Ok, I can follow that reasoning. But since the signal itself does not change, all the noise effects (be it induced in or through the cable through vibrations or RF or otherwise) must be transferred internally through power supply lines. As there is no timing information going through the ethernet cable, because timing is fully done within the receiving device.

Somewhere within the receiving device there is a circuit that buffers the incoming stream. Up to this, is it untimed. Then it is read from the buffer and enters a timed DA circuit. Then if there is an effect, it is that the timing from this point on is influenced by noise transferred by or induced by the ethernet cable, through power supply circuits. Another option would mean that internal shielding is inadequate.

Edited by user 14 March 2019 08:22:44(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Well, what sometimes seems, is that people think that the digital signal itself is in any way influenced by analogue noise. Sandy thinks so, he thinks his ripping device makes 100% accurate rips being bit identical to other rips, sound different than those other 100% accurate bit identical rips.

I don't think we are guessing here. There is a mechanism through which noise over an ethernet cable can influence sound, but this is a fully analogue path. It cannot be by influencing the digital signal, bits are bits in this stage, or by making changes to the timing of the digital signal as in this stage there is no timing in this digital signal.

ps. there is a sequence in the digital signal of course, but no timing.

Edited by user 14 March 2019 10:48:14(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Well, I don't think on this audio level any device is without any sensitivity to anything. I mean, lets say the receiving device would be fully independent with it own power supply and power cord, and would be optically (non galvanically) connected. Even plugging in a device next to another can affect the sound. Let alone if this receiving device shares a cabinet, and parts of the power supply.

So I accept there can be an influence on the sound from the noise that the CAT carries or picks up. But yes, as @Pete and @Kengale said, this influence will vary from one device to another. And the effect is fully analogue, and not in any way digital.

So when comparing CAT cables, an interesting thing would be to assess the effects with different sending and receiving devices. Any detected consistency there might be valuable.

As a non electronics expert can somebody please explain to me the difference between analogue and digital cables. I was under the impression that digital signals sent down ANY cable were digital only in that the analogue signal carrying them was a simple square wave form with the wave representing a one and its absence a zero. Unless I have this totally wrong and that is quite possible, then its seems to me that ALL signals are analogue.

Please clarify,

Brian Pinder

Maybe a bad analogy. But lets say I wanted to transfer "this text". And the text formatting represents noise.

So it starts clean as "this text". It could be transported as "this text" through cable A, or could transported as "this text" through cable B. But the receiver still knows it is "this text" that it has to deduct from the signal, not looking at the formatting caused by noise picked up underway.

So a digital signal can be fully restored to the original input text, independent of the noise encountered en-route. As long as the noise is not so bad that it can't be read anymore of course. Then you'd get dropouts.

As I said, SPDIF is different, as there is a master-slave relation in the timing, and "this text" through cable A, could really sound different from "this text" through cable B.

Edited by user 18 March 2019 21:56:42(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

In ethernet transport there is no timing related to the audio information, so there cannot be jitter. There is just noise on the digital signal. And in the receiving end, this noise may influence all kinds of processes, resulting in influencing the final analogue output signal.

Martin,

I would nominate the following network switches are included in your upcoming group test:

Cisco Catalyst 2960G Model# WS-C2960G-8TC-L (Gigabit blue model - £60 used)
Cisco Catalyst 2960CG Series Model# WS-C2960CG-8TC-L (Gigabit white model - £150 used)
Cisco SG110D-08 8 Port Gigabit Desktop Switch (£40 new)

The Cisco Catalyst 2960G Model# WS-C2960G-8TC-L (Blue model) is my current reference switch. I have also tried the later white model but in my system preferred the older blue model. I’m using Meicord Opal audiophile CAT cables.

I have just purchased the Cisco SG110D-08 8 Port Gigabit Desktop Switch (£40 new) and straight out of the box when powered by a Netgear linear power supply and although it sounds completely different to the 2960G, it is sounding extremely promising with only 5 hours of use. What prompted me to try out this inexpensive switch, is that it is one of the Cisco models which have been chosen by Clone Audio to enhance and would expect that during their search to find a worthwhile stock model to improve, a manufacturer would test many widely available switches on the market before choosing a model to invest their time and research on improving and therefore this model could be one of the better switches available in its stock form and maybe worth trying out.

Do you now have a shortlist of cables and switches you plan to include in your group test?

Besides, if the IP adresses are hard configured instead of with DHCP, you can go without a switch also, so a switch is not always needed.

https://www.makeuseof.co...cal-area-network-router/

re cable sound


Mains cables are particularly rigid longitudinally and readily couple vibration from and to equipment.

The room when energised acoustically vibrates , floor and walls , and the latter may couple this vibration via the mains cable to the audio unit. It is possible to construct a safe mains cable which includes mechanical decoupling, which is readily audible.


The weave, wind and tension in a cable may also be contrived to reduce transmission of microphony induced vibration.

Martin Colloms

We all have been looking for the better Ethernet cables, last meter or not, we are now hunting for the best switches and power supplies, but very little has been written or even posted on routers. I would be very interested in a short list for that matter.

Chag -

Edited by user 27 April 2019 15:29:45(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified