Fancy Ethernet Cable-Experiment with the last 1 metre
Posted by: Kiwi cat on 02 June 2018
I have spent a considerable amount of money over the last 6 years, starting with a Uniti and Unitiserve with Rega Jura Speakers , ending up with my current 272/555DR/250DR/ Ovator400 system. It is a constant source of joy and is my end point for the foreseeable future.
This has not stopped me tweaking, the latest experiment being with a fancy Ethernet cable 1m long , the Chord Signiture Super ARay. This is my experience, dear readers.
In my system, the Unitiserve and NAS sit in the back room of the house. This is where the fibreoptic cable comes in to the house from the street. They are connected to a modem with several Chord C-Steam cables. To get to my 272, which is in the front room, the modem then connects via another Chord C-Steam cable to a wall socket and the signal travels about 20m in wall and ceiling cavities to the front room via $2 a meter Cat5 cable.
The Ethernet socket behind my 272 has 2 Ethernet sockets, this makes comparison relatively easy between different Ethernet cables. Good old Chord C -Steam runs from this socket to the 272, and it really sounds wonderful. I have had the opputunity to live with the Chord Signiture Super Aray for 2 weeks running to the 272 from this wall socket. This $1300 1m cable costs about 5x more than the previous 35 meters leading up to it.
I was a bit cynical as to whether this 1 meter cable would be any better than the C-Stream which is Chords considerably cheaper entry level Ethernet offering. I lived for a week with the Signiture Aray then switched over back the the C-Stream. I had hoped that there would not be much of a difference, after all bits are bits aren’t they? Unfortunately there was a considerable difference. I would estimate as being about 50% as good as adding the 555DR to the 272. Specifically the music flowed more easily, as if it had been “ deconstipated”. The music was more open, detailed and relaxed.
I find this hard to rationalise It must be the improved shielding of the cabling from the electromagnetic radiation from the transformers of the naim boxes. This has been discussed ad nauseum on this forum before but I was a non believer. But even at the end of 35m of lesser cable the exotic 1 meter actually does what it says on the tin.
Sadly I will be returning the Signiture Super Aray due to discretionary funds being low after recent carbon mountain bike purchase, but eventually I will go for the overpriced fancy Chord cable.
Posted on: 06 June 2018 by Antonio1
...to be continued to happy ending, I wish you.
C-Stream here and quite satisfied too but tempted to upgrade them.
I too think that in a good set-up digital streaming cables make a discernible difference as a good server especially Naim and power supply on router/switch.
It's a long&tasty journey
Posted on: 06 June 2018 by Kiwi cat
Thanks Antonio. It is fun. Real Music have lent me the Chord Shawline and it sounds fabulous. Definitely better than C-Stream . Early days yet but it may be a keeper. Not far off its bigger brother the SSA and a fraction of the price!
Posted on: 06 June 2018 by Bert Schurink
I tried AQ Vodka did not like it and then Chord Indigo, wow oh wow, I wish I had just went Sarum T, truly amazing and as the OP says equal to big box upgrades.
I have right now the AQ Vodka and I am very satisfied. However I heard some time ago the Chord music and I shouldn’t have heard. A significant further upgrade and by the way also an expensive one.....
Posted on: 06 June 2018 by Antonio1
Thanks Antonio. It is fun. Real Music have lent me the Chord Shawline and it sounds fabulous. Definitely better than C-Stream . Early days yet but it may be a keeper. Not far off its bigger brother the SSA and a fraction of the price!
That was Quick.
Please, let us know more how they compare once you swap them!
Posted on: 06 June 2018 by Simon-in-Suffolk
It’s fascinating how you guys find changing the RF impedance loading of your Ethernet patch lead affects the sound... I suspect if your setups are sensitive to this you may well find Wifi use and differeing antennas, as well proximity to access points affecting the sound as well... you may indeed like the effects and find beneficial compared to twisted pair.
it’ll be interesting in the new streamers with the use low of voltage differential pairs around network adapter whether the Ethernet patch lead and its impedance loading at RF frequencies has the same effect as to the classic streamers when using the inbuilt streamer DAC.
Posted on: 06 June 2018 by Obsydian
Thanks Antonio. It is fun. Real Music have lent me the Chord Shawline and it sounds fabulous. Definitely better than C-Stream . Early days yet but it may be a keeper. Not far off its bigger brother the SSA and a fraction of the price!
STOP. Buy the Indigo or Signature.
As i guarantee (especially given how quick you got the Shawline) you will regret not aiming higher, then waste money in selling and upgrading cables.
Posted on: 06 June 2018 by charlesphoto
We'll, even more interesting is the sound upgrade many of us are getting using Ethernet cable for DC power supplies for devices such as the microRendu and Regen. The Supra Cat 8 seems to be the best do far (at least for me and reports from a few others). Something to do with a combo of superior shielding and twisting.
Posted on: 07 June 2018 by Simon-in-Suffolk
You might want to try low value capacitor decoupling on your powersupply close to your device and at the powersupply end... I think when people look at bolt on third party ‘linear’ power supplies this is often over looked. Try a non microphonic 100nF cap across positive and negative at both ends of the DC Power lead....
Posted on: 07 June 2018 by Obsydian
Forgot to mention, my Ghent ethernet has been shipped, interesting they offer a right angled METZ connector, which i did not choose, but in hindsight should have as i find especially the Chord Aray and AQ connectors are quite heavy, bulky and do seem to pull down on the RJ45 port which can't be good.
Posted on: 07 June 2018 by Antonio1
Thanks Antonio. It is fun. Real Music have lent me the Chord Shawline and it sounds fabulous. Definitely better than C-Stream . Early days yet but it may be a keeper. Not far off its bigger brother the SSA and a fraction of the price!
STOP. Buy the Indigo or Signature.
As i guarantee (especially given how quick you got the Shawline) you will regret not aiming higher, then waste money in selling and upgrading cables.
Indigo is very old though and the Signature its replacement(?) cheaper and will also be dependent on technological progress going on in these areas I reckon.
Posted on: 07 June 2018 by hungryhalibut
I still think it would be worth trying the AQ Vodka before plumping for the Chord. It’s a nice subtle blue, rather than bright red.
Posted on: 07 June 2018 by Antonio1
It'd be better wait for Green that will be the perfect match
Posted on: 07 June 2018 by Huge
It's occurred to me that, as we are talking of using cables as RF filters, then the effect of any specific Ethernet cable will vary dependent on...
The particular boxes connected (and possibly other components connected to the boxes at either end of the cable) - hence needing to be re-optimised whenever any changes are made to the system.
The firmware running in those boxes - hence needing to be re-optimised whenever any changes are made to the firmware.
From time to time as the radiated RF environment changes; this can change from year to year, month to month, day to day or even minute to minute, hence there's no guarantee that the 'best' cable when you selected it, will remain so at any time in the future!
Don't you just love houses built on sand!
Posted on: 07 June 2018 by Obsydian
Thanks Antonio. It is fun. Real Music have lent me the Chord Shawline and it sounds fabulous. Definitely better than C-Stream . Early days yet but it may be a keeper. Not far off its bigger brother the SSA and a fraction of the price!
STOP. Buy the Indigo or Signature.
As i guarantee (especially given how quick you got the Shawline) you will regret not aiming higher, then waste money in selling and upgrading cables.
Indigo is very old though and the Signature its replacement(?) cheaper and will also be dependent on technological progress going on in these areas I reckon.
Yes - but if you talk to Chord they will advise both similar and only the Sarum T exceeds them.
It all depends if you can resist the what IF urge.
But you seem to have a good dealer, ask to borrow the AQ also.
Posted on: 07 June 2018 by charlesphoto
Forgot to mention, my Ghent ethernet has been shipped, interesting they offer a right angled METZ connector, which i did not choose, but in hindsight should have as i find especially the Chord Aray and AQ connectors are quite heavy, bulky and do seem to pull down on the RJ45 port which can't be good.
Unless you need the right angle for a tight space, the connector is still quite heavy so I wouldn't worry about it.
Posted on: 07 June 2018 by Simon-in-Suffolk
Huge, RF filters, or more likely RF stubs which can effectively be RF load resonators from the streamer PHY clock and any cross talk and reflections.
of course given there is a few seconds buffer, I would be intrigued how the sounds changes when some of these rather special Ethernet cables are disconnected... does it get worse, better still, or stay the same..... given the significant positive benefit that is stated when using the cables it should be quite apparent... if very subtle, a couple of seconds might not be long enough
Posted on: 07 June 2018 by ChrisSU
Forgot to mention, my Ghent ethernet has been shipped, interesting they offer a right angled METZ connector, which i did not choose, but in hindsight should have as i find especially the Chord Aray and AQ connectors are quite heavy, bulky and do seem to pull down on the RJ45 port which can't be good.
You can always use a ‘Lindy’ adapter to turn the cable up or down through 90 degrees to reduce any strain. (This also has the effect of disconnecting any shielding in an STP cable, which some people have claimed to be beneficial.)
Posted on: 07 June 2018 by Huge
Simon,
Yes, I hadn't actually considered doing that test; but there again although I hear differences between cables, in my case they are fairly minor, and I don't now use a 'rather special' Ethernet cable. So I'm probably not the best placed to answer that. I just might have a go though (but this afternoon I have to write the scenario and contingency plans for this evening's game). I'll also redo the comparison to a USB stick.
Posted on: 07 June 2018 by Obsydian
Forgot to mention, my Ghent ethernet has been shipped, interesting they offer a right angled METZ connector, which i did not choose, but in hindsight should have as i find especially the Chord Aray and AQ connectors are quite heavy, bulky and do seem to pull down on the RJ45 port which can't be good.
You can always use a ‘Lindy’ adapter to turn the cable up or down through 90 degrees to reduce any strain. (This also has the effect of disconnecting any shielding in an STP cable, which some people have claimed to be beneficial.)
Interesting may try one as my Chord ethernet (moreso) and Power cord do stick out allot and my setup is close the the wall, well as close as the Chrod Ethernet allows and that does mean the NACA5 strains a bit.
Posted on: 07 June 2018 by Mike-B
Interesting may try one as my Chord ethernet (moreso) and Power cord do stick out allot and my setup is close the the wall, well as close as the Chrod Ethernet allows and that does mean the NACA5 strains a bit.
Be careful with the orientation, there are "UP" & "DOWN" versions. Keep in mind your Naim streamer has an earth connected shrouded port & connects with the Chord ethernet screen. These adapters are UTP & will break the connection
Posted on: 07 June 2018 by French Rooster
Interesting may try one as my Chord ethernet (moreso) and Power cord do stick out allot and my setup is close the the wall, well as close as the Chrod Ethernet allows and that does mean the NACA5 strains a bit.
Be careful with the orientation, there are "UP" & "DOWN" versions. Keep in mind your Naim streamer has an earth connected shrouded port & connects with the Chord ethernet screen. These adapters are UTP & will break the connection
is there a risk to loose some sound quality, if the lan is high quality cable with high quality connector? i guess this adapter is a cheap piece, but maybe i am wrong and it will not impact the sound?
Posted on: 07 June 2018 by nigelb
Mike, just had a thought. I introduced the Lindy adapter on my UnitiServe to remove one (too many) Ethernet cable shield to case connections on my music LAN as I already have a switch and the NDS with metal encased Ethernet sockets.
More recently I listen to music files from my QNAP NAS as I think it is a little better than via the UnitiServe. I assume the one grounding point guidance still applies when streaming from the NAS. If so I should move the Lindy from the UnitiServe to the QNAP NAS. Or am I over-thinking this?
Posted on: 07 June 2018 by Mike-B
Mike, just had a thought. I introduced the Lindy adapter on my UnitiServe to remove one (too many) Ethernet cable shield to case connections on my music LAN as I already have a switch and the NDS with metal encased Ethernet sockets.
More recently I listen to music files from my QNAP NAS as I think it is a little better than via the UnitiServe. I assume the one grounding point guidance still applies when streaming from the NAS. If so I should move the Lindy from the UnitiServe to the QNAP NAS. Or am I over-thinking this?
Hi Nigel, how the devil are you ??? The one grounding point for ethernet is still a good rule, but it probably won't do much, if anything, bad, especially in a domestic environment. I tend to assume that any NAS or streamer with a metal shrouded port is earthed, if it isn't why go to the expense of using a shrouded port. With the UnitiServe I am not at all sure, but suspect, it has a grounded connection via the PSU 0vDC (neg DC). I would be tempted to move the Lindy to the QNAP & test it with your Mk-II audio receptors.
I've gone all Meicord Cat-6 UTP & my Cisco switch is also UTP ...... zimples & sounds pretty good too.
Posted on: 07 June 2018 by Mike-B
is there a risk to loose some sound quality, if the lan is high quality cable with high quality connector? i guess this adapter is a cheap piece, but maybe i am wrong and it will not impact the sound?
I am not getting into he pro's & con's of so called "high quality" ethernet cable, here be dragons & madness.
These are well made ethernet adaptors. I used one for a while to disconnect the unwanted 2nd earth connection between my NAS & its Cat-7 connection. It made no difference to SQ that I could detect.
Posted on: 07 June 2018 by Obsydian
Interesting may try one as my Chord ethernet (moreso) and Power cord do stick out allot and my setup is close the the wall, well as close as the Chrod Ethernet allows and that does mean the NACA5 strains a bit.
Be careful with the orientation, there are "UP" & "DOWN" versions. Keep in mind your Naim streamer has an earth connected shrouded port & connects with the Chord ethernet screen. These adapters are UTP & will break the connection
Thanks MIKEB, I guess a no so good idea then.
I’ll be sad to say goodbye to the Chord Signature ARAY. It remains the benchmark. C-Stream is still very good albeit a bit more “closed in” than the Chord. Will try the ridiculously cheap Star Tech and go from there. Thanks to superb staff at Real Music Wellington for loan of the Chord. Who knows , maybe one day I will eventually get it, and thanks for your patience!
