I am not certain that Transparent ethernet cables are used although the speaker cables may be ( as are other brands). In fact I am not even sure that Transparent make erthernet cables.
The third party equipment used in what is a distributor training room at the factory reflects the lines that are also typically handled by dCS’ worldwide distributors and provide familiarity.Although they are all of excellent quality they are not necessarily the optimum choice for every situation or customer. There is no universal “best”.
I am not certain that Transparent ethernet cables are used although the speaker cables may be.
The third party equipment used in what is a distributor training room at the factory reflects the lines that are also typically handled by dCS’ worldwide distributors and provide familiarity… Although they are all of excellent quality they are not necessarily the optimum choice for every situation or customer. There is no universal “best”.
When i was there, same day as you.
They certainly had them as i looked and even have a picture, they certainly look like transparent used for both set ups.
Thanks. Rechecking Transparent’s website it seems to depend where you look for ethernet cables. Note the subject title. I originally referred to text entries where no ethernet option is mentioned at all but have now found a single ethernet line in their basic Harwired range but this is $40 for a basic length, not $400. It is a plain back sheathed cable.
Anyway the main point of my post is what dCS use is not necessarily what any customer may find is optimum given their preferences.AFAIK dCS offer alternative cable looms and what we saw was what they happened to have installed on that day.
As I think I have said before we have a “three of everything” (where everything is speakers, amps and cable looms) policy in the demo room. Three manufacturers gives us 95% coverage of our distributor base and always allows us to present dCS components in a familiar system context. Bear in mind that from a distributor’s perspective lines they don’t carry are “the competition” whereas from ours they are just “other manufacturers”.
It also helps that for this same reason they are the components that our products tend to be presented with at shows so we know them and the people that supply them well, know how to set them up quickly and get the best out of them, and whom to call for help if we run into problems.
But there is no runic significance in these choices. They are not the only choices, just a small subset of the possible choices that we happen to be very familiar with.
Think it might be time for the reminder that the system reflects the purpose of the facility at the factory which is training distributors. So the supporting equipment reflects what that they are familiar with as most will also distribute these products rather than what anyone considers is somehow “best” or necessarily recommendable for individuals, all of whom may have their own preferences.
Understood and my question was not meant to determine what is “the best”.
I am curious to know which 3 brands, in each category (amplification, speakers, cables), represent 95% of the worldwide distributors portfolio
I can add one component that tthey have, Constellation amps. As with D’Agostino, Transparent and Wilson distributed by Absolute Sounds who are dCS’ UK distributor.
At one time dCS were the UK distributor for VTL and I think I read that this brand was featured in Munich this year with the Lina X DAC.
For clarification that 95% is not of all worldwide distributors but those shared with dCS.
For speakers currently Magico, Rockport, Wilson
For cable looms currently Nordost, Shunyata, Transparent
For amps currently Constellation, d’Agostino and, I believe, VTL.
This is what we happen to have in house right now but these change periodically so again, no runic significance.
…not the direct connection SFP job - I do have a Melco S100/2 switch but no longer use the SFP connection since I switched to the dCS - I’m asking about the actual Ethernet Cable. The C100.
They’re very inexpensive (a 3m cable lists at £159 - ok expensive for a normal Ethernet cable, but not in this hobby) and look really well made. I’m thinking I’ll just take a punt and get myself one, but if anybodies tried one would be good to hear.
Yes, from my router to Melco switch. It is good but I would be hard pressed to hear any difference from other good quality network cables at least in my environment ( perhaps I suffer no noise issues) . I use it as I bought several Melco related items in the same package and added it without much further thought.
It is, of course, not suitable for connection to a dCS unit being shielded and where CAT5e or uTP CAT 6 would be appropriate.
I chose the words " not suitable" because using a shielded cable in this position does, indeed, have the potential to negatively affect noise performance. See paragraph 3 in the linked FAQ:
The Melco C100 Ethernet cable benefits from asymmetric drain wire grounding, where one end of the cable features a ground point.
Unwanted noise, either external or from connected devices, travels in one direction to the ground end, (indicated by a Melco logo on the connector plug), not interfering with delicate signal transmission.
The opposite (non-grounded) end of the cable features an innovative ‘floating’ shield, which is not attached to the connector plug, meaning unwanted noise cannot transfer to connected audio devices downstream.
