So do Ethernet cables have their own sound?
the-ear.net
the-ear.net
"Beats me why music files differ, but they do! The only explanation I can come up with is that the zero and one values represent a lower and higher voltage in the cable and in the sender or receiver. This is actually an analogue signal when we look at it on a scope. We audiophiles agree that cables sound different with analogue signals, so why not with Ethernet data? Next, any interface for Ethernet has a correction circuit for errors. With many errors this interface has to work hard, that will result in a greater need for current from the power supply and the processor heating up. A bad cable, or one that easily picks up interference, introduces a lot of errors so that might be the cause of a change in sound quality. "
An audiophile and his money are soon parted it seems.
The audiophile folks would pass out cold if they ever learned about all the things that the signal goes through before it reaches their precious enclave...
The main difference between expensive mic cables and cheap ones is the amount of string packed in to it to make it coil better. Most mic cable has a few tiny strands of copper flung together.
More importantly they tend to carry a bit of capacitance, which means that when you run phantom power along it, it turns into a very dull microphone. (someone drops the cable there is an audible boing gernerated by the strands of the cable moving around.)
If a cable is good enough for Gigabit Ethernet, it's definitely good enough for your ears...
"So do Ethernet cables have their own sound? This is no longer a question but a statement. The cable between switches is less important than the ones connected to the end points (NAS and/or streaming device), but a decent type like the AudioQuest Carbon is certainly worth the price in high end systems."
So the author is at least willing to concede that spending much more than £30 for a 1.5 meter network cable doesn't add much to the vibrance, color and quality of the downloaded album covers and metadata.
May he should have talked to an electrical engineer first, before writing this BS.
There are 2 things the quality of an Ethernet cable has an influence: jitter on the cable and signal quality in terms of that the Ethernet frame may be recognized as corrupted has to be repeated, which again comes down to jitter. Jitter is also introduced by the communication that goes on in parallel. As the Ethernet cable has no influence on the data itself (bit flips are covered by the CRC) there can be no influence at the higher layers at. If that would be the case you couldn't trust any communication at all.
They also make USB cables, and Best Buy will sell you a $125 iPod (30 pin) cable if you are interested. Really though: if someone makes 20x as much as I do each month, then why shouldn't they spend 20x as much on a cable. Isn't that the American Dream? This review is providing a service: helping to keep the 1% from feeling like idiots while they figure out what to do with their disposable income. Deep down they know it just looks nicer, but this lets them justify it. You know, like fine wine, or a Porsche (pronounced with an 'Ah' at the end).
It's amazing how some people are fooling themselves.
Actually, surely the presence of two switches in the network has already fatally compromised the ease and sonic presence of the soundstage... Or other such bollocks.
It's now discontinued, it used to be $1000 then $500. The reviews are priceless.
Seriously though, i would have expected the author to have some basic knowledge of digital signals. Audiophiles are are different breed of people I guess.
because only those dumb foreigners buy cables because they are expensive...
That's got to be my favorite.