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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
hoodjem
67 posts
 

 

I am in the process of evaluating seven different digital (RCA SPDIF) cables to find the best synergy in my system with my new DAC (LTA Aero). 

 

These seven cables are—

Kimber D-60

MIT Terminator III

Shunyata Gamma

Voodoo Silverstream

Cardas Parsec

Have Canare LV-61S

DH Labs D-750

 

For whatever reasons or explanation, these seven cables sound moderately to significantly different from each other.  

 

Maybe there is a logical, measurable, electronic, or metallurgical reason why they do not sound the same. Maybe, but that does not interest me. 

All I have perceived is that they sound different:  some better and some worse to my ears (with no correlation to price). 

 

If they all sounded the same, then I would simply get the least expensive one. But they do not. 

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

@hoodjem 

I certainly would have tried a similar experiment, but I have no idea how you were able to borrow all those cables for a test. The used cable company will only give a credit when you return a cable. Were you able to find them all in one audio shop? Also, don't you find it confusing comparing seven cables? It is odd, though, that the better sounding ones have no correlation to price. 

mike4597's avatar
mike4597
304 posts
 

I have had VERY favorable experience with DH Labs digital cables.  I switched from a reputable cable to their Mirage cable to connect my Innuos Stream 1 to my DAC and their Reunion Cat 8 Ethernet cable for the short run from my router extension (Eero) to the DAC--both made a noticeable improvement in sound quality.  They have the D-750 digital coax cable that would fit the need.  If you sign up for their email listing--you do not get deluged with emails--you can get a 10% discount.  I have also purchased their Air Matrix XLR cables to hook up my Odyssey power amps to my speakers, once the amps are upgraded by Klaus. If you have any questions to pose to them, they are prompt and helpful in their responses, and I strongly recommend DH Labs cables for their quality and reasonable price.

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