Just FYI supporting a lot of the comments here. Per Chat GPT:
Why Cat8 is a bad fit for a Node N130
Cat8 is:
heavily shielded (often multiple layers)
designed for 25–40 Gbps data centers
meant to be properly grounded at both ends
Your Node N130:
is 1 Gbps max
has a floating, audio-centric ground
is sensitive to common-mode noise, not data errors
When you plug in a shielded Cat8 cable:
the shield can act as a noise conduit
ground noise from the router/switch can couple into the Node
the cable can behave like an antenna instead of a barrier
In audio systems, over-shielding often moves noise instead of blocking it.
What you’re really removing by going Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi:
When the Node N130 uses Wi-Fi, it has:
an active RF receiver/transmitter
high-frequency clocks tied to the radio
bursty current draw as packets arrive
All of that lives inside the Node’s chassis, sharing ground and power with:
the USB / S/PDIF output stage
the internal processor
the clock that ultimately feeds the Iris
By switching to Ethernet:
the Wi-Fi radio is disabled
RF activity inside the Node drops
internal EMI and power-rail modulation are reduced
That’s a much more direct and plausible noise reduction than changing the router PSU across the house.
So I’ll return the Cat8. I ordered a Belden Cat6 from BlueJeans.