Digital Cable Shootout Results
Jim Bird & John Hughes | Published on 5/28/2025
Digital Cable Shootout Results
On March 30, 2025, the Audiophile Foundation held a Digital Cable Shootout, conducting an informal blind comparison between three different levels of Ethernet and USB cables. Twenty-five people attended the event at the California Historical Radio Society(CHRS) in Alameda, with Alex Crespi from Uptone Audio keeping our digital stream kosher.
Our in-house Audiophile Foundation audio system presented us with significant difficulties as we set up. The active crossover for the Linkwitz speaker system began to smoke (No, we were not playing THE DEAD, and it hadn’t been to a cannabis shop lately). Jim Hunton suspected a bad cap was the culprit. I must have angered the Audio gods!
With some quick thinking and fancy footwork, we pivoted to using CHRS’s MC275 McIntosh amp, and Lesie Lundin brought over her Mofi SourcePoint 10 speakers. For the front end we used John Hughes’s Esoteric N-05XD Network DAC/Preamplifier as preamp and DAC.
Alex Crespi provided the Uptone Audio EtherREGEN via CHRS’s network Ethernet cable to an Intel NUC (i7, Roon Core) which was connected back to the EtherREGEN via LINKUP 22AWG CAT8 Ethernet cable. Next, the SONORE UltraRENDU Streamer was connected to the EtherREGEN via one of the three Ethernet cables under test.
This was connected to the Esoteric N-05XD DAC/ Preamp, via one of the three USB cables under test. The analog output was connected to the McIntosh MC275 amp via Cardas interconnects. Both the EtherREGEN and Sonore UltraRENDU were powered by the new Uptone Audio JS-4 Linear Power Supply.
We also had TP-Link MC220L optical transceiver for a final comparison of fiber vs Ethernet.
Here is a diagram of the setup.
The Tests
Three separate listening tests each for Ethernet and USB cables:
- Blind testing three Ethernet cables: budget ($), mid ($$), top ($$$).
- Blind testing three USB cables: budget ($), mid ($$), top ($$$).
- Non-blind test of optical fiber bridge inserted in pathway.
Ethernet Cables compared
A: Audioquest Cinnamon RJ/E $122 1.5M
Cinnamon RJ/E features high-purity Solid 1.25% Silver-plated copper conductors and Noise-Dissipation for the most efficient dissipation of radio-frequency noise.
B: Shunyata Sigma Ethernet $2,000 1.5M
PMZ CAT 6a AirNi OFE conductors, Telegartner connectors.
C: Blue Jeans10GX CPGA $18 3FT
Belden Cat 6a assembled by Blue Jeans, and individually tested to meet specifications.
USB Cables compared
D: Supra Excalibur USB Cable $120 1M
Featuring OFC conductors with a 3.8% silver plating for optimal transmission of high frequencies and high-speed data transfer. This cable also features separate and carefully designed conductors for data and power, meaning that both pairs are optimized for performance and to reduce crosstalk and RFI.
E: Black Magic GOLD USB Cable $1200 1M
Uses techniques not found in other USB cables, uses custom silver/gold wires, and improved mechanical damping.
F: StarTech USB 2.0 Certified Cable $6 3FT
Generic USB 2.0 cable with data transfer rates up to 480 Mbps USB-IF Certified Hi-Speed USB 2.0, purchased from Amazon.
Optical Fiber Bridge added to Network
A: Network configuration without Fiber Optical Bridge.
CHRS’s network Ethernet cable > EtherREGEN > Esoteric N-05XD Streamer/ DAC/ Preamp, connected via most favored Ethernet cable of shootout.
B: With Fiber Optical Bridge.
CHRS’s network Ethernet cable > TP-Link Optical Module > EtherREGEN via Single Mode Duplex Fiber Optic Cable and Huawei model LTF1303-BH+1 Transceivers > Esoteric N-05XD Streamer/ DAC/ Preamp, via most favored Ethernet Cable of shootout.
Music Selections for Test
We selected four tracks from various sources, chosen to highlight the possible differences between cables by John Hughes. For each test scenario we played all four tracks through without a break.
Track #1
Album: Albeniz: Fruhbeck de Burgos, Suite Espanola
Composer: Albeniz
Track: Castilla (Seguidillas)
Decca Remastered by Analogue Productions, DSF, 1xDSD resolution
Track #2
Album: Ella & Louis, Artist: Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
Track: Can’t We Be Friends
Verve Records, Mono, Japanese Remaster, DSF, 1xDSD resolution
Track#3:
Album: Waltz For Debby, Artist: Bill Evans Trio
Track: Waltz for Debbie (take 2)
Japanese Remaster, Universal Classics & Jazz, A Universal Music Company, DSF, 1x DSD resolution
Track #4
Album: Abraxas, Artist: Santana
Track: Oya Como Va
Remaster: Japan, 2020, From original SQ Quadraphonic Masters Sony Music, DSF, 1xDSD resolution
The Shootout Results
Ethernet Results
Ethernet cable A, then B, then C, all using USB D
- 70% picked B as their 1st choice: Shunyata Sigma Ethernet
- 15% picked A as their 1st choice: Audioquest Cinnamon RJ/E 7
- 15% picked C as their 1st choice: Blue Jeans10GX CPGA
USB Shootout Results
USB D, then E, then F, all using Ethernet B
- 40% picked F as their 1st choice: StarTech USB 2.0 Certified
- 35% picked D as their 1st choice: Supra Excalibur USB
- 25% picked E as their 1st choice: Mad Scientist Back Magic Gold US
Final comparison
EtherREGEN directly to Esoteric N-05XD streamer/DAC, via Shunyata Sigma Ethernet was considered an improvement over using the Sonore UltraRENDU streamer.
Optical Fiber Bridge
Adding the Optical Fiber Bridge gave the biggest and most agreed upon improvement of the day! Qualities commented by participants: more transparency, more detail, more focus, better sound-staging.
Big Takeaways
- Everyone participating agreed they could hear differences between each test.
- No one thought the cables sounded the same.
- Price did not necessarily follow function/quality.
- Adding the Optical Fiber Bridge to the network resulted in a significant improvement in sound, at a very reasonable cost.
Alex Crespi, of Uptone Audio, spoke about his EtherREGEN Audiophile Grade Ethernet Switch and his newly released JS-4 Triple Regulated Linear Power Supply. He will be returning later this year to lead a presentation of his own.