2. cables
  3. 1179866903

Important Interconnect Question

How detrimental is it to not have a digital cable connecting a transport and a outboard dac? I was sold a analog interconnect by a dealer with whom I have a long standing affliation. I'm a bit embarassed to be even asking this but i assumed I was buying a digital cable. I'm not a 100% positive but very suspicious. I'm going to check when I get home.
zar
8 responses Add your response
zar OP
185 posts
 
Jond, AES/BU is the preferred format for my cd-dac and I have ordered the 110 ohm balanced cable. Thanks, Zar
jond's avatar
jond
5,798 posts
 
Zar,
To clarify if your digital cable is balanced AES/BU then it should be 110 ohms and not 75. But Frank at Signal Cable should know that.
gregm
3,405 posts
 
it's extremely difficult to construct a digital link terminated in an RCA plug (the standard "digital" out) that is actually a 75 ohm cable
It's actually easy to do -- with the right equipment. The equipment is very expensive. The idea being, as you imply, to get *exactly* 75ohm.
dopogue
1,773 posts
 
I've heard and read that it's extremely difficult to construct a digital link terminated in an RCA plug (the standard "digital" out) that is actually a 75 ohm cable, although many are advertised as such.

My current favorite digital cable (Mapleshade) is basically one-half of an analog pair.
zar OP
185 posts
 
Thanks all. I have verified that my Audioquest balanced cable is in fact analog. Just to be safe and not spend too much, I have ordered a balanced digital cable from Frank at Signal Cable.
narrod
1,064 posts
 
If it is a good quality cable I suspect you will have difficulty hearing a difference between it and most, if not all, digital cables. To answer your question, it is not detrimental to your equipment. Only by listening can you determine what is best for you.
tgrisham
1,291 posts
 
As I understand it, 75 Ohm is the standard for digital cable. Not all interconnects abide by this standard. It may not be relevant for very short runs, but a dedicated digital cable will follow the 75 Ohm standard. Your ears will tell you if it is significant.
newbee
4,767 posts
 
Well, I heard some people actually liked using regular RCA terminated IC's in the early years of DAC's/Transports, sort of a tone control. Plug it in and see if you like it. You won't damage anything. But you really do need a specifically designed digital IC (75 ohms) for the best performance with this type of connection.
Log in to respond
More to discover
80x80
Synergistic Research SR30 Speaker Cables
80x80
ANTICABLES Level 2 "Performance Series"
8 foot Speaker wires
AudioQuest NRG-Z2