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 2 responses by decooney

decooney
2,310 posts
 

@motown-l How crucial is the quality of a digital cable?

 

More crucial than I had recalled. Validated it again yesterday. Quite surprising.

After running an Analysis Plus Solo Crystal SPDIF Digital coax -or- Cardas Lightening 15 digital cable for 2 years between my streamer and dac, just for grins I swapped it out for a former 5-year old AudioQuest Cinnamon Digital coax. Like it was not even close and AQ is decent cabling.

Wow, the AP/Crystal Solo digital coax is amazingly fuller sounding, more midrange, with a more impactful sound stage. It matters more than I recalled for SPDIF/Coax. Perplexing. Would not have believed it until reverse testing it.

decooney
2,310 posts
 

@nonoise if you get a chance, check out that test video done by reviewer named Passion for Sound on YT. He does a form of audio signal playback test with a general USB cable and five other known brand shielded USB cables. For the preparation process in the test, he captures the deltas between each with a form of inversion process. Then, actually plays back the delta itself. You could graphically see, and hear the audible range differences, and hear the different signatures peeking through between each of the different USB cables. While I'm not explaining it very well...it was interesting to show how some cables are noisier than others and the shielded quiet cables were smoother, less detail/etch with less noise. Each cable produced different measurable and audible results you could hear.

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