Torben
Thanks for the welcome and the information I use D-Link switches and I can confirm that it works fine with those . I think the issue with the Cisco switches is they older and only 1G and these cables are all for 10G . The D-link switches seem being a little more modern to accept the 10 G signal .
Anyone would think that this table had been drawn up by someone who had already decided they preferred copper DAC to optical!
“Conversion adds jitter” is factually incorrect. Several of the others are questionable.
But hey, who needs a table? I’m sure all of us know which we prefer and it comes down to sound quality which is the most important factor to most of us, is all down to personal preference, and understandably is therefore not included in the table.
I would also stress that use of the DAC Cable over optical is going to be very system dependant . The advice on this comes from a set of users that are feeding the SFP into their player/DAC units which have direct SFP input . This would I think show a very good advantage for the DAC cable . In my system this is not the case and it is in to a switch which then feeds my server and then my player . While I have been convinced by the improvement this may well not be there in another system and the optical strength of full galvanic break may offer more improvements . This is why I would advise anyone to try this themselves in their own system and see how they get on . A cheap generic DAC cable can be had for just over £10 for a 1 metre length so you are not going to break the bank . If that works then you can ook at getting some of the more expensive versions which will still be under £50 .
Yes - it all depends on minimizing Common Mode (CM) interference.
Torben
I’m confused by this. Common Mode interference gets only one mention in the table you posted, and that is in favour of an optical connection because of the galvanic isolation it provides.
Are you suggesting there are factors in the design of a DAC cable which have even more influence on CM than this?