Ethernet & Streaming
Audiophile ethernet cables in Cat6, Cat6a, Cat7 and Cat8 for streamers, servers and network players, from Atlas, AudioQuest, Chord, Melco, Supra and Tellurium Q.
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Does ethernet cable matter in hi-fi?
The data arrives intact either way, so the case for audiophile ethernet is about noise rather than bit accuracy. Network cable carries high frequency electrical noise from routers, switches and everything else on the network, and that noise can reach the streamer and from there the DAC.
This is a category where opinions differ sharply and we would rather be straight about it. Some listeners hear a clear difference when they replace a standard patch lead in the last run before the streamer. Others hear nothing at all. The variables that matter most are how noisy the network is and how well isolated the streamer's own ethernet input is.
If you want to try it, start with the final run between the switch or router and the streamer, since that is where any change is most likely. A higher category number is not automatically better for audio: Cat8 uses a shielding arrangement that connects to the equipment chassis at both ends, which some systems prefer and others do not. Trying one in your own system is the honest way to settle the question.
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£10.00Ex. VATBuilt with Solid Long-Grain Copper and 100% shielded gold-plated connectors, AudioQuest's CAT7 Pearl allows 10G ethernet over up to 100 metres. Unlike the CAT6, each signal pair in the CAT7 is insulated from the others, allowing it to achieve a higher grading. This cable delivers excellent performance for streaming audio or video, and as always provides a more reliable connection than wi-fi. -
£11.67Ex. VAT
The SUPRA CAT8 is a sturdy cable providing extreme performance with a bandwidth of 2000MHz. Flame-retardant and double-shielded, it does an excellent job in avoiding lag in audio or video. It is also still backwards-compatible with standard Cat 6A. The custom lengths come with Future Shop custom terminations, made of nickel-plated zinc by Telegärtner.
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From£41.00Inc. VATThe SUPRA CAT8 is a sturdy cable providing extreme performance with a bandwidth of 2000MHz. Flame-retardant and double-shielded, it does an excellent job in avoiding lag in audio or video. It is also still backwards-compatible with standard Cat 6A. This factory-terminated option comes with gold-plated nickel terminations.
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£4.17Ex. VATBuilt with Solid Long-Grain Copper and 100% shielded gold-plated connectors, AudioQuest's CAT6 Pearl allows 10G ethernet over up to 55 metres. This cable delivers excellent performance for streaming audio or video, and as always provides a more reliable connection than wi-fi. -
From£109.95Inc. VATOver the past several years there’s been a revolution in the way people store, distribute, and access digital media (in real time), including photos, movies, and, of course, music. -
From£432.50Ex. VATOver the past several years there’s been a revolution in the way people store, distribute, and access digital media (in real time), including photos, movies, and, of course, music. -
SALEFrom£61.87 £68.75Ex. VAT ✓ Save £6.88The C-stream is a very high quality Cat 7 specification cable; the contacts are gold-plated and the plug body is over-moulded, which provides excellent reliability and secure strain relief without deforming the cable and affecting performance. -
From£39.95Inc. VATOver the past several years there’s been a revolution in the way people store, distribute, and access digital media (in real time), including photos, movies, and, of course, music. -
From£24.17Ex. VATPerformance Ethernet is designed specifically for the transmission of high definition digital audio. -
English Electric
English Electric 8 Switch Audio Grade 8 Port Gigabit Streaming SwitchSKU: EES0001.001.1
(16 reviews)£565.00Inc. VATThe 8switch by English Electric (a Chord Company brand), is an 8 port GbE Ethernet switch modified and upgraded to our specific requirements for high-performance music streaming networks. -
SALE£306.00 £340.00Inc. VAT ✓ Save £34.00The English Electric EE1 network noise isolator is designed to sit discreetly between ethernet cables within a streaming audio/video system and can drastically reduce noise whilst allowing digital signals to pass unhindered.
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£74.17Ex. VATIf you're looking for a reliable way to stream high-quality audio from your network, the iFi Audio LAN iSilencer is an excellent choice. It features several advanced features to ensure a clean, interference-free signal, such as a shielded case with integral ground wire, a transient voltage suppressor, and advanced filtration that prevents noise from interfering with the digital signal.
