What ethernet cable for endpoint

heiney9

Since I just received my UpTone Audio EtherRegen I need a solid, nice sounding network cable to go from the ER to the Blue Sound Node 3

Max I want to spend at the moment is $300.

I've narrowed it down to a few. Thoughts, recommendations, etc. This will be my jumping off point so to speak.

https://ghentaudio.com/pc/et11.html

https://www.moon-audio.com/silver-dragon-network-cable.html

https://audiolund.com/product/reference-series-rj45-ethernet-cable/

I am open to other suggestions and I may upgrade the cable in the future.

H9

Gardenstater

Personally I'm contemplating, for a small run, purchasing some bulk cable from DH Labs and getting connectors and making my own. Has anyone here done this? Any downside?

https://silversonic.com/products/bulk-cable/bulk-digital-cable/reunion-cat8/

https://www.televes.com/us/datacom/copper-solutions/connectors.html

treitz3

Here is a post that I read recently on another forum where a guy auditioned various cables, then posted his findings. FWIW.

Back in 2019, when I was setting up my first "streaming" system, I used an approach for evaluating Ethernet cable that I learned working as a Design for Six Sigma Master Belt, "Competitive Benchmarking". From the Cable Company I rented in Ethernet cables from Audioquest, Wireworld, and also bought some affordable Ethernet cables. The cables I evaluated in my benchmarking were AQ Cinnamon, AQ Vodka, WW Starlight Cat 8, Supra Cat 8, generic Belden Cat 6A, and Shunyata Venom and Alpha.

The worst was generic Belden Cat 6A. The WW Starlight Cat 8 had some good qualities, but I found it excessively bright and fatiguing for more than 30 minutes or so. The AQ Cinnamon was decent, better than the Belden, not as good as the Supra Cat 8, which of all the affordable cables, was my favorite, though it could be a bit forward and aggressive, depending on the mastering of specific content.

The Shunyata Ethernet cables, however, were in a whole other league, it wasn't even close. Even the "entry-level" smoked virtually everything else, and by a ways.

While I never tried any of the cables he mentioned, the Shunyata Venom was the first E cable I purchased when I decided to go balls to the wall on the streaming setup. It's still in my system and I have no intentions to upgrade. I looked and couldn't find any that were used at the moment, but for your consideration, I would add this to the list.

It is beyond your proposed budget at this time (new) but if you can find one that is used? It should fit within or below your budget.

I do remember you needing a longer length than 1.5 meters. Now that you have the ER, I take it that you can use what I would consider, the standard length E cable? (I.E. - 1.5 meters)

[EDIT:] the used prices range from $320 to around $350, so I may be incorrect with it being within your proposed budget. They also do not come up for sale very often from what I see.

[EDIT 2:]There were two that recently sold in the US at $260 and $265

Tom

jdjohn

I like the Supra Cat 8...very affordable for longer runs.

VR3

I'm running audiolund everywhere and for the money they are hard to beat

treitz3

You are running with the exact Audiolund E cable he's eying as well. One of these days, we should do a shootout just for S&Giggles...

Tom

VR3

That's the ones I sold @Reagan I moved up to the silver duelund mix series

treitz3

Ah. I forgot about that. Well, maybe we can do a shootout when he's done with his mod's/build.

Tom

heiney9

There is a Shunyata Alpha on US Audio Mart for $700, but I have to slow the roll on audio spending for a bit. I've bought a LOT in the past year or so and the GF, while supportive, wants to take a trip soon. I can't use all the fun money for just audio!

The ultimate ethernet cable (run between the ER and Node 3) will be a future purchase. I am intrigued by the Shunyata cables as not only do you, Tom, highly recommend them, but so do others.

But the Audiolund also seems like a good choice for a lot less $$$.

I may just get a 1.5M - Pangea Audio Premier SE as a place holder. Then in the future get the ultimate ethernet cable and use the Pangea between the modem and router, so it won't be a wasteful purchase.

I don't have the patience or tools to build my own confidently.

H9

VR3

The audiolund reference was 90% of the performance of the muon cable which was much more

heiney9

VR3 wrote: »

The audiolund reference was 90% of the performance of the muon cable which was much more

Good to know............maybe I can squeeze a bit more out of the present budget and just go for that and be done. I told myself when I re-energized my passion for audio in the past year I was going try and be less analytical and critical and strive more for enjoying the music and rig without constantly trying to over analyze everything to the "nth" degree. I still have critical standards, but in the past all I was doing was chasing more than enjoying what I already have.

I still want stellar sound, but I am slanting towards enjoyment rather than constantly chasing something. So a good cable that I have confidence in and sounds great the 1st time is fine by me.

Sort of an analyze, gather info, buy something with confidence and set-it and forget it.

H9

heiney9

Trey, how flexible is the Reference? The photo's make it look like a fat cable that could be harder to handle. The flexibility will determine the length for me.

H9

treitz3

Personally, I would steer clear of the Pangea (That's just me). Would definitely recommend the Audiolund Reference. That does hit well above its price point, sound wise.

Just for clarity, the only two on your list (okay, I added the Venom) that I have first hand and direct experience with is the Audiolund and the Shunyata. I can definitely vouch that both are very good cables. You wouldn't have to wonder anymore with either. You could, if you will, consider either of them great "foundational" cables.

Tom

treitz3

Oh.....keep in mind about the conversion rates when it comes to the Audiolund cables. While shipping is about $50, you can knock off about 25% off of the listed price when converting to USD.

Tom

heiney9

The website has a $ sign in front of the price, so I assumed it was in dollars?

VR3

Audiolund prices are all Singapore dollars

The reference is oddly flexible given its diameter but you do need to leave room for bends

Dr_Wu

Between my ER and Lumin U2 Mini streamer, I've had the AQ Vodka, and now the Revelation Audio Labs (RAL) Prophecy. imo, the RAL sounds way better.

polrbehr

Gardenstater wrote: »

Personally I'm contemplating, for a small run, purchasing some bulk cable from DH Labs and getting connectors and making my own. Has anyone here done this? Any downside?

https://silversonic.com/products/bulk-cable/bulk-digital-cable/reunion-cat8/

https://www.televes.com/us/datacom/copper-solutions/connectors.html

I have. My entire house (ok, not the Cave, yet) is now hard wired for internet, though admittedly, I only used Cat5e cable. I bought 1000' box, a pack of 100 connectors, 100 of those dust boot things, and a Klein ratcheting crimp/strip/etc. tool. IIRC it was close to $100 for all that a few years ago. Then add in a 24 port hub and a couple 8 port hubs, and the various installation items needed, and it's another $175?
OK, so it's not an audiophile grade system, but it works and it allows me to eliminate quite a few things off the WiFi signal.
But yes, I think you can do your own cabling.

Gardenstater

polrbehr wrote: »

Gardenstater wrote: »

Personally I'm contemplating, for a small run, purchasing some bulk cable from DH Labs and getting connectors and making my own. Has anyone here done this? Any downside?

https://silversonic.com/products/bulk-cable/bulk-digital-cable/reunion-cat8/

https://www.televes.com/us/datacom/copper-solutions/connectors.html

I have. My entire house (ok, not the Cave, yet) is now hard wired for internet, though admittedly, I only used Cat5e cable. I bought 1000' box, a pack of 100 connectors, 100 of those dust boot things, and a Klein ratcheting crimp/strip/etc. tool. IIRC it was close to $100 for all that a few years ago. Then add in a 24 port hub and a couple 8 port hubs, and the various installation items needed, and it's another $175?
OK, so it's not an audiophile grade system, but it works and it allows me to eliminate quite a few things off the WiFi signal.
But yes, I think you can do your own cabling.

Thanks! I made one once that was for a friend's Raytheon radar installation in his 37ft. sailboat and of course that was not audiophile grade lol, but it was not very difficult for me to do using his crimping tool and plastic shelled connectors he supplied me with. Where do you get the dust boots and connectors you used?

I think that a pretty common denominator in the audiophile marketed ethernet cables is that there is shielding in the connectors themselves due to a metal construction rather than plastic. My interest right now is in trying to source these for DIY shielded cable connectors and they could be either tool-less design or crimp on. So far I only found the ones from that company in Spain and I don't have any place
to buy them at the moment.

erniejade

Dr_Wu wrote: »

Between my ER and Lumin U2 Mini streamer, I've had the AQ Vodka, and now the Revelation Audio Labs (RAL) Prophecy. imo, the RAL sounds way better.

Agreed. The RAL Ethernet is darn good.

pitdogg2

Davidjohn reported

msg

Gardenstater wrote: »

Personally I'm contemplating, for a small run, purchasing some bulk cable from DH Labs and getting connectors and making my own. Has anyone here done this? Any downside?

https://silversonic.com/products/bulk-cable/bulk-digital-cable/reunion-cat8/

https://www.televes.com/us/datacom/copper-solutions/connectors.html

Give it a shot!
Keep the twists as close to the end as you can, and make sure you crimp in part of the jacket for strain relief, and try to find some quality connectors. Whatever that means. Careful to score the jacket and not nick the conductors. I'd think you'd want shielded, and maybe follow convention on interconnects with the shield/drain, if using metal encased connectors, wherein we only make the shield connection at the source end. Not sure if that's a thing since I've never used shielded nor metal Ethernet connectors. That's all I got. If you started a new thread on that, I'd follow along.

Making cables is fun, and Ethernet ones are easy after a couple of practice runs. I might try that, myself, now that you mention it. I hadn't considered finding up-qual bulk Ethernet cable before. I have a couple of long runs from the main network switch to intermediate switches and audio and video streaming devices.

msg

pitdogg2 wrote: »

Davidjohn reported

LOL, DAMmit, victim of the necrospammer!

So @Gardenstater - did you ever make your own cables?

Gardenstater

No I haven't Scott. My MO is first I buy the materials for these projects and then a year or so later it gets done and I haven't bought the stuff for this yet 🤣

First on deck is a couple power cables and steel rod braces for the 7B baffles. Those I have the stuff for so maybe several months lol.

msg

Lol, at least you've started!