Let me first preface that a) I have no experience comparing ethernet cables for sound quality and b) in my years of IT experience, the only difference in ethernet cables is that they either work or they don't. But, knowing Dave and Pete were behind this cable, I thought I'd give it a try. To be honest, I didn't really expect to hear a difference (just another form of expectation bias I suppose). Then again, all of their products to date have been exceptional so I was eager to check this out... might learn something along the way.
From a build perspective, this TWL ethernet cable is impressive... very high quality materials, construction and terminations... definitely slicker than any other ethernet cable I've seen.
As background, I have structured wiring throughout my home and have been using Blue Jeans Cat6 patchcords throughout. They seem to serve their purpose well and I like that BJC tests each and every cable they sell.
For music streaming, I use Roon from a Win 10 i7 desktop located several rooms away from my listening room. For purposes of testing, I used the TWL cable to my Devialet 440Pro in two scenarios:
1) between wall and Sonore microRendu/iFi PS to Devialet USB
2) between wall and Devialet via ethernet/Devialet AIR app
I bought the uRendu last year because the Devialet AIR v2 application was not stable. But a recent AIR v3 beta release is now not only stable but sounds better as well. So now, whether using AIR or the uRendu, sound quality is exceptional. So on to testing...
Scenario 1: TWL ethernet cable between wall and uRendu - I swear I could not hear a difference. At times, I thought the TWL cable offered a bit more openness & extension, but then I'd switch back and not hear a difference. While it confirmed my expectations, it was also frustrating to try numerous times with no findings. (Fears of age-related hearing loss began to creep in...
Scenario 2: TWL ethernet from wall to Devialet directly using the AIR app. OK, now I was pretty sure I could hear an improvement with the TWL cable... a bit less glare and a more relaxed presentation. The differences were slight and I suspect I'd fail any kind of blind test, but I was surprised that these results were different than via the uRendu.
So, I wouldn't say that's a strong endorsement, but there it is. Perhaps the uRendu does a better job of keeping the signal clean. Or perhaps it is masking something that is revealed by using AIR and the TWL cable.
I by no means have golden ears, but to put things in context, I can hear differences in PCs, SCs and ICs, so struggling to hear a difference between a BJC ethernet cord and the TWL cord leads me to think that there may be better ways for me to invest in my system.
Or maybe I just need to get my ears checked...
