Also gave the LINKUP Cat 8 a try. I needed a small patch from the Orbi sat to LHY SW-10 switch. I was using just some generic Cat 6 I had lying around for this slot. Not a critical position in the digital chain but I expected something good to come of it. I immediately felt everything went backwards. Will put the Cat 6 back in and see what I hear. Also tried a length from switch to my OLED TV. No noticeable difference. YMMV as they say!
One thing I will say about the LINKUP - the one place where I did notice something that made my ears take notice was a bit more articulation in the extreme low end. But it was at the expense of pretty much everything else. All these differences are somewhat minor, but in highly resolving systems everything seems to show up.
Interesting to read the Link-Up CAT8 comments here because I put the 22AWG version in and I came back here to ask if it needed break-in or something, because on first blush it does not sound good between my SW6 isolated port and the MU1 compared to a Blue Jeans Cables CAT6A - recessed, loss of detail and dynamics, almost muffled. The BJC was a noticeable improvement over a generic CAT6 and the Link-Up is a few steps back, perhaps even inferior to the generic cable. I’m debating if I should try lifting the ground but it definitely doesn’t sound right in stock form.
Jeepers, my old no-name crap cable must have been really bad (it didn’t even have any label), as the Linkup was an improvement on that. I was figuring the “last cable” was the important one (Furutech Cat 8 NCF) and what was upstream didn’t matter so much given what is in the limestone wall (18 year old Cat-whatever). Unfortunately, re-wiring in wall is not feasible in my home due to its construction (flat roof with no working space, mixture of steel frame & limestone blocks) and size. Maybe there is a burn in period for the Linkup, which got a positive plug from Andreas @Stier2704 …?
…. ah, patience!!
Reading Comprehension Failure ------> Corrected.
Hi Al, I was referring to the ethernet cable in the wall. I think it’s Cat 6. The power cable in the wall should be fine.
A few days turned into a week for me and it didn’t sound any better.
Not better or different? Cables are like spices. Cat 8 offers a high level of shielding against interference. Some prefer unshielded Cat 6 cables. RF interference can result in a brighter sound, and some systems benefit from this. The link-up is a good Cat 8 entry-level cable. Don’t expect it to sound like a $1000 cable. It was more of a recommendation from me for those who don’t want to invest huge amounts of money. The link-up has many positive reviews. Personally, I like a Furutech Cat 8 better. It offers blackness and subtle resolution. The link-up doesn’t do much wrong. A standard Ethernet cable sounds brighter, but perhaps also jittery. The link-up has a more controlled low end. As with many changes, it depends on the desired effect.
I did say YMMV. The LINKUP Cat8 is not the right fit for my system, I’m sure it may be for others.
The Furutech Cat 8 is my “final” ethernet cable, into my Mac mini (BACCH4Mac). The Linkup cables were never intended for that final step, only upstream of it to replace un-named cables (some without any labels at all). That made a positive contribution to my setup - I’m very appreciative of the recommendations from you and others on these forums!!
See my last entry - perhaps Linkup isn’t suited as the “last” connection to your streamer. My use was upstream, replacing junk.
Recently I upgraded my standard cat6 for a Link-up AWG26. In my case a nice improvement. Then to discover they also make the AWG22. So ordered for both my nas and router to SW6. Big improvement in two steps over the AWG26 more substantial staging and definition. Firmer bass as well. At this price point hardly too big a risk to try.
Glad I jumped and now I can only imagine what the likes of an Omega may deliver…
Thank you, that comforts me. I felt guilty about recommending something. I used link-up on the modem and before the switch, not as the last cable before the streamer. I have often wondered whether it makes a difference to replace the link-up on the modem with a Furutech LAN. I had already thought of that. But I also think that if I switched everything to fiber optic, I would have a lot of cable left over.
Understood. I could try it earlier in my chain, but my cable modem goes via a very short BJC Belden CAT6e directly to a fiber optic conversion, and from there to the optical port of my Ubiquiti EdgeRouter. From there it’s another longer run of BJC Belden CAT6e to the sound room. The bit of Monoprice CAT6 is from that point to the LHY SW-6. From there it’s optical to my streamer. That lowly bit of Monoprice was originally selected over a number of other (granted, not uber-priced) CAT brands and types just because it sounded the best to me. My own experience suggests that if a system is tuned to a user’s satisfaction, a change can almost always be different, but not always better… for that system and user. In my system can the chain up to the SW-6 be better? I think so, but maybe it’ll be through some other means.
Just wanted to chime in - I just received my Muon Pro - inserted after eero router into isolated port on SW-6 then fiber to SW-10 and on to Roon Server and Lumin U2. Initial impression is very positive - All music sounds better - more alive yet relaxed. Darker background - More lifelike and detailed in all frequencies. Loving it so far!
Congratulations! Mine is still in Gallup, MN. Even though FedEx says it will arrive tomorrow, I had a feeling Wednesday is more realistic.
Edit: I just got an update from FedEx, and it has arrived in CA. So, I may get it tomorrow
I assumed you use FO between SW10 and Lumin U2 also, and you may want to try Muon Pro in front of U2 to compare. It is possible Muon Pro would sound even better than FO.
I’ll get mine today after morning golf🏌🏽♂️
That is a good idea and I will try that - all I know to tell you is keep your head down and follow thru ha! It’s a great day! New exciting upgrade! Thank you…
I am curious to know what fuse (s) people have the best results with in Network switch? Thanks!