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01-23-2015 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,131
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 1
Post ID: 21513
Reply to: 21513
Sound of Ehernet cables?
fiogf49gjkf0d
I have no dog in this fight, in fact I have even no opinion on the subject. However, the subject is kind of fascinating and ridicules at the same time.

The guys who sell digital audio and all of those NAS storages for DAWs and network streaming hardware, they all insist that Ehernet cables wary by sound quality. Hmmmmm. I do not know.

We all know that digital cables between PCM transports and DACs do the same digital and we all make fan of the BS regarding "shaping the leading edge of the pulse". Still for one of other reasons no one would argue that coaxial all RCA , XLR and BNC do sound different. I would like to let aside the stories about dither and matching between the coaxial cable topology to the specific interface implementation. The coaxial do sound different and it is what it is.

Now we have the Cat6 Ehernet cables? Do those suckers sound different as well? I would like do not be explained why, I would like to be left in life some room for sanity, but I would like to be told that somebody in fact did this test. The most interesting is how to do the test? If I take a HH in NAS and locate it 1foot from PC and then move it 20 foot from PC then would I hear the sound of those 20 feet Ehernet cables? What would it be if I have a switch between it? Shall I hear it? Well, I truly do not know how to think about all of it.

Rgs, the Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
01-24-2015 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
rowuk


Germany
Posts 454
Joined on 07-05-2012
Post #: 2
Post ID: 21515
Reply to: 21513
Equipment for the recording engineer
fiogf49gjkf0d
There is always the argument that if you can't hear it, it can simply mean that your hearing sucks.......

When my second son was setting up his mobile recording studio we wanted an external RAID array for speed (more speed, more channels/resolution possible) and security. The fastest bus available was gigabit ethernet at the time. I tried a whole bunch of cables, short/long (from 30cm to 50 feet), CAT6, CAT7, Teflon, Polypropylene, litz/solid core. I was not able to hear any differences on the original raw masters. The quality of the hardware and the performances were not in the way of judgement. No DSP, EQ, anything. I listened through speakers and headphones.

We did not mess with switches.
 Romy the Cat wrote:
I have no dog in this fight, in fact I have even no opinion on the subject. However, the subject is kind of fascinating and ridicules at the same time.

The guys who sell digital audio and all of those NAS storages for DAWs and network streaming hardware, they all insist that Ehernet cables wary by sound quality. Hmmmmm. I do not know.

We all know that digital cables between PCM transports and DACs do the same digital and we all make fan of the BS regarding "shaping the leading edge of the pulse". Still for one of other reasons no one would argue that coaxial all RCA , XLR and BNC do sound different. I would like to let aside the stories about dither and matching between the coaxial cable topology to the specific interface implementation. The coaxial do sound different and it is what it is.

Now we have the Cat6 Ehernet cables? Do those suckers sound different as well? I would like do not be explained why, I would like to be left in life some room for sanity, but I would like to be told that somebody in fact did this test. The most interesting is how to do the test? If I take a HH in NAS and locate it 1foot from PC and then move it 20 foot from PC then would I hear the sound of those 20 feet Ehernet cables? What would it be if I have a switch between it? Shall I hear it? Well, I truly do not know how to think about all of it.

Rgs, the Cat


Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.
08-26-2018 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
dedobot
Posts 8
Joined on 08-25-2018
Post #: 3
Post ID: 25053
Reply to: 21513
It's simple
If ethernet , sata cables disrupt the data flow in manner to be audible what will happens with an database, file systems..etc Smile . I know - they will fail miserably in a mater of milliseconds and no any error correction algorithm can cope with that type and quantity of errors. Every capable DTrace programmer can break this myth with evidence based on strict data , not feelings . .
08-26-2018 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
dedobot
Posts 8
Joined on 08-25-2018
Post #: 4
Post ID: 25055
Reply to: 21515
Data transfer
"I was not able to hear any differences on the original raw masters"

Of course .  The transport protocol is the thing when accessing remotely data, cables are irrelevant . Between host/s and data filler/s - block storage native implementations  are best way to go .  There is iSCSI over ethernet but it have different purposes . Speaking theoretically. Nobody will able to hear difference between a well made home NAS connectivity and enterprise grade Fibre channel fabric.
08-26-2018 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
rowuk


Germany
Posts 454
Joined on 07-05-2012
Post #: 5
Post ID: 25057
Reply to: 25055
Do not assume that because you don't understand why, that it cannot happen
If I have learned anything in my time with audio, it is that EVERYTHING can make a difference because we do not understand all of the interactions. The question is where do the differences come from? 
The level of perception where these things become important and unimportant at the same time determines the need for me to deal with whatever. I have heard demonstrations with various brand USB sticks with the same files (same CRC) on the same computer sounding differently. I can't explain it, but it was there and audible, not just for me. I hear differences in interconnects max 3 meters long - far greater than with the 20-50 meter microphone cables that we use on site. Is the difference the phantom power +48V on the microphone cables? Is the difference the symmetrical layout? Both? I do not know. I do not even know how I would approach this issue.
Our tests for my son were to set his mind at ease that he was doing the best possible thing for our level of perception - as well as that of his clients. His productions over the last 10 years continue to provide me great pleasure.
I personally do not accept that digital data transmission is impervious to interference - and that that interference cannot be audible. The AD and DA are not the only areas where the sonics can be affected. How subtle or critical that may be is very much subject to debate.

Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.
08-26-2018 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
dedobot
Posts 8
Joined on 08-25-2018
Post #: 6
Post ID: 25059
Reply to: 25057
You're right - interactions..but not in the equipment
Rowuk , I think most of audio discussions miss one very important point. Path of the music doesn't end at the speaker drivers. We have media [air] transporting mechanical waves to the humans body , mind and soul. What  we know  about electricity and human developed  semiconductors - almost everything. What we know about our body,mind and soul - almost nothing ,especially for the last two. I like polite discussions but need go to bed, lot of tasks for tomorrow. Think a little bit of my theory and stay safe !
p.s. machines's parameters vary during the years, ours in milliseconds.
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