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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?

audio-b-dog
devinplombier
1,685 posts
 

@richardbrand you're taking us way back! 😃

https://www.soundstagenetwork.com/rise09.htm

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H9o9kWWwFbI&t=2s&pp=2AECkAIB

 

sealegs
53 posts
 

For many years, I used a Canare 75 ohm digital interconnect.  Maybe 3 years ago, I upgraded to 1M Cardas Parsec.  The difference was amazing and much greater than expected.  Much more detail and more musically enjoyable.  
 

I also upgraded power cords for the transport and the DAC.  

audio-b-dog's avatar
audio-b-dog OP
883 posts
 

Here is Simaudio's answer to my question about the Moon 280D's asynchronous DAC: Yes, that is correct. The 280D’s asynchronous DAC applies across all digital inputs, including optical and SPDIF. The DAC's clock takes precedence over the CD transport’s clock.

daledeee1's avatar
daledeee1
677 posts
 

I probably won't explain this right.  I had a copper Pine Tree Audio digital coax.  I bought a new streamer and dac, actually used.  Salesman suggested a Nordost Purple Flare USB.  USB uses the DAC clock.  COAX relies on the streamer clock.  I balked at the 160 but it definitely sounds better.  A DDC on the other hand was hit and miss whether there was much of an improvement.  I no nothing about DDC except no standards like other data cables

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
8,123 posts
 

audio-b-dog's avatar

audio-b-dog OP

573 posts

 

Here is Simaudio's answer to my question about the Moon 280D's asynchronous DAC: Yes, that is correct. The 280D’s asynchronous DAC applies across all digital inputs, including optical and SPDIF. The DAC's clock takes precedence over the CD transport’s clock.
 

👍

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