August 22, 2012
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AudioQuest Forest Ethernet Cable, Pt 3
I've clocked 59 hours on the Forest Ethernet cable since its introduction into my system connecting the Oppo BDP-95 universal player and Olive O3HD music server to the Netgear router. There have been some changes.
The picture quality has improved to the point where it's approximately as good as what I was seeing with the wireless connection. The change has been gradual and appears to have plateaued at the current performance level.
The ability to start and stop on a dime during Netflix streaming, however, has fallen by the wayside and its behavior in this regard has returned to the previous "I'll respond to your remote when I feel like it" state.
Sound quality has been constant as far as I can tell. I may put the system back to a wireless status and if so, will report what I discover. As it stands now, I'm very pleased with how it sounds and picture quality is a draw.
June 3, 2013 Update
At this point, I've clocked hundreds of hours using the Forest Ethernet cable connecting both my Olive O3HD music server and Oppo BDP-95 to my Netgear router. Performance appears to have plateaued and there have been some additional changes.
When streaming movies on Netflix via the BDP-95 (using both the WireWorld Chroma 6 and Mapleshade Vivilink Plus HDMI cables), picture quality is superior using the Forest versus the wireless connection. There are less mosaic artifacts and fine detail is more apparent. Color saturation is approximately the same between the two streaming methods.
Audio quality continues to be a compromise during playback of FLAC files on the O3HD and WAV/WMA files on my personal computer via the BDP-95. This also holds true for the audio portion of Netflix streamed movies using the Oppo. Sound images are denser using the Forest cable which results in a more natural and easier to understand rendition of voices. Music has a slightly more analogue smoothness via the Forest, as well. What is sacrificed using the Forest cable, however, is some air, fine detail and upper treble extension. Moving up the AudioQuest Ethernet line may help to correct these shortcomings but it's not likely I will be venturing into this territory.
Comments (2)
We use one Ethernet RJ45 cable, which goes between router and satellite receiver. Since TV is a primary source, we're eagerly following your observations on the AQ Forest Ethernet cable.
My cable service from the provider, Comcast, is hooked up with PPC Perfect Flex Series 6 CATV cable. This cable goes to a -3.5dB splitter box which then carries the signal on one lead to the CATV cable box and the other goes to the modem for my telephone and Internet service. These two cables are also 18 gauge although from a different company. The video portion of the CATV signal goes from the CATV cable box to the Samsung LCD HDTV via a WireWorld Chroma 6 HDMI cable.
I'm not sure how applicable my Netflix reception with the Forest Ethernet cable will be to your situation, but it should hold roughly.