I haven't received the 75 ohm optical coax yet. So, I'm still waiting for that test. Which dealer do you suggest whom you know will take back a cable? I deal a lot with Music Direct. Maybe they will? On paper, technically, there is a good argument that a cheap cable will work as well as an expensive one since the signal will be clocked after it is received by the streamer.
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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While this is true, if you have the curiosity and time, it doesn’t hurt to audition the $4,000 digital cable. If only to remove any lingering doubt whether it makes any difference in sound quality. Read the fine print tho. Shipping and restocking fees can be substantial.
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Well coax is not optical and optical is not coax. And…there’s no DAC I’m aware of that would not benefit from better cable and cleaner signal. @audio-b-dog I suggested that Kimber D60 from eBay that’s sold by Kimber. They will take it back. Kimber customer service is truly top notch. $14 cable will provide no insight into what a better cable can do. You are wasting $14. Dealers who will take back the cable: Kimber (direct sales), Wireworld (direct sales), Music Direct, Upscale Audio, TMR Audio.
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Okay, I'm going to wait for the $14 cable and see if it improves over the RCA interconnect. I'm not jumping to a $400 cable next, though. Maybe something in the $200 range, which is around the price of the rest of my cable. $400+ for a 1 meter cable (the one on eBay is only .75 meters) Not long enough. When I have the time, i might call Music Direct and tell them the test I'm doing. I have bought a lot of expensive stuff from them and they consider me a good customer. |
This is honestly getting more than a little frustrating. I gave you at least three very reputable sellers that offer free trials — did you not absorb that? Next, if digital cables don’t make a difference in your case then why did you hear clear differences between the crap cables you already tried? Pretty much proves the point right there. Last, you’ve received virtually unanimous responses from people here that digital cables make a significant difference, including many long-time members here with decades of hard-won experience that you just seem hell bent on ignoring. There are several “experts” here from the computer hardware/software industry who just refuse to believe digital cables make a difference and won’t even try a better cable, but you seem to at least be willing to use your ears so again I’d highly recommend you do so and take advantage of one of the several sellers out there I and others mentioned and try a cable in the $200 range. You’ve got next to nothing to lose and a lot to gain, so why the hell not? Do whatever you will. Peace out. |
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