2. cables
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Value of a premium Ethernet cable

In my current setup, digital music from a Roon ROCK NUC server travels through an Uptone Audio EtherRegen and a short link of fiber, thence to a long stretch of ordinary contractor-grade Cat 5a cable, and finally to a dCS Bartók streaming DAC.

 

At substantial effort and expense, I could rearrange things so the final length of Ethernet would be replaced by a single run of something like an Audioquest Vodka Ethernet cable. I'm wondering if anyone has experience of whether this is worth the trouble and expense. Well mostly the expense; the "trouble" is the hobby part of it.

john_g
antigrunge2
1,331 posts
 

This:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003924584091.html

Perfext from Etherregen to server

gdnrbob
4,411 posts
 

I would look on HifiShark to find some bulk AQ cable. You never know if you'll get lucky unless you try.

I scored a partial roll of Carbon at a great price. It goes from the Verizon box to the router, and then to the streamer.

B

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
4,254 posts
 

+2 on the LinkUp cable recommendation. I wouldn’t hesitate to run it from the router to switch, with the short run after the switch using a better cable or even LinkUp into streamer. Should be an improvement over the cheap cable.
Add Purist Audio Design CAT7 to the list as well for the short run into streamer.

I use and like the Network Acoustics Eno streaming system (passive filter and cable). It made a nice improvement in my system. 

Buy with a solid return policy though. If you don’t hear any improvement (unlikely) or don’t like the change in sound, you should be able to return. 

jerrybj
846 posts
 

Consider changing the long run of ethernet cable to fibre from the Etheregen.

antigrunge2
1,331 posts
 

I’d suggest putting the Etherregen as close as you can to the server. Keeping the clean side cable as short as poss. really matters. If anything, use fibre for a long link between router and Etherregen

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