Why do digital cables sound different?

Hey Gmkowal, Digital cables do sound different!. From a theoretical standpoint, there does not seem to be a basis to "different sounding digital cables". As an Electrical Engineer myself, who represents a high end manufacturer of A/D and D/A converters, I absolutley agree with your statements. I, unfortunately, like so many, cannot come up with a good explanation to why different cables yield different sounds. Perhaps it is not the transmission media per say, but the interaction at either or both ends, or a combination, or both, I wish I could find the reason, because it exists!. Sometimes the sonic differences can be as large as changing interconnects, really!. Each D/A converter is different to how large the change may be. (I am currently on my ninth digital front end, and my sixth transport, so I have quite a bit of experience here). If you have already tried to hear the differences (for giggles, since it can't possibly be true), and you don't hear any, then the resolution of your speakers, amplifiers or other components is not allowing you to experience the differences. Some of the major sonic differences between cables involve the harmonic structure of the music , the soundstage width or depth. Unfortunately, this is also the smallest detail to preserve all the way to the speakers. Please try to open your mind on this one, it took me 3 years of preaching "there is no way there can be a difference, I do this for a living!", then (for giggles) I tried to prove my point. Boy, was that an embarassing moment. As a digital designer, you should consider that maybe there is something we are not considering as trained and schooled "experts". In the end, maybe you can become the hero that comes up with a logical reason to "why do digital cables sound different?". I stopped trying, and just listen to music through my best sounding digital interconnect.

Response to Kthomas about not offering up a hypothosis. I refuse to offer up a purely speculative hypothosis, about an audio issue, that simply has no presently known logical eletrical engineering basis. I don't know how long you have been involved with high end audio, but let me tell you what happens with far reaching hypothosis, regarding electronic issues that don't seem to make any sense :THEY BECOME THE BASIS FOR MANY SNAKE OIL COMPANIES, THAT PURPORT TO BE HIGH END AUDIO MANUFACTURERS, TO INCORPORATE INTO THEIR PRODUCT LINES! I have seen this happen again and again. I remember when Class A amplifiers were considered the "best" sounding amplifiers, so therefore "Class A amplification are the best amplifier designs". The same thing happended with zero negative feedback designs, and more recently, SET amplification. Unfortunately, these so called "facts" are very misunderstood, and EXTREME generalizations at best. Each "fact" has set the high end electroinic industry back more than you can imagine. As audiophiles buy into these facts, they propenciate manufacturers to build these products, that incorporate these topologies, EVEN IF THIS IS NOT THE BEST WAY TO GET GREAT SOUND! The best example that I can think of regards speaker cable design. It has been hypothosized that a great sounding cable needs a ton of current carrying capabilty. So in turn, the majority of the high end cable companies have produced these huge thick cables for us audiophiles. Indeed, many manufacturers don't even consider that thinner guage designs might produce a much better sound. After all, the more current carrying capability, the better bass and dynamics, right? This is a no longer a hypothosis, but a fact, right? Well, this is just not the case . I personaly know three speaker cable manufacturers that are pulling their hair out, trying to design cables that represent what the audiophile community thinks are better (read big and heavy)... BUT ...this is just not true with many better sounding, properly engineered configurations. Other cable companies (that I personaly know...read; big, well known names) have figured out how to make each of their larger cable offerings sound better, as they incorporate more conductors and make each cable more expensive in the process. More importantly, they can then charge an ear, arm and a leg for these huge cables. These guys (that know the real truth) are laughing all the way to the bank! The other cable manufacturers ,that design huge cables. are not necessarily trying to rip us off. They have just not discovered the ultimate truth about cable configurations and conuctor size.(It amazes me how a "fact" can be created overnight in the audio engineering community.) This is why I refuse to offer up speculative, potential non-sense hypothosis that has no engineering basis. When I have a legitimate hypothsis, that has some fundamental electronic explanation, I will always offer it up as a hypothosis (with hope that it will not become a "fact" overnight).