Oh dear GOD audiophile ethernet cables!

[Philidor]

"The crown jewel in AudioQuest’s Ethernet line is the aptly named Diamond. Guaranteed to lighten your wallet at $2195/10’, the Diamond is a no-holds-barred, copper-free design using conductors of 100% Perfect-Surface Solid Silver, "

Yes peak stupidity has been achieved. 2 grand for a silver CAT6 ethernet lead. Blessed by Angels no doubt.

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

Well to a degree I have an open mind. I thought my analogue cables wouldn't do the same musically with a digital signal, but I was wrong it makes as much difference as it does in analogue. I keep meaning to try my cables on a USB cable but they are very awkward to wire and use with the types of cable I use so I haven't. But it is the back of my mind to try at some point.

BUT obviously these cannot justify the price and are a rip-off joke.

[Fretless]

Ethernet data signals are quite robust and I find it hard to believe that HQ cable makes all that much difference. The data is delivered in packets that contain clocking information but do not themselves need to be synchronised. Jitter, the main problem for computer audio transmission, has no effect on these signals.

So what is supposed to make a difference? Apart from boasting to your friends about it.

[selby]

Absolutely ridiculous.

[terrybooth]

We've been here before. The only thing these might do is reduce jitter. But in short lengths this is

[selby]

They key is buying a good quality branded CAT6 that's actually meets CAT6 specs. Many CAT6 end up testing at CAT5 quality but even then unless you're transferring serious amounts of data it will make no difference.

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

Then they think it would make good speaker cable

[applemarc]

If you want to go over the top with data cables just buy Cat 7

[slinger]

They key is buying a good quality branded CAT6 that's actually meets CAT6 specs. Many CAT6 end up testing at CAT5 quality but even then unless you're transferring serious amounts of data it will make no difference.

So are you rated as James The Cat 5 or James The Cat 6?