In this episode I would like to tackle two stereotypes – the first one, according to which an Ethernet cable, or patch cord, does not influence sound, and second, based on a common belief, that Poland is a mighty cable manufacturer, so the rest of the world just did forgo cabling. While the first one I will tackle in a moment, the second one seems very easy to explain. There was a lot of noise around the Valhalla 2 from Nordost lately, but for as far as I know, not only nobody from the loudest commenters, to whom nothing ever sounds, because they read that there are only zeros and ones everywhere, but even none of the reviewers could put their hands on it yet. Limiting ourselves only to the items tested by Soundrebels, from the area seemingly reserved for IT guys, we were able to test the Fidata HFLC cables, during the review of the Silent Angel Bonn N8 switch the Wireworld Chroma 8 + Starlight 8, Cardas Audio Clear Networ and on solo performance almost the full offering of the Polish company Audiomica Laboratory, starting with the top Anort Consequence through the Artoc Ultra Reference and the Arago Excellence and finished with another Polish product, also of reference caliber, the JCAT Reference LAN Cable GOLD. It looks like we have a kind of a draw in the match between Poland and the rest of the world, but the cables from Gorlice always had their dedicated texts, so de facto they move the win to their side. Taking the above into account, and deeply believing that we need balance to achieve happiness, when we had the opportunity and the Katowice based RCM allowed us to, we got our hands on another cable from a brand, that is frequently featured in our portal – Furutech Lan-8 NCF.

Already the first glance makes us believe, that our todays’ guest has no chance in remaining unnoticed. It is just nicely looking, so much so, that it steals your attention and steals the show more modest competition. At that it is not exaggeratingly fat or boasted. I even noticed, somewhat surprised, that it is the thinner Ethernet cable I dealt with lately. Its diameter does not differ much from the usual “civilian” brethren, being sold in kilometers lengths at any electronics shops. This makes it very flexible and easy to place anywhere it has to go, however due to its purple color you are tempted to put is more in sight than usual. Anyway it catches the eye and cannot be mistaken for any competitive product. It comes packaged in an esthetic, but far from byzantine splendor, cardboard box with a realistic print revealing its contents. No protective foams, cutouts or any other things protecting it from the perils of transportation besides a Velcro strip, that prevents it from unrolling.
The RJ45 (8P8C) plugs use non-magnetic copper connectors and carcass, plated with 24K gold, while the external shell is made from NCF, known from various Boosters. The cable itself fulfils the requirements for category 8, is conform with 40 Gigabit Ethernet and allows for transmission of 2000MHz signals. Digging a bit into the details of their setup, this is a typical twisted pair cable with four twisted pairs. But this is Furutech, so the silver coated copper conductors are Alpha processed. Also the whole is triple shielded – two shields from aluminum foil and third one from braided copper, onto which a layer of elastic PVC is placed. The whole is covered with a nicely looking black-purple sheath from Nylon braid, which is also nice to touch.

And the most important thing – the sound. Yes, yes, I perfectly know how TCP/IP works, but I also know, that the fact that something, at least for now, for the level of our current knowledge and technology, we cannot define or measure, does not mean, there is nothing there. Do you remember what was jitter? Also there should only be zeros and ones, so there should be no differences. And? Currently only the biggest “titans of intellect” still claim that all transports sound the same. So I dare to claim that with the transmission of data through a patch cord it is the same thing. So the question about the appearance of a “new” Ed Meitner is not “if” he will appear, but “when”.
Moving on to the point, as a point of reference I have taken the cables used most often by me, the Anort Consequence and Artoc Ultra Reference Reference working between the switch Silent Angel Bonn N8 and Lumin U1 Mini, and the mentioned switch and the I-O Data Soundgenic HDL-RA4TB working as a NAS. Of course I allowed the Japanese product more than a week to fade into my system as I received it factory new – completely wrapped in foil. Only when I assumed it is enough of the burn-in, I started critical listening. And please believe me, the observed changes did not have a cosmetic, delicate effect, or oscillating on the verge of perception and auto suggestion. They were adequate to juggling with other cables in my system, being it signal, regardless of domain, loudspeaker or power.
So what did change? First of all the approach, the narration of timing, volume of the presented sounds and generally speaking their saturation. The Furutech Lan-8 NCF maybe does not have the mass and saturation like the Polish Audiomica, but it makes for it with resolution and speed of sound. It is like an audiophile version of a GTR, which, due to the above average power to mass ration, is able to come around many, much more renowned legend. This does not mean overly nervousness and search for emotion, or adrenalin where there is none, which can be tiring in the long run, but the ability of beginning and finishing the sounds immediately. So we get a very lively sound, when this is demanded by the repertoire, like “For Those that Wish to Exist” by Architects when things get very quick and aggressive, and when it is needed to get in full concentration and the so called playing with silence, like on the “Tomba Sonora” by Stemmeklang/Kristin Bolstad, the change of narration is 100% and immediate. From the mad metalcore gallopades and brain piercing riffs, the purple cable moved seamlessly to an aesthetic of darkness, concentration and the mentioned silence. Total silence, devoted from any harmful artifacts, digital „frying”, or subcutaneous nervousness and the only thing that could be felt, is the fact of moisture condensing on the walls of the catacombs.
To be sure, to verify if the “vivacity” offered by the Lan-8 NCF will not be too absorbing, I served myself three quarters of Roberta Mameli, who sings at very high notes, from the phenomenal disc “’Round M: Monteverdi Meets Jazz”. If it would not be enough, besides the pearly soprano we have here an accompanying harpsichord, and this is not an easy instrument to record or reproduce, usually sounding as if someone would be kicking off a sack with silver cutlery down the stairs. Already the opening, “Lamento della nimfa” should be a shot in the ear … and it is. But when we stop whining and searching for any sweetness were there absolutely is none, we come to the conclusion, that that this duo should sound so intensive in the high registers and things should be fine. Especially until the moment, when a saxophone enters, and its timbre and mass are very conform with reality, so there is absolutely no thinning or moving the tonal balance upwards. And that the Furutech does not want to enchant at all costs, well … if the listeners would take the motto of the manufacturer into account – “Pure transmission” – then they would not have complaints.

So if you are searching for an Ethernet cable with a variety of available lengths, acceptable pricing and true sound, then the tested one should be to your liking. It is affordable, looks splendidly (what translate into an above average WAF) and it fares well enough to not find any arguments for disconnecting it from your system.

Marcin Olszewski

System used in this test:
– CD/DAC: Ayon CD-35 (Preamp + Signature) + Finite Elemente Cerabase compact
– Network player: Lumin U1 Mini + I-O Data Soundgenic HDL-RA4TB
– Digital source selector: Audio Authority 1177
– Turntable: Kuzma Stabi S + Kuzma Stogi + Dynavector DV-10X5
– Phonostage: Tellurium Q Iridium MM/MC Phono Pre Amp
– Power amplifier: Bryston 4B³
– Loudspeakers: Dynaudio Contour 30 + Brass Spike Receptacle Acoustic Revive SPU-8 + Base Audio Quartz platforms
– IC RCA: Tellurium Q Silver Diamond
– IC XLR: Organic Audio; Vermöuth Audio Reference
– Digital IC: Fadel art DigiLitz; Harmonic Technology Cyberlink Copper; Apogee Wyde Eye; Monster Cable Interlink LightSpeed 200
– USB cables: Wireworld Starlight; Goldenote Firenze Silver; Fidata HFU2; Vermöuth Audio Reference USB
– Speaker cables: Signal Projects Hydra; Vermöuth Audio Reference Loudspeaker Cable
– Power cables: Furutech FP-3TS762 / FI-28R / FI-E38R; Organic Audio Power + Furutech CF-080 Damping Ring; Acoustic Zen Gargantua II; Furutech Nanoflux Power NCF
– Power distribution board: Furutech e-TP60ER + Furutech FP-3TS762 / Fi-50 NCF(R) /FI-50M NCF(R)
– Wall power socket: Furutech FT-SWS(R)
– Anti-vibration platform: Franc Audio Accessories Wood Block Slim Platform
– Switch: Silent Angel Bonn N8 + Silent Angel S28 + Silent Angel Forester F1 + Luna Cables Gris DC
– Ethernet cables: Neyton CAT7+; Audiomica Anort Consequence + Artoc Ultra Reference + Arago Excellence
– Table: Rogoz Audio 4SM
– Acoustic panels: Vicoustic Flat Panels VMT

Polish distributor: RCM
Manufacturer: Furutech
Prices: 580 PLN / 0,6m; 680 PLN / 1,2m; 780 PLN / 1,8m; 890 PLN / 2,5m; 1080 PLN / 3,6m

Specifications
Main conductor: 24 AWG Silver plated α (Alpha) OCC conductor
Insulation: Special Foamed PE OD.: 1.35±0.05mm, 4 Twisted Pairs
Blue/White; Orange/White; Green/White; Brown/White
Shield 1: AL foil Conductive layer to the outside
Shield 2: AL foil Double-sided conductive
Shield 3: α (Alpha) Pure copper wire (16/10/0.10) braiding layer
Jacket: UL/CL3 approved flammability grade; RoHS Compliant Flexible PVC (Black)
Sleeve: High quality nylon yarn braided (Purple/Black)
Production Lengths: 0.6M/1.2M/1.8M/2.5M/3.6M/5M and 7.5M/10M by request.