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 you have a nice stereo and your ears work. Enjoy the music!
Those who buy expensive cables to feel better even though they can’t hear the difference and think no one else can, enjoy your purchase! 

 

I enjoy a $50 Bluetooth speaker 

becomes 

cheers to @audphile1 sitting on his deck with a cigar and a $60 speaker

between just two posts.  That's inflation for you angry

You might like to test Supra Trico. It beats many cables up to $1000. Another excellent-value cable is the Audioquest Carbon. 

@richardbrand 

The only reason I'm writing this, Richard, is to use your remark about my $10 mistake as an example. Almost all the columns I have been on  have jokers who put people down. It's intimidating to new people who want to join a thread, people who haven't been around the block as many times as I have, and it's a mindless way of adding nothing to the conversation. 

Again, I reiterate that our hobby is, or should be, about a love of music. And people who do love music and other arts should want to include others. Little snide comments have no place in these forums.