On top, both the NACA 5 and the KS-1 are reasonably priced. I can’t get around the idea of paying a black box price for a cable.
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I was one of those too until I decided to borrow some and look at the performance upgrade which many times is a black box upgrade in terms of sound quality. I still cannot wrap my head around it but decided to let go of how much weight of product you get for your money and focus on how much sound quality you get for the money instead 
By the way. I’m in the “will return it” camp related to Smoothlan right now. I think it is smoothing things out bit too much for me which means less air, leading edge, decay, engagement. Sound feels bit more..boring? Might suite other systems better. As most often, synergy is key.
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Had another listen & things were sounding a bit better. When I plugged in the Sigma I also swapped directions on the way the Smoothlan was installed, so maybe that needed time to settle or maybe even a pre loved Sigma needs time to settle? It does have a very natural presentation, currently it seems as the the Neet1008 sounds a bit more “hifi” or has a bit more of the typical U curve in that the bottom end & top end are tipped up slightly. This wasn’t an issue for me, as mentioned a NOS R2R DAC & also in an acoustically treated, dedicated listening space. It seems with the sigma there has been another step up in sounds detaching themselves from the speakers. At times (typically with good recordings) I sometimes wish there was just a bit more sparkle on the top end but it does make not so good recordings, a step better in “doesn’t sound digital”. Haven’t tried without the Smoothlan but will at some point (with the warmer weather here, don’t typically spend much time listening).
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I would definitely recommend trying it without the Smoothlan in the chain. I’d bet you’d get that sparkle in the treble you are looking for. The naturalness you describe is exactly what most Shunyata users seem to hear. It’s almost an analogue type quality. I’ve not heard this with any other ethernet cable I’ve tried to date.
Too many filters in the same cable might be as said too much.
The sigma already has 2 and i would probably say it will sound best with just them and no others
In my system the Smoothlan is smoothing the top end. Try removing it and see if sparkle is back.
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I did like what the Smoothlan did pre Sigma, but yes it may now be “too much of a good thing”. I’m curious to hear peoples feedback when they’ve compare Smoothlan to Smoothlan regen as I get the impression they might be voiced slightly different, with the regen possibly being a better match for me.
Edit: For those who are using the Sigma, what else are you running in your network? (any “audiophile” switches, filters, etc)?
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Nothing more than BJC and a Chord EE8 switch. I have the stock SMPS and an old LPS that I sometimes switch between.
Hi Geko
Do you know whether there is a good replacement for DBL mid drivers should one be needed?
Yes there is a ScanSpeak replacement. It needs a bit of modifying but it’s very close sound wise. A mate of mine who did his said that the replacement foam grills he got made more of a difference. I’ll see if I can find the reference number for them.
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Coming in late to the game here…
When I first streamed with ethernet (instead of wifi) I used the only cable I had at hand-a 100 ft generic cable from Amazon. Which created an untidy bundle of looped up cable, since I only needed about 15 feet.
So a few years later I got a 15 foot length of BJC CAT6, which WAS a sonic and aesthetic improvement over the 100’ length
Later on I added a switch near the streamer and started off using a 1m generic CAT6 cable. The benefits of the switch were very easy to hear.
And then I was gifted a Quantum Science Audio Ethernet cable (which is a ‘treated’ BJC) at circa $1000 list price- to replace the generic ethernet cable.
Holy Moly-was this good!!! Was this better than an ‘untreated’ BJC- I cannot say, since I never tried a standard BJC in this configuration. But free is free!
But this is what I can say about the BJC…after getting better subjective benefits using it to the streamer- I replaced the generic ethernet cable from the router to my PC with a similar BJC ethernet cable-and was immediately rewarded with an objectively higher up/down speed-confirmed by several different apps. In some instances my DL speed doubled!
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Update here on the Sigma, kit was unplugged for a couple weeks due to storms & with the nice weather, don’t typically do much listening. Plugged things back in 3 days ago, this time removed the Smoothlan. I now fully get why the massive hype on this cable. Significantly better/different without the Smoothlan (& in ways I wouldn’t have expected).
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I’m still constantly amazed with just how good Sigma sounds. I’ve recently been experimenting with a few things and always try going back through baseline settings where I was using either BJC or Catsnake to confirm any improvements. As soon as I drop Sigma into the system the whole image opens up to the point where you can hear where each person/instrument is located in the mix, coupled with a whole new range of tonal colours and nuanced sounds. For me Sigma is definitely the Superlimina equivalent of ethernet cables!
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I had this impression on every setup I tested! Best with nds (not too polite) and also best with nd555. Smooth lan made it moot smoother - but less involving…
Hi,
Just sharing my experience, i am still trying to understand how can this be possible.
It just shows that ethernet cable results are unpredictable, what works for some may not work for others.
I have a Core connected to a router.
The cable is a very cheap one, cat6, bought 3-4 years ago to connect my muso-1 to the router.
Around 10-15€ for 5 meters, if i remember correctly.
No letters printed on this cable.
From the router i have a basic cat6 cable, around 20 meters, to another room where i have an access point.
My 222 connects wireless to the access point .
An electrician brought the cable and made the terminations after passing the cable through the wall.
I am sure it is very very cheap, considering how much i paid the electrician and that the cable was part of all the services provided.
It has the following printed: Category 6 U/UTP, CU Cable 4 pair 24 AWG EC verified to ISO/IEC 18101, EN 50173, EN …
Being a novice in the streaming world, i read past threads regarding ethernet cables.
I “understood” that by having the 222 wireless connect to the access point, most probably i wouldn’t have much improvement
changing the cable that connects the Core to the Router.
I bought a DesignCable catsnake 6a, 3 meters, around 80€ including dispatching to Portugal.
It has been in the system playing non stop for the last 24 hours.
I was not expecting a big difference, but because it is not “silly money” i decided to try.
Well, the difference is massive, but for the worst.
With the Catsnake 6a, the SL2s stopped being engaging, no more foot tapping and singing along the music being played.
What the Catsnake brought:
Muddy sound, much less clarity.
Rooled off treble.
Fat and less defined bass.
Less width to the soundstage.
Slower and boring sound, they murdered the agility/pace/enthusiasm of the SL2s.
No Prat, a “deadly sin” (it may seem that the Prat is there, but it is a slooooow Prat)
Less dynamics, initial attack to the instruments/voice etc.
More silent/black/space allowing some instruments to be heard more clearly BUT loosing the interaction with the rest of the sounds/instruments.
More hi-fi sound, as everything sounds more polite.
More refined and relaxed sound; less tiring?
The Catsnake, in my house/system and to my ears/listening taste, is a massive disappointment.
I will not let it “burn in”, wasted time.
Lesson learned, no more ethernet cables experiences here…well, not quite, i have some meters leftover from the cable that connects the router to the access point, i will have it terminated and use it to connect the Core to the Router.
In theory it should be an improvement, in practice …
PS 1, Some of my audiophile friends insist that i am “deaf”, maybe they are right!!!
PS 2, Myself, i always wonder why they don’t tap their feet while listening/contemplating soundstage improvements.
PS 3, I listened the Catsnake murder a Chord C Stream in a friend’s system (ND5 XS2, NDAC, 555PS DR, 552, 500, B&W803); in his system/house the
Catsnake worked much better than the Chord C-Stream which sounded hi-fi compared to the Catsnake. It was another motive, beside the good “reviews” here, to buy the Catsnake.
Regards
rcsm
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Catsnake is good but it is less clear and a bit muddy - mostly when not burnt in.
You should not give up.
Try (with return window) an expensive cable. You might be impressed… I was massively… never thought of the effect it have.
And - catsnake also stayed for some minutes only in my system.
I drew a similar conclusion with Catsnake when I first had some made. It replaced my Chord C-stream but sounded terrible. So bad in fact that it was resigned to the spares draw. However, my dealer strongly advised me to give it around a hundred hours burn in, which I did. Three weeks later it totally destroyed the C-Stream in just about every area. It’s also worth noting that I found Catsnake to be quite directional, so initial listen can bring some further rewards.
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Had same experience. I have no idea how others succeeded bringing Catsnake to life. I was a dead cat in my system.
I just bought 3m of Neotech Neet-3008 (copper version) to go from router to my Ansuz Powerswitch. I once evaluated 1008 and 3008 there and found 3008 to be a better match. We’ll see if I like it this time (have Supra CAT8 there today).
What do you guys using a switch use before it? (not after)
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I have Audioquest Cinnamon cable to Silent Angel Bonn 8 switch and Shunyata from switch to streamer.
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I once tried Designacable cat snake and it gave a weird lumpy bass that didn’t sound natural at all. I think I sent it back. I have Chord Clearway from the router to the EE 8switch, with an EE1 just before the switch. I then have Chord Shawline from the switch to the Atom HE, with an EE1 plus just before the Atom. The two EE1s have been in place for a couple of weeks and the sound has really improved. It’s more natural, relaxed and immersive. There is no excessive smoothing that some have reported in relation to the Smoothlan. It’s like the music leaps out of the speakers and grabs my attention more. I’m not sure what these EEs do but for me they work really well.
When I first got the Plus I used the supplied C Stream for the final leg, while waiting for a 75cm Shawline. When the Shawline arrived I was really surprised by the extent of the improvement. The whole setup works together really well. It’s not too expensive compared to the Shunyatas people are using, and doesn’t seem too out of proportion to the modest cost of the rest of the system.
Actually, for the first time I’ve added up the cost of the network gubbins - cables, switch and the EE1s and it comes to only £200 shy of the cost of my Atom HE. Blimey. But it works and sounds good, so perhaps it’s not too bonkers.
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