Cabling Digital

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stretchl
stretchl Posts: 1,334
edited August 2012 in Going Digital
So I finally bought the Panasonic Plasma and my TubeDAC, courtesy blairfrischx, ought to be here in a couple of days.

I know that quality analog interconnects are important; is the same true for digital cable?

Any recs?

Thanks.
“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”
- Isaac Asimov
Hi-Fi
Apple Lossless --> Squeezebox Touch --> Joule Electra LA-100 Mark iii --> Odyssey Khartargo Mono Plus --> LSiM-705's
Cabling by Groneberg
Visuals
https://media.illinois.edu/journalism/ledford-charles-stretch
bit.ly/stretchonphotojournalism
http://Vimeo.com/channels/stretchphoto
Post edited by stretchl on
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,528
    edited August 2012
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    Yes it does IMHO, but you will get differing opinions. What digital cables do you need? Optical, Coaxial, HDMI, USB?
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,906
    edited August 2012
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    You can pick up a Black cat for around 125.00 new, 80 or so used. Other than that, there are all sorts of digital cables available from pretty much anyone. Kimber, Audioquest, Signal, the worlds your oyster when it comes to cable variety. Oh and yes, just like RCA's, they vary in sound quality, probably not as much, but it's there none the less.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,528
    edited August 2012
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    Also keep in mind your source will be your limiting factor. For connecting my TV to my AVR via optical I have a nothing special optical cable. I know the TV cant provide nearly enough of a good signal to make it worth investing in a high quality digital cable.

    If I was going from a decent CD player or DAC I would spend more (like I am on the USB cord for my USB DAC)
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited August 2012
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    Yes indeed. Digital cables do make an audible difference, at least to mty ears. Depending on how they are constructed they can degrade the digital signal, and induce timing errors, both of which can degrade the sound.

    Shunyata has a good explanation of how their Ztron cable technology helps digital cables even better than analog cables.
    ""Compared to other signal cables, the Cobra and Python digital cables showcase the most dramatic improvement in square-wave response.
    http://www.shunyata.com/Content/products-SignalDigital.html


    This page shows a square wave without Ztron and with Ztron.
    http://www.shunyata.com/Content/technical-SignalTech.html
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • stretchl
    stretchl Posts: 1,334
    edited August 2012
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    I'll need an optical from the tv to the TubeDAC , and I believe likewise from the SqueezeBox.
    “Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”
    - Isaac Asimov
    Hi-Fi
    Apple Lossless --> Squeezebox Touch --> Joule Electra LA-100 Mark iii --> Odyssey Khartargo Mono Plus --> LSiM-705's
    Cabling by Groneberg
    Visuals
    https://media.illinois.edu/journalism/ledford-charles-stretch
    bit.ly/stretchonphotojournalism
    http://Vimeo.com/channels/stretchphoto
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,528
    edited August 2012
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    For the TV to the tubedac go cheap. From the Squeezebox get a decent cable. I suggest Audioquest (there is one in the Flea Market that is at a very good price)

    For 20 bucks you cant go wrong if you can deal with only 1.5 meters
    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?134952-Audioquest-Cables-Brand-New-In-Box!!!!!!!!!
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • stretchl
    stretchl Posts: 1,334
    edited August 2012
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    Thanks, Dan.

    I'll keep my eye on that Audioquest.

    I'm not 100% positive how everything will fit onto my bookshelves yet, but once I get the DAC and the SB placed, I may jump on that.

    I'm such a damned cheapskate! :rolleyes:
    “Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”
    - Isaac Asimov
    Hi-Fi
    Apple Lossless --> Squeezebox Touch --> Joule Electra LA-100 Mark iii --> Odyssey Khartargo Mono Plus --> LSiM-705's
    Cabling by Groneberg
    Visuals
    https://media.illinois.edu/journalism/ledford-charles-stretch
    bit.ly/stretchonphotojournalism
    http://Vimeo.com/channels/stretchphoto
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,132
    edited August 2012
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    http://www.lifatec.com/toslink2.html

    This is a great glass optical cable that won't break the bank
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,528
    edited August 2012
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    stretchl wrote: »
    Thanks, Dan.

    I'll keep my eye on that Audioquest.

    I'm not 100% positive how everything will fit onto my bookshelves yet, but once I get the DAC and the SB placed, I may jump on that.

    I'm such a damned cheapskate! :rolleyes:

    Eh we all have to decide how far down the rabbit hole we are willing to go. I started with Monoprice stuff, moved to Signal Cable interconnects and DIY Audioquest speaker cables, then up to MIT EXp1 and EXp2 gear and am now moving again.

    BTW 1.5m = ~5 feet so I think you would be fine with just about any configuration with that Audioquest cable going between the SB and DAC :smile:
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • stretchl
    stretchl Posts: 1,334
    edited August 2012
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    Thanks for the English to metric conversion, Dan. What would I do without you? :biggrin:
    “Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”
    - Isaac Asimov
    Hi-Fi
    Apple Lossless --> Squeezebox Touch --> Joule Electra LA-100 Mark iii --> Odyssey Khartargo Mono Plus --> LSiM-705's
    Cabling by Groneberg
    Visuals
    https://media.illinois.edu/journalism/ledford-charles-stretch
    bit.ly/stretchonphotojournalism
    http://Vimeo.com/channels/stretchphoto
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • wallstreet
    wallstreet Posts: 1,405
    edited August 2012
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    For digital connections I've always gone with it will work perfectly or it won't work at all. Unlike analog connections that will gracefully degrade audio or picture quality, digital connections tend to work great or not work at all. As such, I have not found as much value in higher priced digital cables as I have found in higher priced analog cables.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,528
    edited August 2012
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    stretchl wrote: »
    Thanks for the English to metric conversion, Dan. What would I do without you? :biggrin:

    LOL, didnt want you to make the mistake I have sometimes of just glancing at the number and not the unit of measure as well lol. 1.5 feet would be tough for most folks whereas 5 feet is much better.

    The rest of the world just needs to convert to our system :wink:
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • Drenis
    Drenis Posts: 2,871
    edited August 2012
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    stretchl wrote: »
    Thanks for the English to metric conversion, Dan. What would I do without you? :biggrin:

    Starting to sound like his wife. :razz:

    How long of cable do you need?
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited August 2012
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    Glass optical is the only way to go IMO.
    Jake
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,079
    edited August 2012
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    zingo wrote: »
    Glass optical is the only way to go IMO.

    Optical isn't the best connection as it has one one more conversion step. Optical would be my last choice if I had to choose.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,522
    edited August 2012
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    If you want a surprisingly good, inexpensive cable----try Belden 1694A from Blue Jeans. Very good digital specifications.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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