JCAT Signature LAN Cable

[Darryl R]

Late last year I upgraded my audio system and as the final touch I’ve been trying out Ethernet cables. Already I had tried the Audioquest Vodka and the Wireworld Starlight Platinum Cat 8 but didn’t hear an appreciable difference between them and the Ethernet cable that came with my dCS Network Bridge.  Marcin of JPLAY advised me I needed to try his JCAT Signature LAN cable.  A logical mate for my JCAT Femto Net card I thought, and I decided to give them a try.  The only condition of sale was that if I didn’t hear a difference, I could return them, which Marcin granted.  No financial incentive was given to keep them, or to write this mini review; I was prepared to send them back and resolve that the anti-audiophile-Ethernet mob had a point.

 

The music I’ve been using to audition Ethernet cables is the new 24/192 remastering of the Karajan/BPO Bruckner 8 on DG and Bach Cantatas 131 & 182 from Thomas Gropper and his Arcis-Vocalisten München on Oehms Classics.  Conveniently my most recent recordings, they work for the cable auditions.  The legacy Bruckner, while nicely restored by Emil Berliner Studios, is not ideal, still edgy with somewhat veiled winds behind Karajan’s typically massive strings and brass.  On the other hand the Gropper Bach are the most beautifully recorded choral discs in my library, and 16/44 at that!

 

I had two one-meter lengths of the JCAT Signature LAN, but initially I restricted myself to inserting only a single JCAT cable between the file server’s JCAT Net card output and the Ethernet input of the dCS Bridge (I employ network bridging in Linux for a direct link).  I started Bruckner 8 from my iPad.  The shimmering, pianissimo strings of the opening were clearer, more space around them.  Similarly, the slightly muted oboe entry also had much more space around it, as did the responding celli.  The entire work had a more defined bottom end.  I was riveted to a recording I’d had for years.  The Gropper Bach, already gorgeous, sounded even more engaging with its layering of exquisite chorus, soloists and period orchestral timbres.  My favorite is the “Ich harre des Herrn” of Cantata 131.  Choral music playback had been problematic on my system, but the JCAT seems have been the missing link.  I need to try some of my Mahler 8’s!

 

My system sounded great before the JCAT Signature LAN, but the listening experience is even better now.  I could go on about Marcin’s kindness and patience, and the meticulous, water-tight packages expressed from Poland, but you get the point – I really like the JCAT Ethernet cables and I’m keeping them.

 

https://jcat.eu/product/signature-lan-cable/

 

Happy Listening,

Darryl

 

Equipment:

Home-built file server -- Streacom FC8a/Gigabit H270N/i3-7300T/4TB SSD/JCAT Net Card with bridged connections/Ubuntu

dCS Network Bridge

dCS Vivaldi

Momentum Mono Amps

Alexia 2

Shunyata Sigma interconnect and speaker cable

Shunyata Alpha power cable

 

[Priaptor]

Great system.  Yes Marcin is a great guy and very helpful but unfortunately he was denigrated by many on another thread on this forum regarding his new network switch.  One of the reasons I peek in to this site more than participate anymore.  I have always found his products to be excellent.

[Mercman]

I like the combination of the Alexia 2 with the Shunyata Sigma interconnects and speaker cables. Good stuff!

[Darryl R]

2 hours ago, Priaptor said:

Great system.  Yes Marcin is a great guy and very helpful but unfortunately he was denigrated by many on another thread on this forum regarding his new network switch.  One of the reasons I peek in to this site more than participate anymore.  I have always found his products to be excellent.

 

Too bad.  I don't have any of the facts related to this incident or product.

 

I was thinking of that hord of computer geniuses and material scientists from Amazon who'll flay you if you assert anything about an Ethernet cable costing more than one digit.

[seeteeyou]

https://www.computeraudiophile.com/forums/topic/38745-jcats-5000-switch/

 

M12 Switch Gold with 2 cables would cost 345,600 yen (or roughly €2,650) in Japan, no wonder some of us had to say something about that €4,165 price tag IMHO

 

http://www.audiounion.jp/ct/detail/new/138728/

http://www.yoshidaen.jp/shopdetail/000000003463/

http://www.oliospec.com/shopdetail/000000005869/

 

Anyways, it would be interesting if someone were giving this $75.95 cable a try

 

https://www.markertek.com/product/cat6a-revmm-006/laird-cat6a-revmm-belden-cat6a-revconnect-rj45-male-to-male-poe-cable-assemblies-6-foot

http://www.lairddigitalcinema.com/Product.asp?cat=CABLES&subcat=DATACAB&prodclass=CAT6CAB&baseitem=CAT6A-REVMM-006&search=0&off=0&showreturn=0

https://www.bicsi.org/uploadedfiles/bicsi_conferences/winter/2017/presentations/GS_THURS_1.pdf#page=32

 

[Marcin_gps]

36 minutes ago, seeteeyou said:

https://www.computeraudiophile.com/forums/topic/38745-jcats-5000-switch/

 

M12 Switch Gold with 2 cables would cost 345,600 yen (or roughly €2,650) in Japan, no wonder some of us had to say something about that €4,165 price tag IMHO

 

http://www.audiounion.jp/ct/detail/new/138728/

http://www.yoshidaen.jp/shopdetail/000000003463/

http://www.oliospec.com/shopdetail/000000005869/

 

Anyways, it would be interesting if someone were giving this $75.95 cable a try

 

https://www.markertek.com/product/cat6a-revmm-006/laird-cat6a-revmm-belden-cat6a-revconnect-rj45-male-to-male-poe-cable-assemblies-6-foot

http://www.lairddigitalcinema.com/Product.asp?cat=CABLES&subcat=DATACAB&prodclass=CAT6CAB&baseitem=CAT6A-REVMM-006&search=0&off=0&showreturn=0

https://www.bicsi.org/uploadedfiles/bicsi_conferences/winter/2017/presentations/GS_THURS_1.pdf#page=32

 

 

Actually the switch + 2 cables cost 442,800 yen which is more like 3373EUR. So yes, it's 20% cheaper in Japan as all Japanese audio products are (check Accuphase for example).

Now add import costs (shipping, customs, VAT). 

But hey, if it's a better deal, go ahead and buy it in Japan  

 

Best regards, 

Marcin

[mozes]

2 hours ago, seeteeyou said:

 

 

Anyways, it would be interesting if someone were giving this $75.95 cable a try

 

https://www.markertek.com/product/cat6a-revmm-006/laird-cat6a-revmm-belden-cat6a-revconnect-rj45-male-to-male-poe-cable-assemblies-6-foot

http://www.lairddigitalcinema.com/Product.asp?cat=CABLES&subcat=DATACAB&prodclass=CAT6CAB&baseitem=CAT6A-REVMM-006&search=0&off=0&showreturn=0

https://www.bicsi.org/uploadedfiles/bicsi_conferences/winter/2017/presentations/GS_THURS_1.pdf#page=32

 

What’s so special about this cable? Do you think it is better than the CAT6A from Blue Jeans cable?

[jabbr]

On 3/12/2018 at 8:07 AM, seeteeyou said:

 

Anyways, it would be interesting if someone were giving this $75.95 cable a try

 

https://www.markertek.com/product/cat6a-revmm-006/laird-cat6a-revmm-belden-cat6a-revconnect-rj45-male-to-male-poe-cable-assemblies-6-foot

http://www.lairddigitalcinema.com/Product.asp?cat=CABLES&subcat=DATACAB&prodclass=CAT6CAB&baseitem=CAT6A-REVMM-006&search=0&off=0&showreturn=0

https://www.bicsi.org/uploadedfiles/bicsi_conferences/winter/2017/presentations/GS_THURS_1.pdf#page=32

 

 

Belden’s REVConnect is the current state of the art in Ethernet cable connections. It’s really a brilliant system — of course if >=10G 

[BigAlMc]

On 11/03/2018 at 7:41 PM, Priaptor said:

Yes Marcin is a great guy and very helpful but unfortunately he was denigrated by many on another thread on this forum regarding his new network switch. 

 

Sorry but come on. I like Marcin and think he's a great resource and contributor to this site. Some people are alas too combative, too often at times. But you can't launch a product and then decline to discuss it. Ignore the people that are being rude by all means. But a blanket "I'm out of here" that includes people asking genuine questions about your product. That's not right. Especially when your product costs nearly ten times that of the nearest competitors. 

 

When I splashed 800 euro on the Aqvox SE people told me I was crazy. But it's really improved my streaming. 

 

@Marcin_gps if you want me or others like me to consider being "more crazy" then you need to engage. That's just the way it is. You're a very knowledgeable guy and I truly hope you continue to contribute here. And for every argumentative person there's a few willing to listen. But at that price for a switch you need to make your case and do your best to ignore the haters.

 

Just my two cents. 

 

@Darryl R - nice review. I'm considering the SOtM dCBL-CAT7 but sounds like this one is worthy of consideration too.

 

Cheers, 

Alan 

[Darryl R]

Hi Alan,

 

The SOtM was on my shortlist, but I was wary of yet another filter just after the filtering on the JCAT NET card.  Some say they get a blacker background with that cable.  I wonder if there is an additional cost for that.  Also, SOtM has a hefty restocking fee for returns.  They use the same connectors, so compare what's in between -- my two cents 

[BigAlMc]

Hi Darryl, 

 

Yeah that's a fair point. I'm already using a good switch and a Baaske LAN filter (upstream of the switch) so there's perhaps a concern around too much filtering. 

 

One more rabbit hole to fret over! 

 

Glad your purchase worked out. Defo one for me to consider at some point. 

 

Cheers, 

Alan 

[Marcin_gps]

2 hours ago, BigAlMc said:

 

Sorry but come on. I like Marcin and think he's a great resource and contributor to this site. Some people are alas too combative, too often at times. But you can't launch a product and then decline to discuss it. Ignore the people that are being rude by all means. But a blanket "I'm out of here" that includes people asking genuine questions about your product. That's not right. Especially when your product costs nearly ten times that of the nearest competitors. 

 

When I splashed 800 euro on the Aqvox SE people told me I was crazy. But it's really improved my streaming. 

 

@Marcin_gps if you want me or others like me to consider being "more crazy" then you need to engage. That's just the way it is. You're a very knowledgeable guy and I truly hope you continue to contribute here. And for every argumentative person there's a few willing to listen. But at that price for a switch you need to make your case and do your best to ignore the haters.

 

Just my two cents. 

 

@Darryl R - nice review. I'm considering the SOtM dCBL-CAT7 but sounds like this one is worthy of consideration too.

 

Cheers, 

Alan 

 

I'll provide some more input, but details about the internal design are confidential. That said, there will be reviews also in the US soon, so you might want to check them. 

 

Best regards,

Marcin

[BigAlMc]

16 minutes ago, Marcin_gps said:

 

I'll provide some more input, but details about the internal design are confidential. That said, there will be reviews also in the US soon, so you might want to check them. 

 

Best regards,

Marcin

 

Fair enough Marcin. No one expects the blueprint for the secret sauce. But here's my analogy. I don't want to buy a 5k switch. But then I didn't want to buy a 800 euro switch. Yet I did last year. 

 

I didn't contribute to the other thread about the switch. But I read it because I was genuinely intrigued. Be good to know more. 

 

And thanks for taking my constructive criticism, well, constructively 

 

Cheers, 

Alan 

[seeteeyou]

On 3/12/2018 at 8:44 PM, Marcin_gps said:

Actually the switch + 2 cables cost 442,800 yen which is more like 3373EUR. So yes, it's 20% cheaper in Japan as all Japanese audio products are (check Accuphase for example).

Now add import costs (shipping, customs, VAT). 

 

You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.

 

How would you like to explain that even adding both cables at various lengths still ended up with 345,600 yen?

 

[Darryl R]

Obnoxious.  No longer following my own thread.

[BigAlMc]

On 15/03/2018 at 3:15 AM, Darryl R said:

Obnoxious.  No longer following my own thread.

 

That's a truly sad statement but understandable. 

 

@Darryl R I hope you return to your thread.

 

@ everyone else - I politely suggest any further posts are on the topic of the JCAT LAN cable or comparable ethernet cables. 

 

Personally I'd already mentioned the SOtM dCBL-CAT7 cable which was intriguing me. But I see mention on another thread of an SOtM network switch in the works which further piques my audiofool radar. 

 

Here's hoping someone with good ears does a comparison of these cables. 

 

Cheers, 

Alan 

[Darryl R]

19 hours ago, BigAlMc said:

 

@Darryl R I hope you return to your thread.

 

 

Alan,

 

Your post still came thru.  Here's some more great cable from Marcin.  On his recommendation, I moved my OS to a new SSD with SLC NAND and the JCAT Signature SATA, and only my music library is on the 4TB Samsung.