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

@soix 

I plan to do what you're suggesting. I have read a lot of audio mags for more years than I care to admit, and I have never read anyone talk about the difference a cable makes into an asynchronous DAC. Probably because they're new. Anyway, perhaps I will have the chance to be the firs to weigh in on the subject.

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
8,112 posts
 

@audio-b-dog 

Sorry about the grumpiness. I’m grumpy a lot. I’d say it has to do with age, and it does, but I’ve been accused all my life of being a bit cantankerouus (sp?) 

Nothing new at this point.
 

It does strike me that a 44.1 kHz signal out of the transport sounds better than a 44.1 kHz signal from my streamer. 

I have no interest in telling how you can improve your streaming to equal or better your cd transport because all that will accomplish is trigger another wave of arguments based on your incomplete understanding and inability to absorb any information in less than 5 attempts. May be someone else will volunteer. I’ll be here with my popcorn. 

dr-hooves's avatar
dr-hooves
48 posts
 

In my experience the better the cohesive standard of a system, the more likely it is that optical data transfer is better, for example optical isolators in DAC's.

If you get a large improvement from the use of Coax then there is something wrong with the system conductivity.

Mains Coherence is important as generally there is always a problem with such, seen or unseen

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

And I will continue my experiment, keeping it at a reasonable $ amount. Dr. Hooves threw in a real wringer. My equipment is the problem, not the cables. Oh, well. A hobby with almost infinite permutations.

bassbuyer's avatar
bassbuyer
913 posts
 

You like the sound of the RCA cable you’re using.  Try a more expensive cable that you can buy and return for no or a low fee.  If it sounds better to you keep it.  If not return it.  Either way you’ll know and can focus on enjoying your music.  Trust your ears. 

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