Journalists of the resource Ars Technica figured out what's inside the expensive audiophile ethernet cable

    It is no secret that among us there is a sect of audiophiles who do not recognize not only the usual inexpensive equipment for playing music - but even ordinary cables. Give them not just gilded contacts, but also super-perfect insulation, and other characteristics that are inaccessible to the understanding of lovers.

    Marketers, using the well-known ideas that the more expensive the better, do not miss the opportunity to sell cables for audio listening professionals worth several thousand dollars. And if complex tricks when using cables that transmit an audio signal can still be accepted, then such attempts to apply to digital data transmission raise some questions.

    Back in 2008, the habro-community drew attentionon offer from Denon. This company, among other things, produces audiophile accessories. They offered the public an ordinary ethernet cable at an unbelievable price. This five-foot premium patch cord sold for $ 500.

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    Denon cable

    But is this the limit of excellence? No, not the limit. This year, an improved offer from AudioQuest appeared on the market , advertised under the brand name Vodka. A 12 meter ethernet cable for audiophiles sold for $ 10,000. It can be used to listen to the best quality music from your home NAS system.

    Among the advantages of the cable were the indication of the correct direction of connection (yes), the use of a special protective shielding coating, high-quality latches for reliable fastening in the connectors.

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    Cable from AudioQuest

    Naturally, such devices raise some questions among IT specialists . For example, how can fancy isolation help digital signal transmission? But audiophiles object that possible pickups on an ethernet cable can come into the audio system itself and adversely affect the sound of the music.

    The journalists of the Ars Technica resource, having received such a cable at their complete disposal, did not fail to properly tear it and see what was offered for such money.


    Box and cable


    Nylon braid


    Cable with braid removed. The inscription “pairs with individual insulation” is visible.


    In a nice connector, the Telegärtner MFP8 Cat 6A was identified , costing 9 euros


    . Connection direction. Milota.


    Each pair comes in a beautiful individual box.


    Using masking tape in cable for such a price? Hmm This is perhaps the most expensive adhesive tape.




    The connector is connected to the cores through the tracks on a special board.


    Disassembled connector.


    Outside, polyethylene protection, then braided insulation, then foil, then four separate pairs of insulation (did not lie), each wrapped in its own plastic.


    Triple insulation is a cable of category 7according to international standards.


    Next to each pair there are several additional copper conductors.


    Before you - the main silver-plated copper conductors that transmit the highest quality music in digital. The manufacturer claims that it is silver-plated cores that are best suited for transmitting music, since such "high-frequency signals travel mainly along the outer surface of the cable."


    All remains in a group photo

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