Excellent Ethernet Audio Cable Debunk!

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It has been some time since our above friend visited.

Concluding Ethernet cables cannot possibly sound different because there are no bit errors regardless of the cable used is a logical fallacy and a strawman.

No one claims “lesser” cables produce bit errors, they do not. That is, the argument reproduced in your first post is not “proof”, it is instead irrelevant puffery. It side-steps the actual issues.

And no bias here; I have no Ethernet cables in any of my systems. But I know the smell of BS.

Whether one can or cannot hear a difference in the sound of various Ethernet cables depends on the system in which they are integrated. There is no easy yes/no.

But if one has concluded going in there cannot possibly be any difference we can expect there to be a report of “no difference.”

Happy listening.

He/she never swallows…! :slightly_smiling_face:

My popcorn buddy!

Well it will depend on one’s system, hearing, room acoustics to discern differences. But early on I discovered Ethernet cables all will sound different. Audio Bacon did numerous tests and paid for nasty comments starting over 5 years ago. Materials , conductors, shielding and vibration abatement all play a role.

I have tried many different Ethernet cables. In my experience the differences between them were not always obvious. The MUON Pro System on the other hand is a very noticeable improvement. But it is priced around $2500. In my system it makes a huge difference. Try it first.

I’ve tried Inakustik, AQ Diamond, Sablon, Omega (no, just kidding, Donald), Pink Faun, Muon Pro Ethernet cables and they all sound different. Let me add: even a combination of them (from router to switch and from switch to server/streamer) can provide different results, sonically speaking. In my system.
The Muon Pro filter provided the most relevant and pleasant improvement, Al I agree with you. Oddly I didn’t like the Muon Streaming cable, so I don’t use the complete Muon System. It’s a matter of synergy, maybe.
At the end of the day (and at the end of the path) when I plugged in the new STEALTH ULTRA I found the right cable for me. Using also the Pink Faun upstream. This combo checks all my boxes.

Yes indeed, to a degree dependent one one’s system particulars, and its overall resolution. Best to select several cables for trial and compare within your installation.

Luca, thanks for the information on the Stealth Ultra ethernet cable. Did you ever do a detailed review of that cable? I saw that several Stealth ethernet cables are listed on the Cable Company website as part of Stealth’s Black Magic series. The most expensive option listed appears to be the LAN V21 Cat Ultra 8. Is that your cable or a different one made by Stealth?

Thanks for any clarification you can provide.

No it’s a new model that you can’t find on the Cable Co website. Its name is ULTRA.

Take a look at STEALTH official price list:

You can watch also a review on YT:

So, your Stealth has the tunable collar (T-Select). Did you easily find the sweet spot?

I became familiar with the T-collar using the Dream 20-…. It was quite easy to find the area where the sound was most focused. Playing female voices helps a lot.
With the Ethernet cable I applied the same method, very easy!

I know other STEALTH owners who completely ignore this tuning collar (guess who). It does not change the tonal balance or the PRAT, it simply acts like the lens of a camera, improving the focus of the image, which can appear thinner or fatter in edges, details and definition.

You mean the Stealth tuning ring can compete with @vmax’s? Wow, that will be something!

Wait, I have tested Stealth T-select USB before. Yeah, I guess you are right. Time to adjust my rings again (vmax’s I mean).

Having used Vmax’s tuning ring for a while, especially on Dragon PC, let me say that are different. They effectively change the tonality and the sound can be warmer for instance. The STEALTH collar makes a different job, it brings the same sound, just providing a better focused image.

Wait, I totally misunderstood you! You were saying Ethernet cables DON’T make a difference? Well shucks, everybody knows that.

Maybe only those who own a Grimm MUx!

(With a MUON Pro System)

I recently replaced a Pangea SE ethernet cable with an SR Foundation one. From the time I plugged it in, I heard some details I had not noticed before in very familiar recordings, and instruments sounded more natural (better harmonics?). More important, there was a greater sense that the instruments were playing together in a space. At the same time, the sound was a little rough around the edges.

Now with about 50 hours of break in, the roughness is gone. I’m continuing to enjoy the details and the natural sound that I got all along plus the more organic (for want of a better word) presentation. That’s what I’ve experienced; make of it what you will.