To the audiophile, this $10,000 Ethernet cable apparently makes sense

[Mikado463]

Originally Posted by eljr

But if the cord is up to the job then the replacement exceeding requirements is functionally irrelevant . That is all I am saying. If it makes you feel good as it often does me to upgrade it anyway... Enjoy!

I concur Ed …………. and Dan more or less said the same thing. Regardless the science / technology behind the given product still has a point of diminishing return as it relates to $$ spent IMO.

[Golucid]

We live in an amazing dynamic society with a plethora of dynamic opportunities and luxurious options. I think it’s awesome that if we wanted this cable that perhaps we could entertain the possibility. Whatever floats your boat and brings you joy -- that’s what matters, being happy and content. Sweet!

[BlueFox]

I would not be surprised if there is some combination of network and gear where an average Ethernet cable could degrade the audio, but still give the correct checksum in regard to data integrity.

What is being overlooked is that 1s and 0s are not being transmitted on an Ethernet cable. Rather, it is an analog voltage that represents a 1 or 0. It is certainly possible that as the cable length increases that jitter can be introduced into the signal. While the reconverted data will give the correct checksum, any jitter introduced will result in the music being degraded.

However, if this is possible I suspect it will only apply to a very small number of configurations. For example, if you are streaming data over Ethernet and the receiving device does not buffer and reclock it before converting to analog then jitter could affect the end result.

Whether it requires a $10,000 cable to overcome this is another question.

Then again, maybe this hypothosis is wrong since I am just speculating here.

[chessman]

Again, the $10,000 figure is a red herring because that is the price of a 12 meter cable. A one meter cable would be well within what many here would think of as reasonable.

[JemHadar]

Originally Posted by BlueFox

I would not be surprised if there is some combination of network and gear where an average Ethernet cable could degrade the audio, but still give the correct checksum in regard to data integrity.

What is being overlooked is that 1s and 0s are not being transmitted on an Ethernet cable. Rather, it is an analog voltage that represents a 1 or 0. It is certainly possible that as the cable length increases that jitter can be introduced into the signal. While the reconverted data will give the correct checksum, any jitter introduced will result in the music being degraded.

However, if this is possible I suspect it will only apply to a very small number of configurations. For example, if you are streaming data over Ethernet and the receiving device does not buffer and reclock it before converting to analog then jitter could affect the end result.

Whether it requires a $10,000 cable to overcome this is another question.

Then again, maybe this hypothosis is wrong since I am just speculating here.

Google "Ethernet" or the "7 layer OSI Model" or a combination of both. There are enough opportunities on the WWW to educate yourself. If this cable is used for Ethernet, there is no way that it can have an impact on audio quality. It works according to the Ethernet specifications or it doesn't, there is no inbetween...and no marketing hyperbole will change that.

being curious can save you a lot of money.

[Haurock]

Originally Posted by eljr

Missed my point.

I am not one of those to suggest that because a wire or rock cannot be demonstrated to improve performance that it therefore cannot contribute to uplifting the experience.

BTW, my questions were rhetorical to avoid this.

I have upgraded my cables but I didn't expect for a second that I would benefit from improved audio or vidio. I simply enjoy it aesthetically.

They do contribute to my enhanced pleasure derived from my audio.

and I believe you missed mine... I upgraded all of my McIntosh power cables because the end 'sound' result is better, not for aesthetics reasons. I don't even see them. I would not avoid buying McIntosh equipment simply because their power cables are not the best in the business.

Improving the quality of what someone purchases by changing an aspect of it happens all the time.

Case in point. Stillpoints -> or anti-vibration doodads. Buy them to replace the footings of your speakers. Why would you want to pay $$$$$$ just to change the footings of your speakers? There could be many reasons actually, one of them, is they actually do improve the sound...

So, if I follow your logic, let's stop buying any audio gear altogether, because what is being sold out of the box, is not the maximum... therefore you would not buy it.

[Haurock]

well not really my cup of tea... but, yeah.. crazy is as crazy does...

Originally Posted by bart

Yeah Rock, after all we're not so crazy, are we?!

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by eljr

Speaking strictly for myself, if a manufacturer cut corners and included a wire that did not maximize his product's potential I would not buy from them no matter what the reason.

Why not change a transformer or circuit board in an amp?

Why not change the crossover section of a speaker or a driver?

Nothing wrong with any of this if your hobby is modifying electronics.

But to change a power cord because it's not at the same level as the other parts of the product? If a manufacturer "traded off" on a power cord, I am sure he also did on the driver.

Like I said, if the cord is not up to the job, I don't trust the manufacturer for anything.

If there are no trade offs then all of our speakers would list for over $x00k. Same for all of the six figure digital front ends, turntables and amps on the market.

[BlueFox]

Skip it

[Maks]

Originally Posted by Jem666

Google "Ethernet" or the "7 layer OSI Model" or a combination of both. There are enough opportunities on the WWW to educate yourself. If this cable is used for Ethernet, there is no way that it can have an impact on audio quality. It works according to the Ethernet specifications or it doesn't, there is no inbetween...and no marketing hyperbole will change that.

being curious can save you a lot of money.

I hate to get involved in these cable wars, but FWIW I've been in the data centers of many large trading firms over the years. These are networks where microseconds of latency can potentially cost millions of dollars. Guess what kind of ethernet cables these companies with sky high IT budgets use? Special "directional" high-end trading firm cables for ultra-low latency with oxygen free cable and gold connectors? Nope, no such thing. They use the same cables as smaller organizations. Now that ethernet and USB cables are being used to transmit audio data, I'm seeing a lot of nonsense arguments from people who don't understand how either of those protocols work under the hood.

Also, this isn't directed at Jem666, just some additional information as I agree w/him.