Part of French manufacturer Esprit’s fifth range, the Esprit Eterna G9 Ethernet cable aims to deliver the same sound quality as the analog and digital cables in this series. Designed for high-fidelity systems, it develops substance and flexibility for digital music from a NAS or Internet box.
In the quest for the most perfect sound possible, the major development of Internet streaming over the last decade or so has highlighted a new problem regarding the purity of network data. For this reason, hi-fi cable manufacturers have quickly stepped in to apply solutions derived from other digital models such as USB or SPDIF to RJ45 Ethernet cables.
Based on his research and practical applications, the director of the French brand Esprit developed several versions of Ethernet, but did not validate those of the first series, the Alpha to Kappa ranges.
When we asked him about this, Richard Cesari explained that after numerous tests, the shielding and conductors of the Alpha and Beta prototypes did not contribute enough to the musical performance to justify their launch on the market, without being able to position themselves on the same price scales as mass-market category 7 or 8 products, which may be slightly inferior but are also cheaper thanks to their manufacturers’ economies of scale.
Not wanting to create models with no real benefit for the listener, whose only purpose would have been to add another product to its entry-level ranges, Esprit began to see a real benefit in Ethernet starting with the Célesta series, with even more striking results from the Eterna series onwards.
In this price range, the manufacturer can use Telegartner connectors—the best known to date—to ensure reliable connections, and apply multiple layers of shielding to protect the conductors from Wi-Fi and EMI waves, resulting in reduced noise and better tonal balance. With a symmetrical electrical structure, the Eterna cable stands out for its twisted dielectric and triple shielding in pure silver-plated copper. It is also made of superior insulators to those in the Celesta range, with an improved sheath for the G9 version compared to the previous generation.
THE SETUP OF THE ESPRIT ETERNA G9 RJ45
Retrieved from one of our auditoriums, the Eterna RJ45 cable was tested with network players ranging from the Eversolo DMP-A6 to the CH Precision I1 streaming card, as well as our Mark Levinson 5101 and Atoll ST300.
In order not to distort the initial effect for listeners wishing to invest in this type of cable, we first started with our Internet box, comparing it with a conventional cable. We then compared the Eterna to other audiophile products and connected it to our Switch Silent Angel Bonn N8, upstream and downstream, to check its overall impact on the music.
THE SOUND OF THE ESPRIT ETERNA G9 RJ45
Connected between an Internet box and a network player, the Eterna G9 Ethernet cable takes only a few seconds to show its impact on the sound. The music and timbres become more supple and nuanced, while the soundstage expands and opens up.
For the latter component, you can look for cables that are clearer and faster, but for us, and perhaps because of the musical styles we listen to most, the Esprit remains the best at this price point in terms of texture development and color quality.
Never over-colored, the Eterna G9 reduces noise even further and frees up the sound even more than the G8 version we have had for several years. For opera or rock, or even the difficult listening experience of an organ, this Ethernet cable provides extra temperament to all parts of the spectrum, developing the dynamics and therefore the depth of the bass as well as the precision of the treble.
The result is just as remarkable when positioned between the switch and the streamer, because even though the switch purifies the data by improving the jitter rate, the shielding of the last link has a significant impact on sound quality. Conversely, the placement downstream of the switch is less noticeable when compared to a Celesta, although it is still noticeable when compared to a conventional Ethernet cable.
OUR CONCLUSION
Primarily intended for use as the last link in the chain, the audiophile Ethernet cable has a real impact on sound reproduction in a system comprising a network player.
The Esprit Eterna G9 range features most of the components also found in the speakers and modulators in this series, particularly in terms of noise reduction, added substance, and improved timbres. And while the Célesta is already a first step towards high fidelity in dematerialized music, the Eterna is truly the one that improves all parameters.
Author(s): Vincent Guillemin
Technical Sheet: Esprit Eterna G9 RJ45
- Origin: France
- Price: Starting at €730 (1.20 m); €320 per additional meter
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