Digital coax cables


I stream Qobuz from a standalone streamer to a DAC.  I use a digital coax cable [Audioquest cinnamon, about $90.  Will one of the more expensive cables make much difference?  Some claim no difference, it is before the DAC so it makes no difference.  Others claim everything makes a difference.  So......

boxcarman

Showing 1 response by lcherepkai

I had the AZ MC2 and it's a pretty good digital cable.  My transport, a Bel Canto  CDT 3, uses a bnc connection so I shopped around for a cable with bnc on one end and rca on the other and found, built by Take 5 Audio of Canada, a Neotech NEVD 2001 with an Xhadow rca and an Oyaide bnc connector used for under $200.  Given the quality of the plugs alone, you'd expect the Neotech cable to sound better and it does, to me.  I hear a bit more subtle inner detail with the Neotech cable but the main difference is a more organic quality to the sound.  The AZ cable sounds a bit mechanical in comparison.  On some material, there can be a slight upper-midrange brightness on my speakers which I do hear with the AZ cable and is absent with the Neotech.  You might check Take 5 Audio's site for more info and the US to Canadian$$$  transfer rate greatly benefits us in the states.  Also, these cables come up on the used market fairly often so check hifishark.com.  But soix is right about re-selling the AZ cables. If you try them and don't find them to your liking or worth the money they will be easy to move.