BNC Cable is RG6 the best?


BNC Cable is RG6 the best for Digital transfer?
I received a AfterDark Clock to mate with my EtherRegen. With it came a very cheap looking BNC cable.
I'm not sure exactly what makes up a BNC cable special. I know it should be 75 ohms and shielded.
So, what about using RG 6 cable? I have the appropriate BNC fittings.

Should this be better?
And of course, why then are some of these cables so expensive?

ozzy
128x128ozzy
a double run of Sommercable BNC via T-splitters
Be careful if you do something like this.  The digital signal in these cables is very time sensitive, so if you have two conductors (or two parallel cables), you need to ensure that the conductor lengths are EXACTLY the same.  Otherwise, you will introduce timing errors on the destination when one conductor charges/discharges at a different speed than the second conductor.
  • in my experience a double run of Sommercable BNC via T-splitters under the Schroeder method beat a $2000+ Shunyata Sigma Clock Cable, highly recommended.
Well I had a Valhalla 1.5M that I use with my Tascam to record HI-Rez music, so that is the one I tried, but I ordered a 1 meter length.

It cost more than the clock! But I feel Valhalla cables will hold there value better than others mentioned and it is a very good audio sonic match with the clock!

BTW, the Valhalla is directional and I was surprised that the arrow should point towards the EtherRegen from the clock. It sounded better that way and was confirmed by the clock manufacturer.

ozzy

So, after demoing a Nordost Valhalla 1 BNC cable, I was quite impressed with it over the stock BNC. So, I bought it.
Hard to believe that a cable for a clock could improve the sound quality so much.

ozzy
Does anyone else have a BNC cable preference that can be used with the AfterDark clock?

ozzy
Just got an email from Chris at VH.

The BNC's add $250 to the bulk wire price. That's why the large price difference. That sure seems like a lot for 2 BNC's.

ozzy
yoby,
Glad you corrected that, I almost started taking it apart! LOL!

BTW, I am confused on the VH Pulsar. At there website it says it is about $319 but on aa it is listed for $99. Perhaps the aa does not include the BNC fittings? I have a message out to VH to clarify.

ozzy
yoby,
Thanks for the info. Originally I did communicate with the person you referred to and wanted to try a unit and perhaps do a review. He was more inclined to sell units than audition them, So, I then asked to buy one. He stopped answering emails, phone calls or even messages sent through this forum system. (I think he was having trouble obtaining more units and had a backlog of pre-purchased units). I shouldn’t say never, he eventually messaged me back weeks later after I gave up hope and then bought the clock direct from AfterDark in Hong Kong. BTW, It was delivered in 5 days! So he is off my list. (No soup for him?)

I have a very hi-end, powerful 12v Linear power supply that I connected to the clock. So I think I’m all set with that.
Also, I do have a dc cable from Ghent Audio.

But, I may try a SR fuse in it after I complete the BNC cable search.

ozzy


Hi Ozzy: Also, if you aren't using one already, I highly recommend that you get the After Dark LPS to mate with the Queen clock. While you're at it, pop a Synergistic Orange small 1A Fast Blo fuse into it (Remove the four hex key screws from the fromt cover. The fuse sits right there). Then, upgrade the DC umbilical cable from stock (Ghent Audio, Audio Sensibility, or DIY). Get ready to be dazzled. No BS. 

Hi Ozzy: The Apogee Wyde Eyed  is a great cable for the money ($50/meter), however, IMO it would be a lateral move from the stock cable you're using now. I went from the stock cable to a VH Audio Ag Pulsar cable I was using from a CD transport to DAC (https://www.vhaudio.com/pulsar-ag.html). This was a major improvement in the SQ of all areas. You can also contact member fsmithjack about the upgraded After Dark digital cable. He is using one himself. Good listening. Jeff
audiojedi,
I have not been able to locate a Black Cat cable but I can buy the  Apogee Wyde Eye. It looks to be purple, is that correct?
It comes in many lengths even one foot long!

ozzy
kijanki,
I could go 1.5M but the AfterDark clock and the EtherRegen are very close together and that would mean a lot of cable drooping.

audiojedi,
I'll take a look at the Black Cat Silverstar.

Since, I have the RG-6 cable already terminated with a BNC I'm going to try that first. I still wonder what the clock transfers. Is it audio signal???

ozzy

The Black Cat Silverstar cables do a great job if you need 75ohm BNC.  Not cheap but not super expensive either they do a great job, are well constructed and reliable cables.

Apogee Wyde Eye are supposed to be very good for word clock if you can find one.
@ozzy   It all depends on the slew rate of your clock.  For typical transport (25-30ns) you need at least 1.5m or less than 0.5m, but the latter should include all connections (inside of the clock and DAC), so safer would be <0.25m for the cable.   I would go with safer choice: >1.5m.  1m might be OK if your clock transitions are faster (likely), but you have to experiment.  Whole point is that reflection on impedance boundary at the end (if any) should miss (be late) midpoint of transition that originated it.  It is almost impossible to measure characteristic impedance and very difficult to measure slew rate, because any capacitance (scope probe) affects it.  You have to experiment.
Sorry slip up, wrong decimal point.
.5 Meter (or 1/2" Meter). I suppose I could go to 1 meter if it matters.

ozzy
@ozzy 0.05m = 5cm ????

If you can make such short cable then you don't have reflections, no matter what you use.

There are versions of RG6 with single dual or quad shielding.  Other than that, the difference between different cables with the same characteristic impedance is high frequency loss - not important for short distances.  Cheap looking cable, as well as RG6 might be fine.  The most important is characteristic impedance matching, especially at the end (DAC).  You can find some info about different cables at Wikipedia:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coaxial_cable
I run my clock on Sommercable bnc  (sommercable .com) using t-splits and 2 cables under the Schroeder method with very good results. Get dedicated 75 ohms cables from someone who knows how to control impedance and capacitance