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.
OP: Interesting, then maybe what you need is one of these:
I do use them, both for noise but also lightning protection. I have about 50' of Ethernet between my router and my entire HT stack, so lightning could take out quite a bit. It's not a "surge" protector but recently I've been reading case studies on surges inside a home and isolation is preferred to surge protection once inside. |
@erik_squires Good suggestion, I will look into it.
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@mitch2 I'm surprised you found no improvement with the Hermes. When I installed an Iris to use the i2S connection to my DAC the improvement was significant and immediately noticeable, and the Hermes should be even better. What connection/cable did you use out of the Hermes and what DAC are you using? Just curious given my very different experience. |
@soix - Streamer/server is the Mojo Audio DejaVu similar to this one, except mine has the JCAT NET Card XE. The DAC is a Mojo Audio Mystique X. I also still have Mojo's Mystique Pro DAC which, IMO, is in the same ballpark as the X, while offering a different presentation. I was using Network Acoustic's USB cable into the Hermes and Triode Wire Labs' AES/EBU cable from the Hermes into the DAC. Denafrips suggested I try a BNC connection and although I have not done that yet, I will try it before I decide to sell the Hermes. |
