While the theoretical advantages – more consistent data transmission and increased immunity to noise – are obvious, the downside is that such a complicated cable has to be built and terminated by hand: which makes it expensive. You don’t just run off a kilometre or two of a cable like the JundoStream, chop it up and then stick the plugs on. A 1.0m cable (the shortest available) will cost you £3,250, excluding UK sales tax – although for that you do get to choose whether you want the cable in white or black.
The good news is that, as the Last-Link designation suggests, Reiki recommend using the JundoStream as the final connection between switch and streamer/DAC. In Reiki speak, which refers to the pre-streamer and post-streamer digital domains, the JundoStream should be considered the final barrier to destructive noise entering the system’s network connection, the final step in the network itself. Given the JundoStream’s easily demonstrable performance benefits, there will inevitably be those people who, having heard what this cable does as that last link, will insist on using it further up the chain as well. Having tried that, running a second JundoStream between the Reiki Optical Bridge and SuperSwitch, I concur with the manufacturer. There’s a difference, but it’s way, way subtle and there’s no way it’s worth the extra over and above a far more affordable but properly grounded cable like Reiki’s RakuStream+. It’s another example of how post-streamer assumptions don’t necessarily apply to the pre-streamer domain.
There’s a second, purely practical consideration that’s raised by the JundoStream’s physical design. Intended for large-scale network use, standard Cat8 cabling is thin and flexible, allowing it to be run easily through ducts, trunking and to desk-top locations. The Reiki cable isn’t. In fact, most audiophile network cables are bulkier and less flexible than an off-the-shelf Cat8 cable. I have multiple examples here from Chord Co, Nordost, AudioQuest and Reiki themselves. All are thicker and far more substantial than a stock lead. But the JundoStream takes that to a whole new dimension – literally. Its flat format makes lateral twists a challenge, while the very nature of the RJ45 connector dictates cable orientation. As a result, dressing this cable takes on a whole new meaning. Your network end-point switch (the last switch before your streaming input) should be located as close to the streaming input as possible. Beyond that, a degree of positional flexibility is going to make your life considerably easier. If it’s off to one side, or in a fixed location, some gentle but firm cable-wrangling will be necessary. Reiki Audio stipulate that the first three or four-inches of cable after the connector should run straight to help relieve undue strain on both the cowl/termination and the sockets to which it’s connected. For that reason, the shortest JundoStream cables are 1.0m in length, allowing plenty of flexibility and nice sweeping curves when it comes to dressing. Even so, it’s worth thinking about the positioning of your end-point switch and possibly moving it, so that it’s (close to) vertically aligned with the input it’s feeding. It’s not essential, but it will make life easier and your cabling neater.
