Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming RJ45 Cables (Ethernet and SpeakerLink Use Cases)

I have tested the Audioquest Vodka (RJ45 cable) from the Ethernet switch to the ID41 card in my 861 and to my MS600 and experienced a major improvement in sound quality. I also tested the cable to MS200 but nothing happend.

Has anyone a good explanation to this. How can a package based transmission be improved by a cable?

Herman,

The most probable reason is that AQ is Cat-7 and you have been using Cat-5e. In Cat7, each twisted pair is individually shielded, whereas, I believe, Cat5e is not shielded (see a picture of Cat7 in Wikipedia)

It all depends on how long the cable is and which path it is taking. Which brings the point of MS200 - you might hear the difference if you move MS200 to where MS600 is. It might very well be that there is much less RF around MS200 as it is now located - thus less (or no) improvement.

Lastly, if you can, I would recommend that you purchase a regular Cat7 cable and re-try your tests. Even though AQ seems to have better metallurgy & connectors, the SQ difference might be negligible. A typical 3ft (~1m) Cat7 is about $3.50 here in US. Not sure how much AQ costs.

In the end, your ears should decide

What you say was my idea as well (RF interference). But I switched between AQ Vodka and AQ Cinnamon and could hear an improvement in sound quality.

Well, there goes my theory as both AQ's are Cat7.

I do hear difference between Cat5e and Cat7 but not between different Cat7's.

Are they both shielded twisted pair?

Ken

If they are cat 7, I believe they are by default.

I use an Audioquest Diamond Ethernet cable between the SpeakerLink output of my 818 to the SpeakerLink input of my 861.

In this application, balanced digital audio is being carried between the two pieces. I found this cable clearly superior to the SpeakerLink cable from Meridian and also superior enough to the AQ Vodka cable to justify its purchase.

There is no way to know without trying for yourself. BTW, I liked the Vodka cable better than the Meridian SpeakerLink cable, which in turn is better than a Cat 7 cable in my system for my application.

Sorry, but a Balanced AES Digital connection has much different requirements to a standard Ethernet connection which adds a whole layer of Error Correction and Packet Retransmission etc, etc that a Digital PCM stream does not have

If the original Cat 5 cable was Unshielded, then PERHAPS RFI interference is a concern (even though the ID41 has built in RFI filters)

I might consider using one of these Audioquest cables to see if it makes my personal finances spreadsheet look any better

Was it UTP or STP that was stamped onto the side of the original cable from your Router to your ID41??

I always hesitate to post my experiences in tweaking performance of my Meridian setup because so many people say it makes no difference. High performance cables are a particular hot button.

From my many years of listening to music on a high resolution system as a hobby, I simply try for myself if at all curious. I arranged for a 30 day no risk audition of the Audioquest cables in my system. I removed the cat 7 cable I had made for me and substituted the AQ cables. My experiences lead me to post my comments and purchase the cable I did. If it did not make a difference or I felt it was not worth the cost, I would have returned it with nothing lost but a bit of my time. That is my attitude auditioning any thing viewed as a tweak. If curious, try for yourself. In your system, it may make a worthwhile difference like it did for me and you will enjoy your setup just that bit more. If no difference, nothing lost but your time and you move on. This is a hobby for enjoyment!

The point is that I don't doubt that Cable Construction and Termination can make a difference when used as A SpeakerLink or Balanced AES Digital connection cable.

However, when the Audioquest Cat 7 cable is used purely as an Ethernet cable, then aside from RFI Shielding, it's very difficult if not impossible for one Ethernet cable to perform differently to another.

Analog, Coax and SpeakerLink cables can offer performance differences... But SHIELDED Ethernet cables will perform equally in all applications.

If they didn't, think of the Catastrophic consequences for the Nuclear, Banking, Financial and Healthcare industries... Where both the RECEIPT and the TIMING of that Receipt is FAR more critical than it is for music reproduction.

Cables? Don't get me started! I know next to nothing about the technical aspects and have never A-B tested any cables. For me, life's too short, but if someone hears (or thinks they hear) a difference, go for it! Life's too short not to upgrade!