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  1. #1

    Digital cable shoot-out

    One of the most comprehensive digital cable shootouts, from the cheapest to mega Dollars, each given a decent description with excellent detail and breakdown of their performance:

    https://audiobacon.net/2018/08/11/th...oaxial-cables/

  2. #2
    Senior Member
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    Re: Digital cable shoot-out

    No Crystal Cable. No Acrolink Mexcel. No Shunyata Research.

  3. #3
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    Re: Digital cable shoot-out

    That's a helpful review since I'm in the market to make a change.

  4. #4

    Re: Digital cable shoot-out

    Quote Originally Posted by brodricj View Post
    No Crystal Cable. No Acrolink Mexcel. No Shunyata Research.
    No MIT either. And if I understand correctly, it's only BNC cables. Irrelevant for me as I use AES/EBU.
    Simaudio Moon Neo 260 DT CD Transport / MIT SL-Matrix Plus AES/EBU digital cable / Schiit Yggdrasil Analog 2 DAC / Octave HP 700 preamp / Octave RE 320 stereo amp with Super Black Box / Reference 3A Reflector monitors on Sound Anchors Signature Stands / dual JL Audio Fathom 112 v2 subwoofers on ASC SubTraps / ZenWave Audio D4 and SMSG cables / Acoustic treatment: tube traps, Tri-panels, window plugs, ceiling diffusers (all ASC), large absorbing panels (Acoustics First), diverse carpets chosen for acoustic properties: wool, polypropylene basket-weave

  5. #5

    Re: Digital cable shoot-out

    Quote Originally Posted by Al M. View Post
    No MIT either. And if I understand correctly, it's only BNC cables. Irrelevant for me as I use AES/EBU.
    BNC, RCA, etc are just the type of end connector. The cable itself is the same. Are you implying that the type of end connector affects the sound?

  6. #6

    Re: Digital cable shoot-out

    Quote Originally Posted by nicoff View Post
    BNC, RCA, etc are just the type of end connector. The cable itself is the same. Are you implying that the type of end connector affects the sound?
    As far as I know, my MIT SL Matrix Plus digital cable is not available as BNC.
    Simaudio Moon Neo 260 DT CD Transport / MIT SL-Matrix Plus AES/EBU digital cable / Schiit Yggdrasil Analog 2 DAC / Octave HP 700 preamp / Octave RE 320 stereo amp with Super Black Box / Reference 3A Reflector monitors on Sound Anchors Signature Stands / dual JL Audio Fathom 112 v2 subwoofers on ASC SubTraps / ZenWave Audio D4 and SMSG cables / Acoustic treatment: tube traps, Tri-panels, window plugs, ceiling diffusers (all ASC), large absorbing panels (Acoustics First), diverse carpets chosen for acoustic properties: wool, polypropylene basket-weave

  7. #7
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    Re: Digital cable shoot-out

    Quote Originally Posted by nicoff View Post
    BNC, RCA, etc are just the type of end connector. The cable itself is the same. Are you implying that the type of end connector affects the sound?
    Digital cables terminated with either RCA or BNC connectors would be 75 ohm cables, but variances in the impedance of the connector can affect the sound. BNCs are available in 75 as well as 50 ohms, and RCAs are rarely if ever truly 75 ohms due to their conductor spacing. When the connector varies from the ideal 75 ohms of the cable it creates additional jitter due to signal reflections from the non-matching impedance. AES/EBU digital cables are an entirely different construction and designed to have a 110 ohm impedance. While we'd like to think that digital cables are simply transmitting a stream of perfect digital zeros and ones, in reality they are transmitting an analog representation of the digital signal which is subject to distortions of the ideal waveform and any additional jitter created.

  8. #8

    Re: Digital cable shoot-out

    Quote Originally Posted by audio.bill View Post
    ....
    While we'd like to think that digital cables are simply transmitting a stream of perfect digital zeros and ones, in reality they are transmitting an analog representation of the digital signal which is subject to distortions of the ideal waveform and any additional jitter created.
    On the subject of analog representation of digital, the article below has a section addressing that specific subject.

    http://archimago.blogspot.com/2019/0...s-not.html?m=1

  9. #9
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    Re: Digital cable shoot-out

    Quote Originally Posted by nicoff View Post
    On the subject of analog representation of digital, the article below has a section addressing that specific subject.

    http://archimago.blogspot.com/2019/0...s-not.html?m=1
    My technical training (EE) as well as decades of experience in critical listening strongly disputes most of that article. Its conclusions would lead us back to the claims of CD reproduction being "perfect sound forever" as the technology was initially implemented, which after many years of refining software and hardware design we now realize was nowhere near close to revealing the ultimate potential of the format. We'll have to agree to disagree on this... to each their own.

  10. #10

    Re: Digital cable shoot-out

    Quote Originally Posted by audio.bill View Post
    My technical training (EE) as well as decades of experience in critical listening strongly disputes most of that article. Its conclusions would lead us back to the claims of CD reproduction being "perfect sound forever" as the technology was initially implemented, which after many years of refining software and hardware design we now realize was nowhere near close to revealing the ultimate potential of the format. We'll have to agree to disagree on this... to each their own.
    Coming from a professional background in engineering myself, I admit that I am inclined toward science-based results. I do realize that when it comes to subjective listening each of us can hear differently and have preferences which is just fine. Digital cable shoot-out

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Digital cable shoot-out

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