I2S Cables?

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GoldTone

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I'm new here, looks like a cool place to read and interact with fellow audio lovers.

I was wondering what people are using for I2S cables, now that the HDMI standard is used by a larger number of transports and D/A converters? I know some of them use different pin configurations so that's something to be careful about. Assuming your transport does talk the same language as your converter, it doesn't seem like there are very many options compared to power cables, speaker cables, or other more traditional types.

So what are people around here using?
 
I2S is an INTERNAL protocol - not a type of cable - often different from one manufacturer to another, used to communicate within a device. Some have used it for external communications, some of these to get around SACD legal restrictions which apply when one manufacturer's device sends DSD data to another manufacturer's device. A vendor may choose different physical media (e.g., HDMI is one) with different signaling conventions for the cable media chosen. The thing to be cognizant of is that there is no real recognized standard that a manufacturer can design to and be confident that his device will function properly with another manufacturer's unless commitments are made, specifications are agreed upon, testing happens, etc. The most useful discussion I have seen on this topic can be found in the MSB Technologies forum.
 
ptman said:
I use an AudioMica Artoc Ultra Reference RJ45 for the I2S connection between my Bricasti M19 transport and M1 Series II DAC. Sounds great.
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There shouldn't be a problem connecting pieces from the same manufacturer using their own proprietary I2S protocol. And I note that Bricasti describes their I2S as "proprietary," whereas a review of the M19 in Future Audiophile takes the liberty of describing the same Bricasti's I2S as "the standard data protocol." This is misinformation.
 
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GSOphile said:
There shouldn't be a problem connecting pieces from the same manufacturer using their own proprietary I2S protocol. And I note that Bricasti describes their I2S as "proprietary," whereas a review of the M19 in Future Audiophile takes the liberty of describing the same Bricasti's I2S as "the standard data protocol." This is misinformation.
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Bricasti uses an RJ45 cable for their i2S transmission between the M19 and for example, the M21. I do not think they use the HDMI form factor.

Apparently, they can still perform the ‘standard data protocol’ with an RJ45 cable. 🤷‍♂️
 
GoldTone said:
I'm new here, looks like a cool place to read and interact with fellow audio lovers.

I was wondering what people are using for I2S cables, now that the HDMI standard is used by a larger number of transports and D/A converters? I know some of them use different pin configurations so that's something to be careful about. Assuming your transport does talk the same language as your converter, it doesn't seem like there are very many options compared to power cables, speaker cables, or other more traditional types.

So what are people around here using?
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I use a Tubulus Concentus HDMI cable between my Antipodes K50 and the i2S module in my MSB Premier DAC. Works like a charm!
 
crwilli said:
Bricasti uses an RJ45 cable for their i2S transmission between the M19 and for example, the M21. I do not think they use the HDMI form factor.

Apparently, they can still perform the ‘standard data protocol’ with an RJ45 cable. 🤷‍♂️
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Correct. They do not use HDMI. Yes, they could have used either for a proprietary version of I2S. According to MSB, who supports several non-MSB versions of I2S via HDMI, there is no recognized I2S standard. MSB believes that the HDMI form factor has advantages over RJ45 for providing a supported interface for several selected vendors.
 
Thank you for the replies (and the warm welcome).

My most recent upgrade is the Eversolo T10 transport. That replaces my old SOtM SMS-200 which only had USB output. I'll be upgrading my DAC next. Everything I'm considering seems to have I2S over HDMI and should work with my new T10.

I have checked out the Tubulus models as those come highly recommended. I also hear good things about the Wireworld Platinum, Veritas Optimus, and the affordable option from DH Labs. I'll keep reading up and see which ones appeal to me, then try to demo those.
 
GoldTone said:
Thank you for the replies (and the warm welcome).

My most recent upgrade is the Eversolo T10 transport. That replaces my old SOtM SMS-200 which only had USB output. I'll be upgrading my DAC next. Everything I'm considering seems to have I2S over HDMI and should work with my new T10.
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Nope. You're missing the point. It's your DAC choice and the flavor of I2S input that the DAC is expecting to see over whatever HDMI cable you select that will matter. If it's not an Eversolo DAC with an I2S input, I don't know what more I can say.

I have no experience/opinion on various premium HDMI cable offerings.
 
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When I added the LAiV uDDC to my Harmony DAC I found an old 1/2 meter HDMI cable out of my box of old home theater HDMI cables. Its only redeeming quality was that it had ferrites on each end. I plugged it in to each unit. It was recognised by both and I've been happy with its performance. I think it was around $20 at the time of purchase.
 
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