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In Reply to: RE: They are here! Audiophile Switches! posted by Sprezza Tura on August 31, 2015 at 10:56:05
Also (on the same page you linked) a PCI-E Ethernet card that he (Paul Pang) has applied his familiar TCXO/transformer mod to.Not surprised he constructed one. As far as I can tell, it's basically a result of requests from the JPlay crowd, where a user first reported sonic improvements using a non-audiophile switcher between that player's Control/Audio PC schema - you can see the original JPlay forum thread thread over here, where I think some of them have already received the PPA version:
http://jplay.eu/forum/index.php?/topic/1710-ethernet-switch-increase-in-sq/
As long as there are those who subscribe to the "everything matters" philosophy, you can expect audiophile versions of, well, most imaginable things.
Edits: 08/31/15 08/31/15 08/31/15 08/31/15Follow Ups:
Thanks for the additional information.
Well, I am not sure if everything matters, but a lot of things do...but clearly somethings do not.
After 24 hours of placement in my computer workstation, I find a different Ethernet cable to certainly sound different if not superior to that of the previous cable in use for a number of years for various streaming audio program source material. My own evaluation sharing rules tend to avoid any substantial opinion making until the first 150 hours of burn-in is complete, so I'll post my findings in the forum sometime down the road.
That sounds reasonable. Can you tell us what the old cable was and what the new cable is?
The previous is a generic Cat5e cable provided by my ISP, while the new one is a Belkin (Model F2CP009bt06) Cat6 Ethernet cable.
See link:
Thank you. Def. post your impressions down the road.
The Ugreen (Model NW107) Cat7 Ethernet cable features 26 AWG stranded bare copper conductors and what seems to be a well-designed connector.
I'm thinking about giving it a try in order to compare an entry-level option vs. audiophile-quality Cat7 Ethernet cables if I decide to travel that upgrade path someday.
See link:
Very, very nice find, thank you. At this price I am going to order a loom.
Image: Supra Cat7+ FRHF Network Patch CableThis is an audiophile-quality option I'd really like to try. The Swedish-made Supra Cat7+ FRHF Network Patch Cable (CAT 7+ STP PATCH) is an unusual Cat7 cable design in that it features larger 22 AWG conductors rather than smaller 26 AWG conductors, superior foamed PE dielectric rather than what's likely PVC or such in the case of typical products, and opposed to solid PE in the case of an AudioQuest Cat7 Ethernet cable. Furthermore, the 22 AWG foamed PE dielectric conductors are solid core bare copper rather than a stranded design, and it does not involve (unwanted in my case) silver plating such as the AudioQuest products feature. Also to note is the Supra connector is not molded; it features a removable plastic insulator. It's pretty much what seems to be an ideal audiophile-quality design available at a price that while not cheap, it won't break the bank.
Very good reports regarding the SUPRA Cat7+ are found on the web, including comparisons with an AudioQuest Cat7 cable.
Supra Cat7+ FRHF Network Patch Cable product information:
http://www.jenving.com/products/view/cat-7-stp-patch-1001908415
Supra eBay seller:
http://stores.ebay.com/Sjofn-HiFi?_dmd=2&_nkw=Supra+CAT+7+%2B+STP+patch+cable
BTW, bulk Supra Cat7+ cable and Supra RJ45 connectors are also available for DIY custom-length builds.
Edits: 09/08/15
I must say there do look impressive. At $47 for Meter, not cheap, and abut a $40 premium over Rosewill, but half of AQ Cinnamon.
The only concern I would have from an ebay seller is counterfeits..
What you think?
Otherwise I see they do offer a unique design as opposed to CAT7 with a nice jacket.
Sjöfn HiFi in Seattle is Jenving's authorized North American importer/distributor of Supra products, so there's no risk of the Supra Cat7+ Ethernet cable product listed on eBay of being a counterfeit. I've purchased gear from Sjöfn HiFi's eBay store a number of times without issue, and based on my experience, the seller will likely offer right of return if not satisfied.
Ah, apologies. I did not know the ebay seller was the authorized NA reseller. Appreciate the heads up.
Image: Supra Cat7+ Ethernet cable and Supra RJ45 Cat7+ Male Ethernet Plug
I think I'm going to pull the trigger and purchase a 2m length Supra Cat7+ Ethernet cable. I'm impressed enough with the Belkin Cat6 to understand an Ethernet cable can have an impact on computer audio performance, so at the price of $56.00 plus free shipping, it's substantially less expensive than what high-performance S/PDIF digital coaxial cables tend to cost within my digital cable collection. I'll look forward to your impressions if you also decide to try it.
I went ahead and ordered a Supra Cat7+ Ethernet cable. I'll include an evaluation of its audio performance along with the Belkin Cat6 report.
Cool. Screw it, I am going to order a meter. It will go from my Tripp Lite media converter into my BDP-2. If I hear a difference for the better, I will buy an additional meter for the first converter.
My system is sounding absolutely fantastic to my ears, but I am always interested in cost effective improvements.
Here's an interesting report that involves the Supra Cat7+ Ethernet cable, the AudioQuest Pearl, and the AudioQuest Cinnamon Ethernet cables.
See link:
Cool. Thanks. Pretty dense write up, so will have to wade through it.
I ordered a 1 Meter patch. What the heck.
BTW, what particular make/model router do you use for your streaming audio application?
I use TrendNet GreenNet switches. However, in my main system I will be eliminating a switch as my only source is going to be the Bryston BDP-2, which is fed from an ethernet jack going to a pair of TP Link media converters for fiber optic isolation, then direct into the unit.
Currently I have two streamers in that system, necessitated the need for a switch.
Since the only network device I use for audio is a cable modem/router for streaming internet audio applications, I don't know how the sonic performance of your network switch may be affected by various AC delivery methods/devices. In the case of my cable modem/router, I'm finding the interface to be sensitive to both AC power line filtering and AC power cord swaps vs. an unfiltered AC power strip and the stock 2-prong zip cord with polarized C7 connector for its internal power supply. An Ethernet interface is panning-out to be something that actually matters from an audiophile POV...
Yes, there are a lot of variables, but I am not worrying about this aspect too much. I plug the switches into a CablePro Noisetrapper strip in turn plugged into a Shunyata Hydra.
I'm sure the CablePro Noisetrapper strip plugged into a Shunyata Hydra PLC is very effective.
Edits: 09/08/15
The Surpra Cat7+ Ethernet cable sounds like what a proper audiophile-quality S/PDIF digital coaxial cable tends to present, IME. I plan to post a report in Cable Asylum sometime soon.Very nice, and I'm sure things will only sound better after ample burn-in time. I'm gobsmacked over the sensitivity of this specific aspect in the signal chain for a streaming internet audio application.
It's incredible how sensitive an Ethernet interface is, including power line filtering, AC power cords and AC connectors; even the type of C7 --> IEC adapter implemented for audiophile detachable IEC power cord connections to a cable modem/router has a vital impact on the sonic signature of a streaming audio source in a computer audio system. At this point, I have more AC delivery projects to explore, since what's been done so far has proven to be very worthwhile (big-time audiophile fun).
Edits: 09/06/15 09/08/15
Re: "Well, I am not sure if everything matters, but a lot of things do...but clearly somethings do not."
Nicely put..
I use a cisco 5 port switch. I have a run of Ethernet from control-pc to switch and then 0.5m Ethernet to audio-pc. This has a positive effect for me. I recall this was something that Soundcheck promoted back in the Squeezebox Touch Toolbox days.. "Ethernet tweaking" is not exactly a new idea..
I also have a PPA USB card. One thing I will say is that Paul stands behind his product. I remember the first card died after a week. Paul sent me a replacement immediately (which has never faulted).
Good to know he is a legit entity.
I've managed to get an Ethernet connection up to the third floor listening room via an Airport Express. Have the SONOS hooked up to the ethernet port on the Airport Express and no more drop-out when streaming FLAC.
Can I now hook up a '5 port switch' or that 'audiophile grade switcher' gizmo to the ethernet port on the Airport Express and distribute ethernet to the other devices in the room such as the TV, the NA player, etc?
Sadly, the Airport express is only 802.11n, 300 Mbps best case but I would likely only be streaming to one piece of audio/video gear at a time.
"Can I now hook up a '5 port switch' or that 'audiophile grade switcher' gizmo to the ethernet port on the Airport Express and distribute ethernet to the other devices in the room such as the TV, the NA player, etc?"
Yes. Forget the "audiophile grade" one, a $20 Staples special will do.
It will be audiophile grade if you use one of these with it.
Tony Lauck
"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar
I want the AUDIOPHILE one!
OK, but at a minimum, it has to be White to match the AirPort express and the SONOS Connect. ;-)
Paul is not a hack and he would not modify an item if he did not really feel it was beneficial. I use the USB cards and recommend them highly. Have not tried the switch and cannot comment on it.
It seems he is a pretty serious designer..I have no experience, but the product catalog looks nice.
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