Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion HiFi & HT Chat Has anyone compared the Furutech LAN-10G with standard ethernet cables

Hi,

It's true that the Ethernet cables carry a digital signal. So do USB, SPDIF & AES/EBU. To my experience and others there is a difference even in these cables.

I have made tests on people who don't have price, brand or techology knowhow but to them there is a clear difference, when comparing a cheap SPDIF or a expensive SPDIF.

I have also heard from people who I really trust when it comes to judging audio sayning there is difference in USB.

Even many tests/reviews point in this direction.

Happy listening, Per Nilsson

Per,

I'm not saying there is no validity in what you say, I'm saying that in repeated blind tests, the best engineered product was consistently better, regardless of price. In every case there was a sound engineering reason why.
So long as you properly isolate the digital receiving stage from the DACs there should be no effects from cables.

The huge caveat is that you must isolate the digital and analogue stages properly.

AES/EBU type I is 110 Ohms, the spec allows for +/-20% so 100 ohms will work, but so will 88 ohms and 132 ohms.

The point is that AES/EBU is so robust you can run it over pretty much anything and it will work. The impedance mismatch is there, but it makes no difference.

I've run it over a 3 core 13a cable without any problems, there are tales of it being run over a piece of wet string through a fish tank and it still working...

I think we're both cable agnostic, we'll believe if we're shown proof.

Steve,
If you buy an off-the-shelf AES/EBU transceiver, TI and Cirrus Logic both make them IIRC, it will be optimised for 110 Ohm for sure.
If you take the SPDIF output from your DSP chip and put it through a pair of inverting and non-inverting amplifiers, you can drive whatever impedance cable you want.

Hi Mudge

I totally agree with you that the well engineered products often deliver the best performance. Also an important factor is the materials used in the component. It dosent matter if its a loudspeaker, DAC or a cable. Well engineered products made of good materials/components are the most expensive, not always, but very often.

Best regards, Per Nilsson

PS I am still missing any input of a real comparsion between standard ethernet and audio ethernet cable.

Hi Xanavi,

my local dealer mentioned that they may get some similar cables in and when I get chance I will see what they do (SQ).

Search for my "snake oil" thread of a few years back and you'll see that I am 'cable agnostic'. I don't start with the premise that expensive is better.

However, differences are sometimes there to be heard.

Will post some thoughts whenever I get around to checking them out.

Hi Nick

Sounds great! I am really looking forward to this test. I truly understand your concern regarding the cable industry.

Happy testing when you get your hands on the cables.

Best regards, Per Nilsson

I too would be interested to hear any comparative results with respect to the Furu. May even try one for myself some day. I'm sure that it will sound different. But better? Perhaps yes, perhaps no. Who knows?

I for one concur that more expensive isn't neccesarily better. It's all about the match, and your own preferences.