Hi guys & girls!
I´m still releatively new here. I did a search for this question but nothing turned up. In its newest edition, the German audiophile magazin STEREO compared several network cables. They had Monster Cables, Sommercables, etc. They only compared the sound (!) of these network cables with the sound of a standard cable CAT5 for $ 2-3.
Guess what? The Monster Cable for $ 30 was the winner. Furthermore their conclusion was that generally speaking CAT5 or CAT5e cables sound thin, while it begins to get good with CAT6 cables. They are loony I thought. Then, also the newest edition, the most distinguished german PC magazine PC-WELT said something adding to this. They said, that most CAT5-cables can´t deliver high performance due to their system design. They also claim, that CAT6 cables could improve network speed in general, because data will be delivered more flawless.
I immediately thought about that overpriced DENON network cable which I thought is ridiculous. So what to think? I´m a bit confused.
E-MU 0202 USB wired with Monster USB Cable --> Audioquest King Cobra --> (sometimes) Corda Arietta --> Sennheiser HD-600
Posts: 3144
Hi Cavaille - I was informed
Hi Cavaille - I was informed about this article a few days ago and at the time I honestly couldn't believe this was published. That being said, I asked a couple very well respected Engineers and DAC designers / manufacturers with vast experience in this area and they gave me a few scientific reasons why this is possible. Please notice I used the word possible which also can be a code word for "In Theory." So, theoretically there may be a scientific reason why it's possible for sonic difference between Ethernet cables with different specs. I won't reprint the comments of those I spoke with because the conversations were private. They are very welcome to post comments here if they choose.
This is one of those things that I will need to hear for myself to believe. Right now I don't believe anyone can hear a difference between Ethernet cables that isn't related to Psychoacoustics. I would love to be proven wrong and have one more way to improve sound quality. I'm certainly 100% fine with anyone claiming to hear a difference between Ethernet cables, but we all retain the right to be skeptics. It's nothing personal against the reviewers or the magazine. Although I do believe this magazine will get a lot of press for this article and that fact cannot be ignored.
Chris Connaker
Founder
Computer Audiophile
Posts: 55
Thanx.
"Although I do believe this magazine will get a lot of press for this article and that fact cannot be ignored." Believe me Chris, they already are watched by the community - and the opinion is getting stronger, that this magazin is nothing more than a huge advertising for accessory products like cables and so on. They always make some pretty hilarious claims.
Thank you for the fast answer. I don´t know, if I was acting rationally but I already bought new cables. Not from Monster Cables, just from Belkin. My whole home network consisted of standard CAT5 cables. I replaced them all with CAT6 cables. I noticed after switching to the new cables (without changing anything) that network response generally is faster, including access to the internet. The overall speed is the same but pings are better now - and I already had a perfectly configured network before. So at least the PC-WELT was right. But they are a computer magazine.
I think there also is an improvement in sound - not so thin anymore. But on that I´m not sure, this certainly is some kind of placebo. It is Psychoacoustics I believe. But hey, at least the speed improved which is a nice thing (and believe me, I think that even this is hilarious).
E-MU 0202 USB wired with Monster USB Cable --> Audioquest King Cobra --> (sometimes) Corda Arietta --> Sennheiser HD-600