Matching digital input impedance of dac with cable


Is this important? The input impedance of the dac i am considering is 75 ohm. I want to use cables with an impedance of 110 ohm. Is this a problem? Can someone please explain why matching or why not matching these impedances is important?

Thank you
128x128tboooe

Showing 3 responses by tplavas

It's about reflections within the 'transmission line' of the cable. These reflections can occur at any junction in the connection (connectors, solder joints etc,), but in this case we're concerned with the junctions we can control, the connector junction. These reflections can then arrive at varying times during the transmission of the data, possibly (and that's a point of some debate) interfering with the receiving device's ability to recognize the exact point at which the waveform transitions from it's 0 or 1 positions.
How are you planning to use a cable designed for 110 ohm use for a 75 ohm connection? Adapters? If so, my personal experience says that's a bad idea sonically.
Just my two cents.
Newogger,
yes, there's a difference in the way the digital data packets are arranged, which doesn't have any effects on audio performance that I'm aware of. Plus the 110 ohm connection is balanced, which should offer an advantage, but then you have to consider the extra difficulty involved in creating a balanced (3 wire) cable with excellent performance characteristics.
Sorry you asked? :)
Newogger,

To answer one of your questions, I have recently auditioned the Audioquest Eagle Eye with 72V DBS, and it is very, very, good. But definitely on the revealing side of neutral, so I'm not sure if it's the answer, given your problem with edginess with the Krell DAC. I haven't auditioned the latest version of Synergistic Research Active digital, but the first X versions left me unimpressed with their colored midrange. Perhaps others could give suggestions for a good cable that's more forgiving up-top.