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Post by MartinT on Aug 15, 2024 16:26:37 GMT
I agree with all your individual observations above - that's exactly what the Amphenol DAC cable did for my system.
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Post by assisi on Aug 16, 2024 6:41:38 GMT
For context I am running it between two SOtM switches and did have the Cisco cable in place before. Based on comments in this thread I ordered an Amphenol DAC cable. It arrived yesterday. Initially the impact of the cable was not overly obvious. It now has 30 hours of run in. With the short time SQ improvment is now a noticeable benefit. The Amphenol is better for me than the Cisco genuine it replaced.
My network is several connected switches. My perspective is to have the best switches last in the network before the Streamer. The DAC cable is connected from a SoTM to a Melco switches that are first in the Network. The SoTM and Melcos are the only components with SFP capabilities. I consider that these two switches good as they, are not as good as the 2XNordost and 3XWaversa Switches that are after them in the network.
The next few days will be interesting if there is further improvement. I also expect to be able to do a comparison with a Melco C1-D20 DAC cable late next week.
Your post and those of others are very useful. John
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Post by MartinT on Aug 16, 2024 7:09:10 GMT
The DAC cable is connected from a SoTM to a Melco switches that are first in the Network. Just remember that the use of a DAC cable for audio is predicated on there being sufficient isolation and grounding to replace the loss of the natural isolation provided by a fibre cable. Therefore, a moat somewhere along the line and good grounding to reduce noise brings out the best from a DAC cable.
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trhh
Rank: Soloist
Posts: 24
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Post by trhh on Aug 16, 2024 12:13:12 GMT
I agree with all your individual observations above - that's exactly what the Amphenol DAC cable did for my system. Same here :-)
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Post by assisi on Aug 17, 2024 1:07:00 GMT
The DAC cable is connected from a SoTM to a Melco switches that are first in the Network. Just remember that the use of a DAC cable for audio is predicated on there being sufficient isolation and grounding to replace the loss of the natural isolation provided by a fibre cable. Therefore, a moat somewhere along the line and good grounding to reduce noise brings out the best from a DAC cable. For isolation, the two switches connected with the DAC Cable are individually powered by different LPSs. As well each is connected to a Puritan Audio grounding setup up connected to a 3mt solid copper rod in a vertical hole in the ground filled with a mixture of bentonite and gypsum. They also sit. on Finite Elemente Ceraballs John
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Post by assisi on Aug 26, 2024 6:41:16 GMT
I mentioned previously that I had acquired an Amphenol cable. It is 2 mt. Over a period of five days there was a noticeable improvement with a reduction in noise floor. When I was not listening too actual music I had various noise file running. With e music I played tracks from a play list that I was very familiar with. I noticed particular notes were more distinct and musical. Rather special actually and engaging.
A few days ago, I received a Melco C1 SFP DAC cable to try. I changed DAC cables. The cable has now been in for 3 days settling. The Melco is better. I will wait for a couple of more days before I form an opinion as to how much better and what I do. The Melco is considerably more expensive than the Amphenol. John
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Post by MartinT on Aug 26, 2024 9:09:21 GMT
Let's put that into perspective: the Melco C1-D20 DAC cable is £749. It is only available up to 2m in length. Hardly a practical length for many of us and 20x the price of the Amphenol. It had better be good at that price.
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Post by assisi on Aug 26, 2024 10:53:59 GMT
Let's put that into perspective: the Melco C1-D20 DAC cable is £749. It is only available up to 2m in length. Hardly a practical length for many of us and 20x the price of the Amphenol. It had better be good at that price. I did say that Melco was considerably more expensive. The length is not an issue for me in the context of the length. Melco say that their testing indicates that the length is ideal. I have no idea whether the Melco assertion on length is or is not valid.
What I have to work out is the Melco expense worth it for the benefit. On an expense performance basis the the Amphenol is excellent. I will be considering the question.
An issue for me is that if I could bring my Ubquiti Dream Router closer to the rest of the network I could use both the Amphenol and the Melco. Not an easy task but do able with planning. That outcome would be interesting.
John
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Post by orange55 on Sept 4, 2024 18:27:39 GMT
Let's put that into perspective: the Melco C1-D20 DAC cable is £749. It is only available up to 2m in length. Hardly a practical length for many of us and 20x the price of the Amphenol. It had better be good at that price. I did say that Melco was considerably more expensive. The length is not an issue for me in the context of the length. Melco say that their testing indicates that the length is ideal. I have no idea whether the Melco assertion on length is or is not valid.
What I have to work out is the Melco expense worth it for the benefit. On an expense performance basis the the Amphenol is excellent. I will be considering the question.
An issue for me is that if I could bring my Ubquiti Dream Router closer to the rest of the network I could use both the Amphenol and the Melco. Not an easy task but do able with planning. That outcome would be interesting.
John
Any further update on the Melco?
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Post by assisi on Sept 4, 2024 23:21:50 GMT
I did say that Melco was considerably more expensive. The length is not an issue for me in the context of the length. Melco say that their testing indicates that the length is ideal. I have no idea whether the Melco assertion on length is or is not valid.
What I have to work out is the Melco expense worth it for the benefit. On an expense performance basis the the Amphenol is excellent. I will be considering the question.
An issue for me is that if I could bring my Ubquiti Dream Router closer to the rest of the network I could use both the Amphenol and the Melco. Not an easy task but do able with planning. That outcome would be interesting.
John
Any further update on the Melco?
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Post by assisi on Sept 4, 2024 23:24:43 GMT
I did try the DAC cables with the Ubquiti Dream close enough to use the 2mt cables. This arrangement was too messy so I moved it back to its original position. The Melco Cable is now well settled. It is better than the Amphenol. The change from the Cisco to the Amphenol was significant. The benefit change from the Amphenol to the Melco was noticeable but less significant. The law of diminishing returns prevails. Nevertheless, I will keep it even though it is approximately 13/14 X the price of the Amphenol.
I have now moved the both the SoTM and Melco switches so that they are connected near to the end of the network configuration instead of being at the beginning. That change has also provided a benefit.
I have other switches in my network. There is an interesting question that arises for me. What if the 2xNordost switches and the 2xWaversa switches that I have, have provision for SFP sockets? Then I could use a couple more DAC cables instead of RJ45. Better still be able to also connect the streamer with a DAC cable.
John
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