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Length of SPDIF cable

I've just ordered a Xangsane pure silver SPDIF coax cable and it's already on the way. I've ordered a 1m cable because I've read that "you should not have a too short SPDIf cable". My previous ones were all 0,5m.

 

But now I read that the ideal length would be 1,5m which kinda makes me wonder if 1m is not just the "wrong" length.

Well I will listen to it, I suppose if it sounds good it's good, but still, why don't they only make 1,5m coax cables if that is the recommended length?!?

 

rolox
jasonbourne71's avatar
jasonbourne71
827 posts
 

Longer is better for SPDIF cables! Signal reflections in shorter cables can interfere at a DAC’s input receiver. I bought a 1 meter and a 1.5 meter SPDIF cable. I am using the 1.5 meter into a DAC. You can try your 1 meter. It may work fine! Companies should just make 1.5 meter and longer SPDIF cables. They are catering to the audiophile belief that 'shorter is better'. The metal type (copper or silver) doesn’t matter. As the French chef says " No diffawrance!"

maxboy00's avatar
maxboy00
273 posts
 

I have a 1M SPDIF,  and it works just fine, I haven't heard of the 1.5M being the ideal length. But YMMV.

carlsbad2's avatar
carlsbad2
1,375 posts
 

I think the value of a long SPDIF cable is exaggerated. the logic assumes the whole circuit is a perfect 75 ohm system. It ignores the connectors, the wires inside the components, the circut boards inside your DAC, etc.

On an unrelated note, the salesman doubles his profit on a longer cable.

Jerry

agisthos
452 posts
 

Apparently this whole thing about longer spdif cable length (and it was common to also use 1.23 and 1.25) being better was due to the 1990’s spdif receiver chips in older DAC/transport combos being susceptible to cable reflections.

It’s not supposed apply anymore, but considering what a race to the bottom a lot of modern equipment is built like, maybe it does?

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