Guys,
All interconnects in my system are Ethernet. There are in total 6 of them now, after addition the addition of a few switches in series. Also 1 AES (NB to active speakers).
Ethernet: Earlier I was using wireworld cat 8 chroma. These have gradually been replaced with optical and AQ diamond. The 2 optical are the top recommended by afterdark and cost approx usd 300 including sfp’s. Quality exceptionally improved over the Chroma. Same story with the AQ Diamonds (3 times the price, but no more optical inputs in the systems). I have not had a chance to compare the AQ Diamond against the Opticals, but noting the incremental improvements, I would be surprised to hear much difference. This will happen anyway sometime around early March.
I’m 70 and listen mostly to rock from the sixties. So my hearing is not that great. However, I have noticed the following improvements from the above implementations:
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distortion is almost non existent now. It’s only occasionally that I can hear etched hashy chorus lines on complex passages. I would say less than in 5% of those what I thought were nasty recordings. Of course a good recording sounds much better. But clarity a great starting point in enjoyment of music, no?
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vocal intelligibility is up from say 50-60% of the words to 80-90%.
Given my deteriorating hearing, I would say this can’t be a perception issue. In fairness, I have to say I have recently introduced a great clock in the system, and all components are grounded thru an SR active grounding unit.
Not sure if this is clearly within the bounds of the discussion, but the conclusion is that ‘good’ Ethernet cables and a good clocking set up are big assets.
Best wishes
Aubrey
PS I am a great believer, by and large, of Ted Denny’s magical devices, and use many of them.
