I opted for floating shields on my designacable cat 6
Thank you Mark. Had a listen last night sounds amazing.
A shielded ethernet lead - with shielded connectors - if connected to two grounded socketed devices can create a loop - and if there is no lossy path in that loop can form an inductive loop and create typically a low level current at mains frequency. (this is what you hear in earth loops with audio interconnects for example). This is not always an issue for ethernet leads but is ideally avoided. Some ethernet leads are only shield grounded at one end to avoid potential issues.
The other issue is grounding potential zones - less of an issue in most houses but potentially more of a consideration in larger offices
Absolutely - ethernet leads these days use twisted pairs, like compliant telephone cabling, - which are balanced leads - so they cancel each other out from emissions and from external interference - unless badly kinked or damaged.
The issue is that they can cause cross talk with other twisted pairs in very close proximity on long high frequency runs - so each twisted pair can be shielded to help mitigate.
A general shield around unshielded twisted pairs is in my opinion of marginal benefit.
It’s made just a very small difference to be honest but ok for the price. I find that after adding the Gaia’s the clarity has improved slightly and the sound of instruments are a bit more spread out between the speakers, not all at/near the centre. I don’t notice any difference in the bass, and not that I was unhappy with it before. Still good. One thing to point out is I decided to move the speaker position a bit closer to the wall. They were earlier on the carpet 80 cms away from wall, while now they are on hard tiled flooring 40 cms from wall. Reason is it’s a bit safer location (have young kids running about, sometimes going behind speaker). Did not get the carpet discs for the Gaia. So am conscious that the position change would have affected the sound also.
This is another part of my home brewed rack that will house the Taiko server, the Soulution 760 DAC and the Soultuion 711 amplifier.
These are three triple-layer acoustic glass platforms (22 mm thick)
Little by little the rack is coming together.
I’m now finishing the detailed plans of the structure that I will then send for manufacturing.
So, if I follow you correctly, U/FTP would be perfect, avoiding both cross talk and earth loops. Or perhaps S/FTP, but the braiding disconnected at one end (not sure the braiding would bring any benefit in our context).
Yes - it would be more guarded - but just to put this in context - in my home environment using FE - (ie what Naim uses) over the last 10 years or so and billions and billions of data frames during that time - I have not had one single frame error (that has been identified on my Cisco port interfaces) - not one - using regular Cat 5e (UTP) cable.
I think I am more likely to be struck my lightning twice than to get a single frame error over 10 years on my home network using Cat 5e. This stuff is incredibly reliable.
Hi Simon,
I didn’t mean it that way
It’s more than clear that losing data with today’s equipment is something that doesn’t happen, even with really cheap equipment sold at the local supermarket. You do have a greater chance of winning the lottery
I don’t have your network experience, but I have some experience implementing and debugging IP stacks; usually, hardware can be trusted. Even with the early Kalpana switches, losing data was not common and resulted from human error.
No, I was referring to transmitted noise. I was wondering if U/FTP cables were of any use
@Thomas, interesting in my experience it is protocol stacks which usually have software elements where problems can ore usually occur, especially with over runs and lost data requiring resends.
With regard to transmitted noise, are you referring to common mode noise? If so shielding is unlikely to make any difference at all in my opinion.
Not my first stack(s) nearly 25 years ago, trust me, it was a mess even after digesting the whole “TCP/IP Illustrated”
EDIT: that’s what I meant btw
Common noise, or any other type noise that can be transmitted or picked by an Ethernet lead (in the context of a streamer).
Whilst technically not my purchase, we have just added an Ortofon 2M Bronze stylus to an Ortofon Blue cartridge on my father’s deck. I was never impressed with the Blue, but the Bronze is a very worthwhile upgrade. More detail, more dynamics and a larger soundstage. Plus it just clips in, great stuff
New rig for the bedroom… Schiit Magnius/Modius stack with an Audeze LCD-X (2021 version)… lovely setup…
There is something about Technics turntables …
Ah, sigh
Yes, it certainly is a beauty
Second shelf, right side, replaced 282/250DR with Aavik I-280. Just received, so far very refined but with gusto when needed. Let’s see how it performs after break-in.
The Gaias should bring a rather noticeable difference to the sound of the system. Not massive but certainly not subtle. Did you try leaving a gap between the top and bottom lock nuts of the Gaia? The gap between the lock nuts is recommended by Isoacoustics in their set up video on YouTube.
Here’s mine.
At some point of time in the future I wish to try the Townshend Podiums as they are reported to outperform the Gaias.
It’s not a surprise that you find the Aavik I-280 to sound more refined than the 282/250DR. This added refinement can only be attained with 252 and/or 552 if staying with Naim.
Enjoy ~