Audio Grade Ethernet Cable

@ghdprentice Yes, I understand

@tomrk 

I completely agree. Stock CATx is suitable and optimal as long as is made correctly.  Boutique shops cannot do it but industrial sources can.  I suggested BlueJeans for preterminated cables because they identify their sources.

I wonder if having an integrated streamer/DAC would help avoid some of the noise issues?  Particularly if the unit is built with good shielding.  I did query the good people at Electrocompanient about this issue and they felt that a well shielded integrated unit, such as theirs, was somewhat protected from extraneous RFI.

You would think, but, in general, all things equal, no,  high quality separates are better. By putting too much circuitry inside a single box, internal noise becomes a problem. So, for instance Aurender's new flagship the N50 is a three box solution... streamer only. And for instance Audio Research's best preamp is a two box Preamp.

Agree in general with the above.  But here is the cynical side to my thinking, take it with a grain of salt.

If I was a principal of an audio manufacturing company, I would be keenly aware and give hard thought to the fact that for every part added to a product will bring a huge increase in price/profit.

For example, if it cost $1,000 to build a component (all in cost including parts, labor, depreciation, taxes, etc.) assume I could sell it for $10,000. 

If I took the same product and added a new case and associated parts to separate the power supply for an additional cost of $500, I could sell the product for $15,000.

Heck, if I just added some better quality more expensive parts that I knew would not improve the sound quality of the component but know are the "darlings" of the audiophile world I would increase the component cost accordingly.  

There is perhaps no better way to increase profitability.