Audioquest Ethernet Direction

The AQ directional bit is audiophool BS

However if it bothers you, then router to switch is the way to go

Sorry Mike, When I hit 'Post Topic', the arrows and components went all over the place on the page, and in the wrong order, and has not come out as intended Let's try again!

NAS (source)→→→Netgear Switch→→→ND5 XS

          ↑

          Sky Hub (Router)

I would expect that the Hub should also connect to the switch.

NAS ---> Switch

Hub  ---> Switch

Switch ---> ND5XS

Correct, yes it should. My silly diagram just wont stay on the page as it was typed!! Try this...

Yes -- everything connects into the switch and only the switch is connected directly to the Sky Hub.  That last pic looks right!

Merry Christmas Meerkat!

Yea, got there in the end!

A very Merry Christmas Bart!

yer but no but yer ...........  I could see your dilemma, (dun that meself)  but I did understand the question  ..........   & its still all a load of buffalo chips.

Even if you are a believer in cable directionality (as in speaker cable) consider what is going on in the network:  data packets are both sent & received & the bits, byts & nibbles are all flying around in both directions.    So what's all this about directionality ??? 

Yummy! Buffalo, chips, byts and nibbles is making me hungry! You are right, the packets go both ways. I wonder then, why AQ bother to put arrows on the cable? Have your Pearl and Supra cables got directional arrows? Don't know if HH has got his Cinnamons directional.

I must ask Bart about Buffalo and chips, apparently it's quite a common meal in the States!

Yes, I follow the directions marked on the cables. Why wouldn't I? It certainly can't do any harm, whether you believe it makes a difference or not. Both Audioquest and Chord mark the cables for direction, so if it's marketing mumbo jumbo they are in it together.

Cheers Scott...If you think about it, what Mike say's, makes good sense, as data packets go in both directions. Perhaps AQ's ideal, is to put directional arrows on all their cables to set a standard. I guess with digital and analogue interconnects, it's more important.

Ah, cheers HH. I was awaiting your confirmation on your Cinnamons. Thanks.

Supra has no direction indicators,  it actually shows "Signal Direction: <-> " on the technical spec sheet.   

AQ Pearl does have an arrow

I agree there is no harm in following any direction indicators, even if its only following the direction of the printing,  I do so with my speaker & IC cables  

-  & the same with my Supra Cat7 & the AQ Pearl arrow   

Scratching my head on this.. My definition 2 and 4 pair ethernet cables are bidirectional ( 1 or 2 pairs for each direction).. With ethernet on a TCP duplex link there is a constant regular flow of data in both directions as part of the flow control and windowing ... So unless there is some choke or shield grounding at one end only this sounds suspicious  . but if shield grounded at one end,  then grounding would be best at the switch end IMO, but worth experimenting.

Simon

On their web site, AudioQuest says...

DIRECTIONALITY: All audio cables are directional. The correct direction is determined by listening to every batch of metal conductors used in every AudioQuest audio cable. Arrows are clearly marked on the connectors to ensure superior sound quality. For best results have the arrow pointing in the direction of the flow of music. For example, NAS to Router, Router to Network Player.

But, as Simon says, the only reason for directionality is when the shield is connected at one end only. This creates a path of least resistence for RFI (i.e., a pseudo-balanced design like we see in some RCA interconnects). If that's the case, then AudioQuest's advice does make a lot of sense. The idea should be to point all ethernet cables towards the device(s) that is best equipped to handle (or is simply least effected by) the effects of RFI.

Like Simon says, I'd be tempted to point all three towards the switch.

Of course, it could all be bufallo chips (as opposed to bufallo and chips).

Hook

Hi Hook,  how is it all going in the land of many waters?? Looks like winter is arriving slowly over the next few days.   Seasons greetings to all in the colonies, & gelukkige Kersfees to your good lady.  

Folks - I've checked my AQ Pearl (with arrow) & my buddy with his AQ Cinnamon who has also confirmed the same,  the ethernet screen is carried thru to/from both ends; no pseudo stuff, no stange choke stuff,   just plain ol' simple end to end screen (as it should be)

Truth be told this ethernet directionality thing has probably more to do with marketing smoke & mirrors, but like all things in life, if you can hear a difference, go for it,  we will believe you.

Hi Mike -

Thank you for the kind words!  It has been the oddest of winters so far. Below 0°F in November, and now it is well above freezing, so we're looking forward to a brown Christmas. Not complaining though. The older I get, the less romantic I feel about northern winters!

Hope Santa treats you well this year, and I wish you all the best for 2015!

Hook

PS - Just noticed an error in my post. Meant to say "AudioQuest's advice does not make a lot of sense."

Hi Meerkat, 

As always the best way forward is to listen, regardless of what would appear to be logically right or wrong. There was a post I read somewhere that a meicord ethernet cable was removed and the direction changed, and it gave a huge lift to the sound. What harm will it do to just try it? If you do try then please post your findings

This post sent me scurrying to my AQ Cinnamons which I found to be a complete hotch potch. NAS to Router was the wrong way around. Router to wall plug was OK but wall plug to NDX was wrong. They're now all going the right way.

So, the acid test, could I tell any difference? No. Not sure what that adds to the debate or what it says about my ears though I do stand by my view that there was a noticeable improvement over Maplins standard network cables when I added the Cinnamons to the system.

Firstly...Merry Christmas Everyone! Logged in today, as that damn Turkey hasn't quite defrosted properly!! So it looks like it's gonna be a late one!

Demoing two two different cables (Forest & Cinnamon), and trying to remember what sounded better with what cable, in a three section set up, is a nightmare! (NAS to switch, switch to ND5, Router to switch) There has to be an easier way...and to make things worse, I'll probably demo some Chord C-Stream Ethernets after Christmas.

What I have found though, for some strange reason, unplugging and swapping the Ethernets, upsets my system. I tried to play a couple of albums, and the ND5 came up with 'Can't Play'. So I had to delete the album on the NAS, and copy it back in from my back up. What's going on there then?

Mr Magoo...Merry Christmas! As you can see, I am demoing Cinnamon & Forest. After Christmas I will demo a Chord C-Stream. Did you demo other cables before choosing Cinnamon?  My biggest problem is, I have a 10 metre run from the NAS to the Switch. I tried the NAS back in the listening room, which would mean only a 1 metere cable, but the fan noise is unacceptable. It's got to go out of the room! Hence the 10 metre run. The 12 metre Cinnamon is out of the question. Any thoughs?

David

Hi Meerkat. Merry Christmas to you too. In short, no, I was influenced by reviews once I'd decided to go for it. Probably not the best way forward but I honestly did hear an improvement.

As to location/length/cost, I compromise everything to an extent by using wall plugs. I have though just moved my Sinology NAS into the same room but my noise isn't the fan it's an occasional 'bump/knock' from it. I think that might be lessened by putting it on a mat of some description to stop resonance through the supporting oak table.

That's probably not much use to you in the puritan sense but I wish you good luck with your demo and decision.

Cheers Mr Magoo 

I have my Synology DS214 mounted on x4 sorbothane 19mm hemispheres (half balls) - available on www.  The Syn is located in a cabinet & it was a bit of a sounding board,  but the sorbothane just kills all the bump/knocks & its now effectively silent. 

My Assetnas is in a cupboard in my living room and sits on a super hgh tech square of carpet,  I can't hear it at all although I can hear the transformer on my sn2 buzzing like a power station