FMC's and ultimately my streamer. I don't think there is anything wrong with these cables, they are functioning as designed, but the connected equipment is not able to deal with it. @rbstehno That said, maybe I will pursue some finer Cat 6 cables if they exist. Keeping the fiber, as it is a great upgrade, just swapping out to Cat 6. If you have a little grunge on your upper end, I think it is worth a try and see if this cleans it up.
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