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How can different CAT5/6 cables affect sound.

While is is beyond doubt that analog cables affect sound quality and SPDIF, TOSlink and AES/EBU can effect SQ, depending on the buffering and clocking of the DAC, I am at a loss to find an explanation for how different CAT5 cables can affect the sound.

The signals over cat5 are transmitted using the TCP protocol.  This protocol is error correcting, each packet contains a header with a checksum.  If the receiver gets the same checksum then it acknowledges the packet.  If no acknowledgement is received in the timeout interval the sender resends the packet.  Packets may be received out of order and the receiver must correctly sequence the packets.

Thus, unless the cable is hopeless (in which case nothing works) the receiver has an exact copy of the data sent from the sender, AND there is NO timing information associated with TCP. The receiver must then be dependent on its internal clock for timing. 

That is different with SPDIF, clocking data is included in the stream, that is why sources (e.g. high end Aurenders) have very accurate and low jitter OCXO clocks and can sound better then USB connections into DACs with less precise clocks.

Am I missing something as many people hear differences with different patch cords?

retiredaudioguy
calvinandhobbes
327 posts
 

Cables make a difference by their ability to channel stray EMI/RFI to ground so it doesn’t affect the DAC to begin with.

All of your arguments are around what ’shouldn’t’ be audible. Your comments are:

  • "Concerns over picoseconds or nanoseconds of jitter are pointless when the requirement is ten thousands of times easier.."
  • "Any argument that that these artifacts, existing 80dB, 90dB or more down, are audible are specious at best."
  • "The devices ’wobble’ has to be pretty severe - defective - for this to even be part of the conversation."

 

Digital audio at an affordable level has sounded wrong to me until only about the last 5-8 years.  I’m only finding possible reasons to explain the deficiencies in digital audio that I’ve already heard for years.

westcoastaudiophile
819 posts
 

"Cables make a difference by their ability to channel stray EMI/RFI to ground so it doesn’t affect the DAC to begin with"

ethernet wiring / cables are strictly controlled by certification / testing, in order to allow them in our homes/offices.. these cables are twisted per spec, to reduce RF noise below regulated values. on top of that, TX circuitry is limited to certain rise/fall time, balance params. 

megabyte
105 posts
 

Can’t. Next. 

foggyus91's avatar
foggyus91
612 posts
 

@megabyte Would love to know what you base your answer on. Also what are the components in your system? 

devinplombier
1,656 posts
 

Guy 1: My car goes 600 mph. 

Guy 2: Uh, cars just don't go 600 mph.

Guy 1: Would live to know what you base your answer on. Also what kind of slow cheap miserable car do you drive?

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