If you search the forum you will find it is yes and no! Ethernet cable doesn’t just caries the music data, but significantly plus any spurious RF it picks up or transports from other network sources, possibly filtered in different ways by different cables, with whatever RF content reaches the DAC causing modulation effects in conversion process so altering the resultant analogue sound that is fed into your amp, to then gain whatever modifications the amp and speakers may apply. Any difference in RF pickup or filtering by different cables may make them “sound” different, depending on the susceptibility and behaviour of the DAC to RF contamination of the signal. And that last point is fundamental: DACs vary considerably in their susceptibility, so where the sound from one DAC may be very affected by RF, and so modifications to the network modifying the RF modifies the sound, a DAC that is far less prone may show little or no change with changes to switches or cables.
It will really depend on the (noise) environment and equipment, so it will be different in every single case. So yes for some, but for most I suspect, it’s confirmation bias / placebo.
Thanks for the expansive answer.
I am not sure how sensitive the Nova DAC is, but perhaps because I didn’t feel there was a reduction in quality, not that sensitive, or maybe it is also to do with n-lot’s point about confirmation bias, which can work in an upward and downward direction.
Conducting wired tests again will not be easy, but I will try with some WiFi comparisons, more out of curiosity as my recently changed set-up will make the reinstallation of the switches hard.
Thanks very much and I guess we can all be susceptible to bias outside of some blind testing.
I am happy with my set-up, so it was more out of curiosity after reading the various comments in this thread as I felt that I might be missing something. Certainly what I have is very convenient and reduces power and interconnects, so unlikely to change.
My own comparisons of ethernet vs WiFi were inconclusive in terms of one being better than the other, so it isn’t that obvious to me. I have a Tidal account and have regular access to Qobuz and both sound much better than Spotify. That comparison was very obvious.
So one needs a 200k system to be able to hear the difference between an ethernet and WiFi connection?
But, how hard can it really be? Your personal experiences only tells you that your equipment is too poor to show the difference between Ethernet vs. WIFI, just like some users’ equipment fails to show the difference between Spotify and Tidal or Qobuz.
I know, and I felt your post warranted challenging and still believe that to be the case, which might explain my “absurd persistence in this matter.” I too believed ethernet to be better than WiFi until I actually started comparing things in my own system and achieved similar results with both options. Now I am not as convinced or dogmatic about it, which is the point I was trying to make, and it would appear as if there are other forum members who share this position.
According to your profile you are using a 272, which may have something to do with your position on the subject, as I don’t think the implementation of WiFI was ideal on Gen 1 streamers and believe the Gen 2 streamers made a real step forward in this area.
On thing I have learned over the years though is to play the ball and not the man and be respectful of others tastes and opinions while sharing my own. With that said, I think it’s time for me to bow out of this conversation.
The logic is more resolved your system is, more differences you will here when introducing new components.
The real logic is the more money one spends, the more the neurosis
Au contraire 
I’m of the “Can’t hear any significant difference between WiFi and ethernet” school. I dare say there is but I’ve probably got cloth ears and WiFi is simpler and saves agonising about cables and switches.
This question is not about taste or opinion. Nor about personal experiences. This is about hard facts. Ethernet IS better than WIFI. So again.. How hard can it be.
Why so much aggression to make your point?
Just respect other posters right to have an opinion which differs from yours, like we with your opinions.
DG…
All is subjective and opinion here. While it may well be that in the opinion of many, that an Ethernet connection is preferable to Wifi (and I’m sure there are a number of reasons why), I won’t argue with someone if they say that they prefer Wifi, for whatever reason. The great thing is you have a choice. Post your opinion by all means but just respect that others may have a differing opinion.
And that is flawed logic in relation to ethernet, because better equipment should be (but not necessarily is) better designed to prevent any RF effects in the DAC, whence how resolving the amp and speakers are becomes irrelevant, and fancy switches and cables would have no effect. Perhaps a more reasonable argument would be the better the DAC and streaming renderer (or combined streamer) the less difference one should hear!
As you have a very resolving system Edmund, have you tried to compare WiFi vs a high specs switch and quality lan cables?
Your response suggests that indeed you use Wifi, but not that you found it sounding the same.
Better the dac and streamer first, I agree. Then the entire system has its importance.
If the system consists of the best streamer/ dac into a cheap integrated and 200 dollars bookshelves, I doubt one can here a difference.
I would expect the best Stramer/DAC to eliminate, or virtually eliminate, any ethernet RF effects, rendering choice of cables and switches simple provided they meet Ethenet standards. I don’t see why WiFi can’t be equally good, subject to a good wifi signal in the location. But a less good streamer/DAC - perhaps like the NAC272 which was, I think, a first generation Naim streaming product and which the highly critical Bjorn apparently uses, may be very susceptible to anything in the network, and likewise has an older wifi implementation that might not be as good.
There are probably some truths and facts Richard, otherwise I would have been disappointed. Having said that, of course everyone’s opinions should be respected and I apologize if I stepped on anyone’s toes.