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Questions about Ethernet Cabling

PLEASE READ: This is not a thread about the merits or demerits of audiophile-grade ethernet cables, or any cable for that matter. If you don’t believe in spending extra on expensive cables, I respect your opinion but please don’t turn this into a point of contention.

So before I ask my questions, let me describe how internet connectivity is setup in my house:

- [Home office/study] The modem (AT&T), router (Google Nest/Mesh), and switch ($25 TP-link basic switch) are located in the home office/study. I also have a second system in this room as well as other stuff connected through the switch. In other words, I can’t move the switch to another room.

- [Media room] The main audio system is located in the media room which is in the diagonally opposite side of the house (single story). This room has the ENO ethernet filter connected to the Innuous Zenith MK3 streamer, and so on.

[Long ethernet cable] A very long run of ethernet cable (CAT 6/over 100 foot) runs from the [Home office/study] router and terminates into the [Media room] ethernet jack/wall plate. This was done by the builder and it runs through the attic.

- [Media room] From the [Media room] ethernet wall plate, I then use another 6 foot ethernet cable (also CAT 6) that goes into an ENO filter and then on to the Innuos Zenith MK3 streamer.

 

So here are my questions:

1. Is it worth upgrading only the so-called last-mile ethernet cable, i.e. the one between the [Media room] ethernet wall plate and Eno filter while I continue using the long CAT 6 cable [Study >> Media room]? It is going to be difficult, if not impossible, to replace the long-run CAT 6 cable as it goes through the attic where several spots are not reachable without tearing down some sheetrock.

2. Is it worth adding a second audiophile-grade switch (e.g. uptone) in the media room while leaving the one in the study as is? Or is it better to upgrade the switch in the study first and place the cheaper switch in the media room? Or do I need to replace both switches (not prefered as it adds to the cost)?

 

128x128arafiq

Showing 1 response by rpronk

rpronk
2 posts
 

Just to share another experience, over here from Europe.

I can confirm that running a fiber cable from ones internet router (as in my case via a Ubiquity ethernet switch with a fiber uplink) to your audio room, already makes a substantial improvement over the 15 feet cat6 standard cable that I had earlier. It connected into my Innuos Mk2 Roon core/server via a fiber/ethernet converter that I used for this, which in turn was fed by an Sbooster Linear PS.

Recently I was offered the chance to test replacing this converter and PS with a Cisco Meraki MS-2020-8 switch which was 'reliefed' from its own internal power supply, and teamed up with a Plixir Elite Balanced DC power supply by someone here in my home country, who also threw in a home made specially shielded short ethernet cable to connect the Meraki switch with my Innuos Mk2. The improvement in refinement, dynamics and overall image opennes that this delivered was mind blowing.

Last night I took the same Cisco Meraki switch plus Plixir BDC and short ethernet cable to a friend where we tested this setup, but this time fed by his 15 feet Cat8 standard cable (so no fiber) and still the improvements where astounding.

I have no personal affiliation with neither Cisco or Plixir and hope to have given a purely unbiassed experience.

 

Enjoy the music!

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