CAT7 on the Sooloos
 

Installed CAT7 on the 3 Sooloos pieces, direct runs to the switch, in place of CAT5E last night. It will be interesting to see if the shielding of the 7 makes any difference....more to follow

So I put 3 Monoprice CAT7 cables in, two 15m in length and one 20m between my network switch and the Sooloos C10, TwinStore and the 818v2. At first everything sounded a bit disjointed but after a few hours things started to improve. A day later all I can say is there definitely is a difference in network cable. It's rather shocking actually. Differences: dynamics, especially micro dynamics. Focus, dimensionality, depth, sense of space within the performance are all greatly improved. Side wall space is much more defined. And body...everything has more "meat on the bones".
Why? It has to be the shielding difference between the CAT5e I was using and the CAT7.
(BTW, I ran the CAT7 right along side the previous CAT5E)
Well, I was really not expecting much here and was skeptical about any differences in network cables but I just had to hear for myself. Now I find this one of the biggest improvements I have ever made in my system
Now I wonder how the AQ Diamond would sound??!!!

Get the AQ Vodka as the minimum and you will love it.

The AQ Diamond is clearly better but impractical price for anything longer than 1.5m.

My current setup:
MC200 with medical grade SMPS, Teddy Pardo 12V/4.5A->AQ Diamond 1.5m->8-port switch with LPSU->AQ Vodka 5,0m->Acousence Giso GB Lan isolator->AQ Diamond 1.5m-> ID41/861v8

Crion

I need long runs (at least 15m) and it looks like AQ's max length is 12m

Is the AQ really better than standard CAT7?

Definately, but I think custom 15m might be possible on the vodka, but check with AQ to be sure for the specific lengths you need.

And don't dismiss having quality cable on the longer lengths. You will like it if at all possible.

Guys, I am a bit confused. As I understand there is no music or electrical signals being moved over this CAT 5-6-7. Data packets are sent to the ID4x Card where Audio Processing, i.e. Resolution Enhancement to 24bit and Upsampling / Apodizing to 88Khz or 96kHz is performed.

The Core does not Upsample or Apodize; that is performed by the Audio Endpoint only.

Help me.

Hi Jim, the core sends unpacked FLAC ie. PCM in ethernet packets which are assembled at ID41 card.

We have seen or rather heard the differences as clear as when you change other important cables in the system.

The Acousence Giso GB LAN isolator have also been an accepted solution to minimize RFI/EMI entering your preamp.

Initially I shared yours and others sceptism but after trying the AQ Vodka, AQ Diamond RJ45 as well as a Giso GB I'm appreciating what they are doing.

I can't challenge what you are hearing. In general I believe in better cables for all audio, but for me these are just delivered data packets where all the audio "work" is performed in the EndPoint .

Where does one purchase the GISO GB

Crion
Yikes. I don't think I want to spend ~$8000 to run 8m of ethernet AQ Diamond RJ45 cable from my MC200 down to my 808.

I currently have a short 1m length of Meridian Speakerlink connecting my Wirelees router to the MC200, then CAT7 down to my two channel room. I guess I could move my MC200 down closer to the MC200 by connecting the CAT 7 directly to the router. Then I would upgrade the shorter connection between the 200 and 808. :dunno:

I told you :)
Go with the AQ Vodka on longer lengths than 1.5m (5+ feet).


Just send an email that you want a GISO GB to:

info@acousence.de

They will send you a paypal invoice where you pay for it.

Product page:

GISO