I use the reiki superswitch and matching psu .. the switch and the psu have grounding posts, when connected together go to mains earth. draining away rfi noise etc.
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Thank you so much everyone. I really appreciate all the info!
@Mike-B … my switch is LHY SW6 and my streamer/dac is Goldnote DS-10 Evo. I have yet to contact the manufacturers for further information on the shrouding situation of the units.
As of right now… all 3 of my ethernet cables are shielded and grounded at both ends. I have 2 neotech neet 1008 (I’m assuming the ground is connected at both ends) at 1st and 3rd position and a generic (canare), also grounded at both ends in between … ie router to switch.
To achieve better sound ( system is too laid back and hf a little too soft) … I’m ok to replace the neotech between switch and streamer/dac.
Your thoughts?
Thanks again:slightly_smiling_face:
Hi @Newnewbie123, re ground/earthing your kit.
The LHY SW6 has shrouded ports, plus it’s onboard power is supplied via a 3 pin plug/socket and that includes ‘E’ power earth. So it will have grounded port shrouds.
The same applies to your Goldnote DS-10 Evo.
It’s recommended that all Ethernet networks have a single point ground, that is always the practice in industrial installs. But that said, the most commonly used industrial Ethernet cable
are Cat5e and Cat6, i.e. no screen.
With a small/domestic install its not good practice to have ground continuity thru the ethernet screen if they are powered from different power sockets circuits as there might be a potential (voltage) different between different circuits.
It might be OK if your small domestic setup is on the same power circuit, but it just might be improved in SQ terms with a single ended, floating or no screen.
If you’re concerned that your Ethernet grounding is incorrect the simple answer is to use unshielded cables which are likely to be just fine for most domestic networks.
Alternatively buy an Ethernet connector block which is unshielded. Plug this into a port on your streamer, switch, or whatever to break the shield connection to ground, and you can experiment to your heart’s content.
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The general lack of understanding of RFI never ceases to impress!
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The contrary can be also true.
Hi Everyone. Sorry I didn’t check in here sooner. Thanks again for all the input and generosity with your advice and time!
@Mike-B … from my very limited experience … I was under the impression that ground issues with ethernet cables would manifest itself as an audible hum… not a degradation of sound quality too. My dac/streamer and int amp are on a dedicated line. Switch/router/modem are on another line. I thought I was in the clear when I didn’t hear a hum. So I went ahead and got 2 of the neotechs without doing my homework. Anyways … since I’m sorta stuck with the neotechs at cable #1 and #3 for now… what are your thoughts if I float one end of cable at position 2 (between router and switch)? It’s more cost effective as that cable is a low cost canare ethernet cable. There are length contraints too thats why neotech is at #1 and #3.
@ChrisSU … thanks for the tip. I’ll try that too. Will any generic one do …is there a brand I should look out for?
Lastly … since my system sounds kinda dark … I need recommendations for ethernet cables that would brighten things up and perhaps lean out the bass too😁.
Thanks again
If you’re asking about adapters, I’ve used one made by Lindy which I bought as a right angled adapter to redirect a cable that was a tight fit in a cupboard. It doesn’t carry the shield connection across, so can also be used to break the connection where needed.
@Newnewbie123 , I’m not sure about audible hum, and who/where did you hear of this. I’ve not heard such a noise, but who knows.
The “who knows“ probably applies to a lot of screened ethernet, unless the vendor is very specific on if and how the screen is connected to the shrouded RJ45 plugs.
As you have the various parts of your equipment on different power circuits, the objective is to be sure any screened ethernet has a break between them. It doesn’t matter where you do this, the switch is an obvious place, or maybe using a UTP RJ45 connector such as a straight thru or the Lindy angled as ChrisSU picture.
@Mike-B and @ChrisSU. Thank you once again for all your help … and patience! I really appreciate it:folded_hands:
In our system and our home environment, we found UTP cables consistently worked better than screened cables.
When using the UTP cables the system appeared to have less muddy confusion around microdynamics in the sound. N.B. we not saying that the UTP cables sounded less confused: no matter how hard we listened to the cables, neither the UTP not the shielded cables made any sound that we could hear… The system on the other hand…
Greetings Xanthe, indeed, I’ve found much the same. Back in 2015-18 together with a small group of mates with different brand systems, we tried all sorts of cable combo’s.
Despite some quite rigid belief from some that the higher Cat numbers with their better ‘performance’ must be better, and to get the highest performance, a screen was required.
Eventually we all came to the same conclusion, UTP was the most consistent, natural and less processed sound. But we could not agree on cable brands I hasten to add.
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I just sent back the very expensive Shunyata. My Diamond is performing better in my system.
Tried the Blue Jeans again, 10 mn, as it’s a new environment since I moved. The difference was so noticeable that i connected the Diamond again.
For me, it’s ears experience. Nothing common with rigid belief.
I wonder if you should not qualify your impressions with rigid belief Mike, and Xanthe too, as you have never tried very expensive Ethernet cables .
At least I have tried.
Sorry to say, but sometimes it’s necessary to put things into perspective.
Y
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You’re quite wrong in that belief, I tried quite a few back in the 2015/18 period when my little group were testing. One of us had a top end Linn DSM where it could be argued the expense of such cables could be justified. We concluded not .
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So what were they ? In the 1k and more price level ?
FR, 2015/18 was a long time ago, but we used whatever the top end Chords were called at that time, including the bundled mini-coax ‘streaming’ and real ethernet. Some AQ’s up to Vodka, some other brands and some purpose made Belden.
The main objective was to determine any SQ benefits with or without a screen and how the screen was grounded.
Anyway, time and myself have moved on.
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