Go to the ASR forum: Is SPDIF Cable Length "A Thing"? Regarding optical cables always use glass - never plastic.
Do I need an expensive digital cable?
I have been using a fairly inexpensive optical cable to connect my CD transport to my Moon 280D streamer. I was told that an SPDIFcoax cable would sound better. For an experiment I purchased an inexpensive Pangea coax cable. It didn't sound at all because its terminator ends did not fit snugly in my equipment. I consulted chatgbt who often gives me audio advice. It advised that for the short run of 1 meter, an RCA interconnect would work. It did. And sounded much better than the optical. Chatgbt said that RCA interconnect was good enough.
Now, there is a twist to this story that might make those doubters think twice. A digital cable carries packets of information that are rechecked to assure that the streamer is recieving correct information. There is the timing concern, though. But my Moon 280D has an asynchronous DAC with a clock as part of the DAC. Any information sent by my transport, whether it is clocked by the transport or not, will go through the Moon's asynchronous DAC's clock. So ;there shouldn't be a timing problem. Should there?
Can anyone make a case that I should buy a "better" coax cable?
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@audphile1 said:
This is correct. Different set ups sound better one way or another. If you want to use the (?better) clock in the DAC use USB. @audio-b-dog asks:
Yes. It sounds better with a better cable. At least it does to me. I can hear it. I actually prefer a better AES cable if I am using coax or AES output of the streamer. Network Acoustics makes great cables. Even better are Kubala Sosna. Other good ones have been mentioned here, better easily than Pangea. Note folks that recommend a better cable state they have tried them and hear a difference. Naysayers point to an article or philosophy and say they do not make a difference. I have never heard a detractor state they have tried one and can not hear a difference... I recommend trying one. |
I noted a difference with better HDMI cables for picture clarity and sound. That convinced me that there must be something that better digital cables do over the bog standard ones. I can’t say I actually noticed an improvement with other digital interfaces but I think it’s reasonable to go up the chain a bit, but not into the stratosphere. That’s my approach to analog cables as well |
@audio-b-dog the information you gathered from your dealer is inaccurate. With SPDIF connection, which is synchronous (aes/ebu, coax) the clock in the device sending the signal to the DAC is prioritized. Your transport is constructing the feed out to your DAC and that’s where the quality of the clock in your transport is critical. Give Simaudio a call and they will tell you the same thing. The answer is no. You need a high quality purpose built cable. Major cable manufacturers mid tier should do as a starting point. Kimber I suggested earlier is not expensive but will make an improvement. You will be missing out on a potential of your digital front end if you are bottlenecking it with a wrong impedance and crappy quality cable.
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