what ethernet cable ?

There is really no difference for your intended usage.  Cat5e is fine.

This thread allows me to ask a question: in a friend's store a Naim UnitiServe is connected to an NDX via a very long, and very plain, Cat5 cable. The signal is then fed to a 282 with a HiLine. Digital signals to n-Dac are carried with a (relatively costly) DC1 digital cable, but the signal from the Serve to the streamer still goes inside a Cat5.



Is there any difference between the signal from a Serve and that from the digital out of a CDP, or is it simply that the world of audio hasn't had time yet to care about audiophile Cat5 cables, or all other super cables are not so necessary?



Thanks for all opinions.



M.

Hi Max,

The Cat5 cable is carrying TCP/IP data packets.  This protocol includes resends and corrections for packet loss and delivery order.  Essentially, data keeps being sent from Serve to NDX until it is all present and correct and in the right order.  This cannot affect the quality of the sound subsequently produced.  The cable can be super cheap as it is the protocol ensuring data consistency in this instance.

The DC1 needs to then provide a constant flow of digital audio data from the NDX to the DAC.  This stream is raw audio data and cannot be re-sent or corrected as the S/PDIF protocol does not support this.  The accuracy and timing of the signal has a material effect on sound quality, hence the cable needs to be as perfect (therefore expensive) as possible.

Hope this helps,
John

The Cat5 cable is carrying TCP/IP data packets.  This protocol includes resends and corrections for packet loss and delivery order.  Essentially, data keeps being sent from Serve to NDX until it is all present and correct and in the right order.  This cannot affect the quality of the sound subsequently produced.  The cable can be super cheap as it is the protocol ensuring data consistency in this instance.

Very true. One thing that never seems to get mentioned is the nice antenna now attached to your NDX / HDX, which can be picking up all sorts of RFI and carrying noise from other network connected devices. Although the NIC at each Ethernet port provides a small isolation transformer, high frequency rubbish can still pass to a reasonable degree.

I'd be interested in Naims view on cables and networks. Are screened Ethernet cables better or do you then run into issues with noise being coupled via the screen. Does network loading affect the devices given that the Ethernet controller is needing to do more work (we've seen how processor loading affects other devices given increased noise on internal power supply lines and EMI).

I remember a magazine test on the Linn Majik DS mentioning that they measured very low level interference that varied from network to network so i'm curious as to whether various networks and their setup willl subltly affect performance of the players ?

James

I'm really confused! Are you sure Max that the UnitiServe to NDX connection is via a Cat5 ethernet cable? I thought ethernet would be from a NAS to the Serve only. Could someone confirm please.

Cal (seriously considering a Serve and trying to understand it all)

Hmmm, interesting. This was my view until recently. There are many considered reports of CAT6 providing benefits over CAT5. The presumption at present is that there is less corruption nor need for packet re-sends but I can't imagine that these relatively small networks could suffer this kind of problem. It's a mystery to me how this can be the case, but the reports are by sources I tend to believe. Perhaps something else is going on which remains unexplained?

Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.