Do router and ethernet cables affect sound quality?

I don’t trust YouTube experts, but I trust my ears. One more time just for you. I tested different udiophile ethernet cables. And I didn’t hear any difference in sound. but after replacing the switch, the difference is obvious. I’m not going to go into details and argue with you. I wrote only what is and only an assumption why this happens. You can talk as much as you like about psychosomatics, but if there is no difference in the sound of ethernet cables, then no.

@Yury_Kochetkov

Oh, I’m sure you did! Really, I believe you!

A gift just for you is attached. If you don’t read it now, hopefully you’ll at least bookmark it. Because someday, if you ever come to your senses and have any money left, it may be of use to you.

And I want you to know that because every one of us humans is susceptible to this, I won’t judge, shame or criticize your view in the interim—no matter how much it is directly analogous to the Flat Earth beliefs of Early Man to think that some digital data sounds better than others. Peace!

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I did have some standard LAN cables that were quite old and decided to replace all of them with CAT7 cables. I am running Roon on an QNAP HS-264-8G. I must say that listening to music has improved - more detailed music.

Now the big Q: Maybee I should also replace the old switch (Cisco) also? Any good suggestions?

Do some research on this site regarding cables and switches.

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This rather long thread discusses whether ethernet cables or routers can make a difference to SQ. As you’ll see, opinions are varied. Some state that it’s objectively impossible – any changes you perceive are down to psychoacoustic effects or some form of expectation bias – while others believe strongly that they are worth investing in. Have a read and see what you think.

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Please, for the love of….can we not open yet another - ultimately pointless & circular - thread on cables & switches, haven’t we all suffered enough already :wink:

The forum has a search function for a reason.

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@Torben_Rick
If you have a functioning stable network, leave it that way (YMMV).
You may or may not achieve better sound quality, but i am doubting that /* (YMMV)
I am using Cisco switches in my rather complicated home network and have had absolutely no downtime /** or stream degradation while the SQ of my system is very satisfying.
Stability in my network is my priority and has much to say for the quality of the stream, not dropping packets etc.
My network is my streaming infrastructure, i am handling it with care! :slight_smile:

/* I am in the “audiofile switches are snakeoil” camp.
/** other that ISP trouble and absence of electrical power.

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CAT7 is designed for 10GBit/s. If you don’t run a data center beside the audio stuff (which can’t saturate 100MBit/s) this may be a bit of an overkill. But if you like the fancy CAT7 connectors that may be a point.

Edit: We are in digital data transport at this stage. Not audio. Not even near that.

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Excellent workhorse of a switch for home.

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Even though I hate to raise the dead, I think this is still the best place to discuss these thoughts.
At least it’s all in one location.

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And immediately buy a linear power supply for it. SQ improvement is guaranteed.

one toxic location :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

It’s only the members posts that can make it "toxic ":wink:

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We were doing pretty well with the dead horse – a newly resurrected one will be loads better :wink:

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It’s back! Oh frabjous day…

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The differences you are hearing are purely psychoacoustic. You spent some money on fancy new cables expecting to hear a difference, and lo, you heard a difference. Have someone switch out the cables blindly while you listen and see if you can tell them apart. Switches make no difference to sound - Roon sends data via TCP/IP. The data either gets there 100% intact or it doesn’t and you hear dropouts.

We’ve done this to death.

I’ve chopped and changed my network as it has grown with an increasing number of devices. I have 2 big enterprise switches connected via OM3 fibre.Everything else is connected via Cat 6 UTP, with the exception of a couple of devices on Cat 5e. Not once has a network change resulted in any audible difference

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DeadHorse

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Well hello, old friend!

I have nothing against these so-called audiopile switches and ethernet cables. Maybe they change something negatively or positively or nothing in the context of some HIFI systems.

It is just that that they unscrupulously & dishonestly mark up these stuffs to > 100 or 1,000 times more than what they are really worth, and surprisingly there are some people feel grateful of being granted some sort of favor in order to buy it.

See this: $3,199

And this: $2,700

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Affordable snake oil is still snake oil. Once you start to believe, it’s addictive. You need some kind of rehab to get out of it.