2. cables
  3. 180911-118590

How crucial is the quality of a digital cable?

I recently purchased a Cambridge Audio CX 81 integrated amp. The analog inputs sound great, but I find the internal DAC to be a disappointment. It uses the ESS Sabre ES9016K2M chip. I use a mid-level Rotel RCD 951 CD deck as a transport via the digital coax. I also hooked the deck via the analog out, just to compare. The analog interconnects are entry level AQ's. The digital coax is an Amazon purchase in the $15 range. I find the internal DAC of the 20 year old Rotel to be superior to the new AX 81, when doing an A/B.

What then confuses me is that the Blue Tooth streaming from the amp is quite good. It is HD aptX,  24-bit/84kHz capable. But, wouldn't that also go through the same internal DAC? Could it be the mediocre Amazon digital coax cable? I always assumed that digital cable quality was less significant than analog cables. Just bits and bites, right?

If someone knows of a decent digital coax for under $50, I would be very grateful. I would also appreciate any advice on an entry level power cord for the amp. Can a decent power cord be had for under $100? 

 

motown-l

Showing 1 response by clearthinker

clearthinker's avatar
clearthinker
1,582 posts
 

YES   Clock error is the bane of digital audio and cannot be properly fixed.  Analogue has its own clock because the signal is transmitted in real time and never leaves real time.  Digits are transmitted in blibs and blobs with no time control.  Once the real, analogue, sound is chopped into billions of pieces, it can never be put back together correctly.  No clock can perfectly replicate time itself.

It seems to me the different sounds people are hearing with different digital cables are merely different errors.

Perfect sound forever?     For never.

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